As many of you know, the unfortunate cancellation of my Ohio river was a major setback in my stroke recovery goals. In the end, I realized moving our home in the weeks leading up to the trip was too ambitious. I would have preferred to start in late August and finish in late September. This would have allowed me to get some overnight paddle trips under my belt before launching down the Ohio. When we had conflicts in the fall, I had to move the Ohio for the spring, all my prep paddles got canceled.
I really thought that once we got the boats in the water, my muscle memory would take over. In reality, I never got that far. Loading my kayak with the needed gear at the start in Pittsburg all the stress of moving came to a head. I couldn’t figure out how to load my kayak. This was something I hadn’t had time to practice. The stress of packing my boat triggered what I thought at the time was a cardiac event. My chest hurt, my heart was racing and I was dizzy. My. Paddle partner Jon and his wife Leslie insisted I go to the ER.
I spent the next two days in the Allegheny hospital, undergoing a battery of tests, to make sure my heart was ok. Throughout the hospital stay, Jon and Leslie were with me keeping me company and trying to lift my spirits. Jon picked me up at the hospital so I could fly home.
Arriving home was bitter sweet. I was grateful that my health was not as bad as I feared lying in the hospital instead of paddling down the river. Jon and I had been planning this trip for five months. I’m retired so getting time off is not a problem. Jon still works and had to rearrange his schedule. We had both spent considerable money on gear and travel to get to the river. I felt likeI had failed myself but more importantly. I had failed Jon. For that I was and continue to be disappointed in myself.
Now that I was home I had to inform all my family and friends who had supported me with the humiliating news. I had not even completed a single paddle stroke on the Ohio. Everyone was so supportive of my decision to postpone the trip. Even with this outpouring of love I was dejected for over a month.
In may, I had two tasks that I saw as ways to face my demons and move on. First, I had to drive to Jon’s house In Bloomington to retrieve all my paddling gear that I had left behind when departing Pittsburgh. Secondly, I needed to return to Pittsburgh to retrieve my kayak. I approached these trips as an opportunity to heal and get my mind focused on future kayaking experiences.
To my surprise, the trips to Bloomington and Pittsburgh were very motivating. Gone was that feeling of failure. My heart was actually filled with my love of kayaking. Thinking back on this. I get quite emotional. Thank God, I am able to move forward!
Back home, sorting through my gear was a great opportunity to think about the steps that need to be taken to prepare myself for my next river trip.
Do an overnight, that requires me to pack my boat, paddle, unload, set up camp and repeat that all in the morning to return home
Compete a two night paddle
A four night paddle
Complete the final 200 miles I have left of the Mississippi River through Iowa and Missouri.
Then I will be ready and eager to tackle a major river, either the Ohio or Missouri.
So, today June 26, along with my dear friend VO I loaded my boat. Honestly I took much more than I needed for an overnight. I tried to replicate a full gear load out for a longer trip. We both got our boats packed as we headed out onto the Cumberland river in Ashland City at 3:30 pm. The weather was hot, 90oF, part of the heat dome that has been Locked over the southwest and southeast for the last month. Luckily, we paddle downstream into a 5 -10pm wind, which really helped to take the heat level down a bit.
We took care to Focus on hydration as we paddle into the wind. The southwestern bank of the Cumberland is framed by beautiful limestone bluffs that come right to the edge of the water. Occasionally we encounter turtles sunning themselves on the rocks before plopping back into the river as we approached.
At the five mile mark we pass the Harpeth river as it ends its journey from historic Franklin Tennessee and joins the Cumberland on its way to its confluence with the Ohio river. This is a milestone for us, as we have paddled the Harpeth many times so I know we are only three miles from camp.
The other day I scouted our campsite. It sat on the right river bank and it looked like I would be able to exit my boat there and haul it up the bank, saving us the work of carrying our boats and gear from the boat ramp. As we paddled the last miles, my mind was occupied as I played out the riverbank landing, visualizing how I would get out of my boat without capsizing or losing any loose gear in the water.
What I hadn't accounted for , is the shoreline rocks being covered in slippery green slime. I struggled for 20 minutes to exit my boat and scramble up the bank to secure my docking line. After a swim and another close call, VO saw that I was riding the struggle bus and suggested I paddle over to the boat landing where he had landed. Swallowing my pride I took his advice. I didn’t enjoy hauling all our gear and boats by hand like cavemen. At that point I rue’d my decision to not bring my portage wheels. Yet another lesson learned on my journey of recovery.
Setting up camp took a long time. It took me at Least 30 minutes to remember how to set up my tent. Going into this trip I knew everything would take longer to accomplish than it did before my stroke. My whole purpose here was to experience all the tasks of kayak camping so I would know what I needed to work on improving.
As it was still in the 90’s I really didn’t feel like eating but I knew I had to. We each had packed dinner, so we made them both and shared. I know my cousin Jon would have been disappointed in the menu, but I didn’t care at this point. It was my first overnight on a river since May of 2021.
On the Mississippi we almost always camped in primitive wilderness sites so there was always a surplus of firewood. However tonight we are at a state park with no firewood. Was bummed that VO would not experience a fire to end the night. With it still being hot, it wasn’t the end of the world. We did relax in the moonlight while enjoying a bourbon, solving all but a few of the world's problems.
Sleeping on the ground was one of my biggest tests. Despite the heat and humidity over night I managed to get comfortable and sleep. All day I had been drinking liters of water to stay hydrated, so of course I had several late night sessions with my pee bottle. Kind of makes we wish it was socially acceptable to use one at home.
Morning dawned overcast and still humid, but a little cooler. As we started making breakfast, I commented to VO how nice it was going to be packing up dry tents. On a long trip, this is a much appreciated occurrence. Just as we were walking back from the restroom, it started pouring! Once back at camp,we finished up breakfast, taking our time eating and packing up our gear while we let the tents dry out.
The paddle upstream home was into a stiff headwind, usually not something I enjoy but it actually made the over 90 heat more comfortable. Traveling into the wind and downstream current made for slow going but I was in no rush and I was headed home. So I enjoyed the pace taking in the turtles and gray herons we encountered on the way. Arriving back at our home base marina at 4:00pm after a trip of four hours.
Looking back I’m happy with the result of my first attempt at an overnight paddle trip All the goals I had set for myself Accomplished. Obviously I have more work left to do before I attempt a multi-week trip. But just like the journey of a thousand miles it begins with the first paddle stroke.
