URBAN PADDLER

The Mississippi River and downtown St Paul, Minnesota.

There is a whirl of activity at Hidden Falls Park in St. Paul, Minnesota. Shuttle buses are coming and going. Kayaks and canoes are being unloaded and carried to the grassy staging area next to the river. Numbers are have been assigned, pictures are being taken, while water, apples and granola bars are packed into the boats. It is the annual Mightyssippi River Adventure Race day on the Mississippi River. Over a 100 hundred paddlers have signed up for the 14-mile charity event through the Twin Cities. The paddler's instructions on the river are easy: Be Safe, stay to the right of the river when traveling downstream. Avoid all boats and barges and have fun.

A countdown from the loudspeakers and soon the river is filled with kayaks and canoes of every color and size. Before long the paddlers spread out going past Fort Snelling State Park and the skyline of St Paul giving each one their own perspective of the famous river. At times it is gritty and industrial, but also offers an oasis of nature in the heart of city dwellings.

A night on California's Lake Natoma.

Most paddlers feel like they are discovering it for the first time. They are surprised that an urban river can contain so much beauty and nature. It happens all the time for urban paddlers. The waterways thought to be dirty and polluted are found clean, inviting and full of wildlife. On the Red River between Fargo and Moorhead, I have seen deer, beaver and even a bald eagle along the bends of the rivers just blocks away from downtown. River otters splash and hide in the rocks underneath the Rainbow Bridge over Lake Natoma and the American River, while farther down Californian quail, deer, and Canadian geese find a haven in the sloughs.

On the river urban views are blocked by trees. The only reminder that one is even close to civilization is going to the cities train and highway bridges. The buzz of traffic echoes off the water giving us the only clue we are close to home. In some places, we go back in time past turn of the century mills and remnants. Along the Red River on the Moorhead side, I can still find broken bottles from the prohibition days when North Dakota was dry and Minnesota taverns were right on the river. On the American River, huge piles of dredge tailings are still visible from gold mining days. The waterways are no longer highways or dumping grounds and the rivers have now reclaimed their banks.

Canoeist Natalie Warren founder of the outdoor education nonprofit Wild River Academy has trekked the waterways across the country to observe how rivers are promoted in their communities. In a recent interview with Canoe & Kayak Magazine said, "When I paddled urban rivers from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay and from Minnesota down to the Gulf of Mexico, I realized that our local water trails have their own beauty and, even more, provide a classroom to learn how our country uses rivers. My experiences on wild and urban rivers inspired me to speak about building a culture around urban paddling, diversifying the paddling community, and increasing recreation, positively impacting all aspects of society."

Warren's goal is to increase recreation through the public waterways in river towns with the addition outfitters, hiking and bike paths, restaurants and interpretive centers, campgrounds and most important access to the water.
 "I hope to highlight the positive ripple effects of opening up to the river and prioritizing water trails to improve recreation and trails, tourism and economies, and increased environmental education and ecosystem health. It all starts with a paddle in the water. Every time you paddle locally you are partaking in a larger movement for the betterment of communities, ecosystems, and the future of river-town economies."

Paddlers taking part in the Mightyssippi River Adventure finished the day under the Interstate 94 bridge, 14 miles downstream. They came away with sore muscles and smiles with this annual day on the Mississippi. Of course for some, this experience is only a warm up to their annual Boundary Waters trip or lifelong dream of going down the Grand Canyon. However, paddling locally and exploring their neighborhood water trail gave them a low-cost view of the river, right in their own backyard.

This article was originally published in Outside Adventure to the Max January 17, 2015. 

 

Jury convicts Arizona man of shooting at Flagstaff kayakers 

An Arizona jury was deadlocked on attempted murder and kidnapping charges against Danny Eugene Button who was accused of shooting at four kayakers but convicted him of endangerment and other counts.

Button was found guilty earlier this week, of endangerment, aggravated assault and disorderly conduct with a weapon according to the Mohave Valley Daily News.
Button, 68, used a handgun to fire five shots at a group of kayakers as they were paddling down the Burro Creek in February 2017. Tyler Williams saw one round hit about four feet from him. He bailed from the kayak and floated downriver to escape. He was found unharmed the next day. The rest of the party was ordered out their kayaks by Button and held at gunpoint and ordered them to return upstream to the campground. Button claimed they were trespassing on private property. Button's wife's family owns the land surrounding that section of the creek, while prosecutors say the kayakers did not trespass on the property because is creek is a navigable waterway and boaters did not come contact with the bank or bottom.
The judge ordered Button to remain in custody without bond until his sentencing, which is scheduled for next month. He could face 20 to 30 years in prison.

Kayaker attacked river otter, fearing for her life, battles animal with paddle

When we think of river otters, we think of the playful critter sliding and wrestling, belly flopping, and somersaulting through the water. Unlike a mountain lion or alligator we know we have little to fear. But, in Florida last weekend a paddling trip turned life-threatening when a river otter surprisingly attacked a 77-year-old woman
Sue Spector was kayaking with a group on Braden River in west-central Florida when an otter climbed onto her kayak and then jumped on her scratching and biting her arms, nose and ear.

"I took my paddle and I tried to get him off of me and he wouldn't let go and I kept screaming, I kept beating him with a paddle," Spector told Tampa Bay's Fox 13, "When you're [in the middle of] it you don't have a lot of thought except you hope you survive."
As she fought to beat the animal off, her kayak flipped, Fox reports, leaving her in neck-deep cold water still battling the possibly rabid animal
The otter eventually let go, as Spector's nearby husband also beat it with his paddle, leaving Spector needing stitches and rabies treatment.
While this is extremely unusual behavior for otters, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson told the Bradenton Herald they have heard reports of at least four injuries due to an aggressive otter.

FLOOD WATCH: HIGH WATER HAVOC IN THE MIDWEST

Courtesy of Claire Abendroth, MLive  Check out her other flood Photos

This past week roughly 70 rivers were at flood stage and more than 250 river gauges reported levels above flood stage from the Great Lakes to Texas according to the National Weather Service as heavy rains and intense flooding has ravaged parts of central and southern states. While this weekend, states along the Atlantic Coast are bracing for a major Nor'easter expected to pound the region with damaging winds, heavy rain and snow and severe flooding.

Flood waters on the Ohio River in both Louisville and Cincinnati were at their highest levels in 20 years. The river was expected to reach moderate flood stage along the southern border of Ohio and West Virginia in the coming days, the weather service said.

In Michigan, the water is receding after flooding that prompted evacuations after areas were swamped by high water from heavy rains and melting snow.

As the water gush city streets were turned into rivers enticing some paddlers to break out their boats and explore their flooded neighborhoods and the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing.

Last week, Colleen Curran and her husband Jesse Schultz launched their kayaks in a campus parking lot and toured the flooded college's landmarks and sports facilities paddling down the usually dry River Trail, or through Beal Botanical Gardens, where the water went right up to the university's library.

The coolest sight, she told MLive, was paddling through the baseball and softball diamonds, where water was so deep, at times their paddles didn't even touch the ground. The doors to the hitting and pitching facility were open, to paddle through, giving them the feeling of being on the Titanic.

"We kayak the same rivers all the time," Curran said, "It's not often it floods and we get to do something different."

Floodwater, however, can be very treacherous as Kalamazoo's Evan Curtis told Wood TV8.
"There’s a whole bunch of people kayaking, so we’re like, ‘Hey let’s go kayaking! We thought it would be a great idea. Like it’d be a great time.”
But, it didn’t take long for Curtis and the rest of his kayak club to figure that out that the flooded Kalamazoo River wasn't the place to play.
“There were spots that where it was pretty questionable,” he said. “Once we got to the river that was crazy. It was going so fast.”

Rescuers are saying that those high swift waters on the Paw Paw River and the Grand River are to blame for two missing kayakers presumed drowned in two separate incidents in Michigan earlier this week. While an Indiana State Police trooper and two good Samaritans quick action saved a kayaker’s life.

The Lansing Fire Department says rescue teams were told that the man fell into the into the Grand River water running fast after last week's major flooding, Tuesday evening near the Brenke Fish Ladder in Lansing. Witnesses reported a kayak and paddle were spotted floating down the river. Boats and divers were called to search the river.

"Given the water level and the speed the river is traveling right now, we knew this was going to be a long, intensive operation," fire department spokesman Steve Mazurek said.

Along the Paw Paw River, about hundred miles west of Lansing, rescuers were searching for another kayaker this week after two of the kayaks capsized after hitting a log in the river.

"One guy was able to get his kayak through the logjam and made his way to shore," said Dan Jones the Chief of the Watervliet Fire Department told WNDU-TV, "The other one swam to shore and the third one is still missing."

Searching the Paw Paw River

Officials warned that this not the time to on the Paw Paw River, because of the recent flooding.
"With the river being out of its banks there's a lot of entanglements and the channel that has the highest flow in it is pretty narrow," said Jones. "Stay out unless you're very well experienced," said Jones. "If you do wander into the waters, by all means, wear a life jacket it makes you much easier to find."

Kaitlyn Greene

While in Indiana earlier this week, state trooper Kaitlyn Greene was patrolling flooded areas when she was frantically waved down by the wife of a kayaker who was nearly submerged underwater and clinging to a metal culvert pipe. They had been kayaking in a flooded field when he and his kayak was swept into the culvert. He was able to grab the top of the pipe before being sucked underwater, keeping his head and arms above water.

Greene, a member of the local water rescue team was able to secure her throw bag rope under the man's armpits and around his back and with the help of two passing motorists pull the boater to safety.
"As bad as it sounds,” she told the Dubois County Herald, “Ninety-nine percent of what I do is evidence and body recoveries. It was refreshing to actually be able to do a rescue and he got to go home.”

So the best advice we can give when it comes to paddling in flood waters is: DON'T!
It's pretty simple advice but as one can see from the stories above, not always taken.
Flood waters are just very unpredictable. Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water.
Most people underestimate the force and power of water. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It only takes a foot of rushing water to sweep away a small car, while 2-feet of rushing water can wash away most vehicles along with the road under it.

So why would you even consider boating in a river, creek or any other body of water is at or above flood stage? You are not only risking your life but the lives of search and rescue crews, not to mention the possibility of arrest and fines if law officials issue orders banning all nonofficial watercraft in the flooded areas.

NRS listed eight dangers in flood stage boating in their web page article entitled Riding the Flood, that should always be considered before paddling in inundate waters

• Debris in the water. The rising water pulls streamside debris into the flow. Banks get undercut and trees, fence posts and structures fall into the water. You can find yourself sharing the run with all sorts of foreign objects.
• Strainers. Trees and logs get lodged and create severe hazards. Water flows through and around them; you and your boat won’t. In larger streams, you may be able to avoid them. In a smaller stream, a strainer can completely block it. Undercut rocks and boulder sieves are also severe entrapment hazards that can be created or accentuated by high water.
• Low head dams. A low head or “run of the river” dam is used to raise the level of a stream. Water flows over the lip of the dam and creates a perfect reversal on the downstream side that can go from difficult to impossible to get out of. They are dangerous at any flow, but can be particularly strong at high flows.
• Bridge abutments. They can catch debris and even block off the channel. Even without debris catch, they kick off big swirling side-curling waves.
• Turbid water. The muddy flow hides hazards that would normally be visible.
• Water out of its banks. The stream can flow out into the surrounding countryside, taking you into trees, brush, fences and other entrapment obstacles.
• Cold water. Especially in the spring, cold water significantly increases the risk of hypothermia.
• Fast current. Normally, the higher the water, the faster it is flowing. Things happen fast, you have much less time to react to conditions.

THE PATH OF THE MOON OVER WATER: Tips On Paddling At Night

Joys come from simple and natural things: mists over meadows, sunlight on leaves, the path of the moon over water. -- Sigurd F. Olson

The two best reasons to ever buy a kayak rather than just renting one are for the stunning sunsets and splendid sunrises. Those first and last hours of sunlight, that photographers refer to as the "Golden Hour" creates a magnificent mood across the water as the sun slips behind the horizon or climbs steadily into the sky while gliding silently across the lake soaking in twilight’s peaceful enchantment.

On the other hand, there is magic in the night. After the sun sets in a fading crimson glow, while the rising full moon is casting an ethereal light upon the water and giving us just another reason to stay out on the water. There is a peaceful sense of stillness. The boat traffic along with the wind has died down while the birds and animals settle in till morning, leaving the nighttime paddler lost in space between the stars in the heavens and the serene of the water.

"It's one of my favorite activities," wrote Canadian paddler Harvey Chris Wittenberg, "Nothing better than glassy conditions during a full moon, when natural illumination is greatest. The only sounds you hear are the surf or your paddle breaking the water. A very serene "zen-like" moment."

Night paddling is not the time to explore new places. As the light fades as the world transforms into a silver a black panorama and keeping track of your bearings in the dark can be hard to correct. Distances are harder to determine and landmarks can be difficult to see. Wittenberg recommends, to scout out your route ahead of time and leave glow stick on a rock or tree at your launch point to help you find your way back in the pitch black.

"I've had a few times where it was not easy to find my launch point," writes Wittenberg, "Make sure if it is a new area to check it out during daylight first and leave a float plan along with an expected time you'll come back with a loved one,"

While calm inland lakes and protected sea bays usually work the best for a moonlight paddling trip. If choosing a river, it should be free of snags and rapids with a take-out point easy to spot in low light conditions unless you plan to paddle back against the current to your original access point.

For coastal tours, be aware of any changes in the weather that might make any part paddle more hazardous in wind, waves, and tide. Also, stay out of commercial shipping lanes. If available, try using GPS mapping to help you identify your location at night.

Consult the U.S Coast Guard's Navigation Rules and have on hand sounding devices, like a whistle or air horn, and some sort of telecommunication device, like a VHF radio or cell phone in a waterproof case and an emergency beacon to alert others who might be far away. Insect repellent and a jacket for cool weather are always a good idea and always wear your PFD.

The most important part kayaking at night, it's essential that you remain visible not only other boat traffic but also members of your own kayaking party. To help the group stay close together, place a battery or an inflatable solar light such as the Luci Light on your bow and stern. Keep in mind that artificial lighting actually hinders our night vision. Keep only a red light to preserve night vision.

In addition, you can, wear a bright LED headlamp and carry a reserve flashlight. If another watercraft approaches, you can turn your headlamp in that direction to alert the other boat to your presence, but keep it off when kayaking or use the red light option to ensure the best view of the illuminating moon.

"It's good to carry a small light on the back of your PFD along with a headlamp," wrote Wittenberg, "I have fluorescent stickers on front and back of my kayak as well as on paddle because the paddle is the highest thing people will see. The best fluorescent stickers are the red and white ones you can get at a Marine store that work in sunlight and darkness, to put on either side of your kayak. Purchase a cheap green glow stick (for the front of the kayak) and a red one for the back."

The rest of 2018's Full Moons.

Studying the mystery of the moon and stillness of the water while gliding silently along in night's enchantment is something every paddler should experience. In the dark, hearing nature’s symphony of frogs and crickets singing from the unseen shore while the moonbeams shimmer across the pond can be a truly magical adventure.


What to go...Check with your outfitter or local state park to see if they offer any moonlit paddle nights. Across the country, many of them provide guided sunset and full moon paddling sessions and with all the gear for a reasonable price. Northern California's Current Adventures has been taking paddlers of all skill levels on their popular moonlit kayaking excursion on Lake Natoma near Sacramento.

OVER THE BOW: SAN FRANCISCO BAY

The Golden Gate Bridge's daily strip tease from enveloping stoles of mist to full frontal glory is still the most provocative show in town. -- Mary Moore Mason 

Once in a while, it's what you don't see, that creates something unforgettable. 

It's a common weather phenomenon in the San Francisco Bay. The fog pushes its way through the Golden Gate, as each tiny water droplet is suspended in the atmosphere, swirling, drifting and climbing up and over the Marin Headlands before being thrown out over the water like a thick fuzzy fleece blanket, gently tucking in the city right at its shoreline piers.

"I never get tired of the grays and whites that overtake the sky," writes author Kyle Boelte, "Where I search for a million ways to say the word fog to match the million ways I’ve seen it surround me, and fail, always fail, for there is no way to capture it." 

In the distance, the Golden Gate Bridge's towers seem to magically defy gravity and appear suspended and floating in a pillow of clouds. The fog is so dense that the rest of world-famous suspension bridge spanning the one-mile-wide strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean is hidden or a shadow in the mist.  

"Its efficiency cannot conceal the artistry. There is heart there, and soul. It is an object to be contemplated for hours," That is what longtime San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen, said about said about his love for that "mystical structure" that he called "the greatest bridge ever built."

Of course, he's is not alone. It seems everyone who cast their eyes on the iconic bridge, even if it's lost in a haze, look on in adoration. It's like that Sacramento based sea kayaker and photographer Tom Gomes. He says his love affair with the Golden Gate Bridge has reached a whole new level after spending a weekend last month photographing the Paddle Golden Gate Symposium from the water.

"Merging my passions for photography, kayaking and the Golden Gate Bridge herself was an opportunity afforded to me by the organizers of the 2018 Paddle Golden Gate Symposium," wrote Gomes in an email, "The vision of paddlers at work with the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Downtown San Francisco and Alcatraz as a background is a photographer’s dream come true."

The annual three-day paddling symposium gave area paddlers a challenging series of coastal exercises in the Bay's strong currents and powerful swells to help them advanced and develop their skills with some world's best paddling instructors and athletes.

Of course photographing the sessions like Kenny Howell and Sean Morely's SurfSki Adventure Class as they crossed under the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge and out to open water to practice surfing ocean swells prove to be just as daunting.

"Capturing images from a very bouncy, moving boat presents challenges for any seasoned photographer,' wrote Gomes, "No tripod possible of course and knee pads are the knee savers that kept me in the right position to get the best shots. Shooting super fast kept my images sharp and the experienced pilots from SeaTrek knew how to position me with the iconic backgrounds in mind."

Click on the link so you can see all Gomes' photos from Paddle Golden Gate at Photos from Paddle Golden Gate.

Over the Bow is a feature from Outside Adventure to the Max, telling the story behind the image. If you have a great picture with a great story, we would love to see it. Submit it to us at nickayak@gmail.com

TROUBLED WATERS: STATES & ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS CHALLENGE EPA OVER CLEAN WATER DELAY

The Trump administration has formally discontinued a major Obama-era clean water regulation. Last week, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt announced the suspension of the Clean Water Rule for two years, while the administration works to repeal and replace the rule with their own, industry-friendly version.

The Waters of the United States (WOTUS), the rule was designed to limit pollution in about 60 percent of the nation’s bodies of water, as put forth by the E.P.A. and the Army Corps of Engineers in 2015. It expanded the protection of headwaters, streams, and 20 million acres of wetlands including large bodies of water, such as the Chesapeake Bay, Puget Sound and the Mississippi River under the 1972 Clean Water Act. It held farmers and real estate developers accountable for runoff pollution in streams running through their property. because these tributaries can carry fertilizer discharges and other kinds of contamination from agriculture and fossil fuel extraction into the larger bodies of water.

Under fierce criticism, over 100 parties have since challenged water regulation including business groups and some Republican officials, arguing that it was an overstep of government power, prompting President Trump to take aim against the regulation, calling it “one of the worst examples of federal regulation.”
Shortly after taking office, Trump issued an executive order directing the EPA and the Department of the Army to rescind and replace it with less burdensome regulatory requirements on how farmers, ranchers, real estate developers and industry must safeguard the streams and tributaries.

Last week, Pruitt took a major step toward completing that task, by filing legal documents requiring to suspend the water regulation rule for two years. The rule was set to be implemented in the coming weeks, following a Supreme Court decision that said legal challenges to the regulation should be decided in federal district courts. That ruling will result in the lifting of a stay issued by an appeals court blocking the 2015 rule from going into effect.

“Today, E.P.A. is taking action to reduce confusion and provide certainty to America’s farmers and ranchers,” Pruitt said in a statement. “The 2015 WOTUS rule developed by the Obama administration will not be applicable for the next two years, while we work through the process of providing long-term regulatory certainty across all 50 states about what waters are subject to federal regulation.”

Republicans cheered the administration’s move saying the regulation was an infringement on property rights for farmers, ranchers.
“The Obama administration’s outrageous Waters of the United States rule would have put backyard ponds, puddles, and farm fields under Washington’s control,” said Senator John Barrasso, the Wyoming Republican who is chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in an interview with the New York Times, “Today’s action will give Wyoming’s ranchers, farmers, small businesses, and communities clarity."

Dozens of states and environmentalists groups have rallied to fight the move. This week, attorneys general from states including New York, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for delaying enforcement of the EPA rule meant to protect waterways saying it wrongly applied to lands far from traditionally “navigable waters.”

"The Trump Administration’s suspension of the Clean Water Rule is clearly illegal, threatening New York’s decades-long efforts to ensure our residents have access to safe, healthy water," New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who is leading the coalition, "We will fight back against this reckless rollback and the Trump administration’s continued assault on our nation’s core public health and environmental protections.”

In conjunction with the 11 states, Natural Resources Defense Council and National Wildlife Federation also filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York to prevent the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from delaying implementation of the regulations.

“The Clean Water Rule protects the bodies of water that feed the drinking water supply for one in three Americans,” said Jon Devine, NRDC senior attorney told The New York Times, “E.P.A. Administrator Scott Pruitt is racing the clock to deny protections for our public health and safety. It’s grossly irresponsible, and illegal."
Environmentalists predicted the rewrite will let polluters off the hook and say the delay is an obvious attempt to make it easier for corporate and agricultural interests to pollute waterways by allowing them to sidestep stiffer regulations.

“This reckless decision by the Trump Administration to suspend the implementation of the Clean Water Rule will put the drinking water for one in three Americans in danger, all so Trump and Scott Pruitt continue to pander to polluters intent on spewing their noxious waste into America’s waterways without accountability." Dalal Aboulhosn, Deputy Legislative Director for Land and Water for the Sierra Club said in a statement released by the environmental organization.

American Rivers, President Bob Irvin also critical of the White House's move says the move undercut water protections against dredging and filling will make innumerable small streams and wetlands that are essential for drinking water supplies, flood protection, and fish and wildlife habitat vulnerable to unregulated pollution.

"Healthy rivers and streams are vital to our communities and economy, and the health of millions of Americans. President Trump and EPA Administrator Pruitt want to throw away carefully crafted safeguards that were based on strong economic arguments, sound science and broad public support," stated Irvin.

EPA's Pruitt has been targeting WOTUS for years, even before he was in Washington; as Oklahoma attorney general, in 2015 where he lead a multi-state lawsuit against the rule, is expected to roll out his own version diminished of the rules this spring and finalize new rules this year.

STANDOUT PADDLING

I've lost count of how many times I have passed under Folsom's prominent Rainbow Bridge. The bridge is a historic landmark of the area. Built in 1917, the bridge crosses over the upper end of Lake Natoma and the American River. A 208-foot long concrete arch spans the rocky ledges of the canyon to help give the bridge it's fabled name. Photographed and painted time and time again the bridge is truly a magnificent sight.

I can remember last year when it loomed before me as I paddled up the lake. Before I had moved to California, I had only seen it in pictures. As I paddled under it, I felt a thrill in pushing against the current and past the silent monument. It was my welcome to Californian kayaking.

It is routine now. Lake Natoma is my home lake. I have kayaked it so much and so often that I could probably name the geese. Like all home lakes, I still find it beautiful and fun to paddle around. I enjoy the quietness of its sloughs and the loftiness of its high banks. I love that the water is just minutes from my home. But that's where I have taken the lake for granted. I'm used to visiting it day after day.

Great days fade into the next when I'm out kayaking alone. Sure, I have soloing days that are special. But, the lasting and great memories come from paddling with my wife. I love to watch her glide across the water. As an artist, she delights in changing colors of sky and water while making paintings in her mind. She will frown and voice disgust when a loud radio vanquishes the peaceful solitude of the lake. This is her moment to enjoy what God has painted before her eyes.

I paddle behind trying to keep up, while she reveals to me the wonders of the water. This is the first place we kayaked together when I came to visit her before we were married. We had rented a bulky tandem sit on top and paddled together across the lake through the sloughs. It was a cool day and we had the lake to ourselves. We toured through the marsh enjoying the trees, birds and each others company. Now, every time I pass through those sloughs I remember that day. Every time. It will always be one of my best memories of the lake.

Debbie and I shared a sunset paddle the other day. Nothing exemplary, we are heading into fall and the sun is setting faster each night. We had to race back now before the sun slammed into the horizon. A fleeting golden reflection illuminated the water and silhouetted Debbie and her kayak. The rainbow bridge is close and beaming in the setting sun.

We will leave no lasting imprint. Water has no memory. However, sharing it with each other will always make each visit to the lake standout.

This article was originally published in Outside Adventure to the Max September 19, 2014

MISSION 22: AN INTERVIEW WITH JOE MULLIN

The most fundamental part of paddling is always coming to the aid of a fellow boater. No matter what, when someone is sinking into the water, we will automatically step up to throw a rope, toss a bag and lend a hand.
That's why it's no surprise, that paddling community has embraced some nonprofits organizations that have healed and transformed lives through kayaking. Both Team River Runner and Heroes on the Water have benefited from volunteer paddlers across the nation helping to get our wounded veterans and their families out on the water. One veteran felt his calling to do even more for his fellow veterans.
According to a Department of Veterans Affairs study, each day over 20 veterans take their own lives. For Joseph Mullin that was staggering statistic he just couldn't accept. A disabled veteran with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Mullin felt he needed to generate national consciouses for this serious issue. To help create an awareness of Mission 22, a national organization aimed at suicide prevention among veterans and active military members, Mullin embarked on a 2,000-mile journey down the entire East Coast.
Called the, One Man, One Mission, To Save Thousands Expedition, Mullin started his trek last spring at Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Maine, heading south towards Key West Florida. Last week, Outside Adventure to the Max, caught up to Mullin while he was wintering after completing one-third of his trip. We asked him about his journey on the water and the veteran's cause he's paddling for.


OAM: As a disabled veteran yourself why did you get involved in Mission 22?
JM: I'm a disabled veteran with PTSD from 20 years of underwater recovery and a few life events. I was shot at when I was 17, so I know the sounds and feelings of having rounds whizzing by your head.
There is a bond between veterans cannot be explained nor can't be broken. My brother and sisters are hurting and need help. I think what I'm doing for Mission 22 is the best way for me to help them.

OAM: Your expedition is called: ONE MAN ONE MISSION TO SAVE THOUSANDS. How did you come up with the idea for this voyage and how long have you been planning it?
JM: I have been around the ocean all my life surfing, scuba diving, canoeing and kayaking. Lately, it has been mostly kayaking, so that's the perfect choice of vehicle for a trip.
What do they say go big or go home. If you do the math 22 (suicides) per day and the fact that I'm solo, The One Man One Mission to Save Thousands makes a great deal of sense. I thought 2,000 miles in a kayak would draw attention to the cause.
Living in Massachusetts with a direct access to Buzzards Bay made for the optimal training ground. The bay is like a bowl so when the water starts to move the chop comes at you from all sides. I trained in my 14-foot kayak in seas from flat to 7-feet. I trained for 2 years studying the movement of the water winds and currents. My route was 20 NM (nautical miles) down the coast across a harbor and many coves then stop for lunch and return in various conditions.
I had the Marion Harbormaster searching for me one day as someone called the coast guard saying I was in distress. They found me returning from Mattapoisett Harbor. I was fine the whole time. I had to promise to call him on CH 16 to let him know I was crossing the harbor.
On the day I was playing in 7-foot seas and when I had enough fun and was returning to calmer seas (3-4 ft) I could hear a diesel engine coming up behind me. It was the coast guard. We had an interesting radio conversation before I went back to my launch site.

OAM: How did you prep for this expedition? 
JM: I took a kayak camping trip with my buddy in Casco Bay in Maine 2015 and we ended up in 14-ft swells in 30-knot winds which I do not recommend anyone tries. We hit swells and wind at 22.5 degrees and maintained 3 mph with a constant rhythm.
I spent 2 years researching equipment and gathering data and charts plotting courses. Added some appropriate apps to my phone, USCG, Life360, Navionics, NOAA weather to name the main ones

OAM: You started your expedition to kayak the entire eastern seaboard last spring, Where are you at, how has been going and when do you expect to be underway again?
JM: I started at Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Maine on April 30, 2017, and ended at Watch Hill, Rhode Island. My original kayak (Necky Looksha Elite) developed problems when I reached Rhode Island and was losing buoyancy, stability and performance. I went from paddling 30-40 NM (nautical miles) a day to 10 NM.
I had to research, a new kayak and find a sponsor or a company willing to help me. After much research, I found Current Designs. I spoke directly with the owner of the company and explained to him my situation and my cause. I explained to him the conditions that I had paddled through so far and we talked about my course ahead. We came up with the best solution that I could live with a gently used Solstice GT.
You have to remember I am living out of the kayak, so transportation has been provided by family and friends. My new kayak was delivered, but it was too late in the year to continue. There were too many storms. So I am living with my girlfriend waiting for warmer weather and will start training once again in Buzzards Bay before departing hopefully in April. I will start where I left off in Watch Hill Rhode Island.

OAM: Tell us about your setbacks. I read your day #1 account and for many of us, we would have quit right there. What keeps you going?
JM: Day one kayak overloaded (ego bigger than common sense) I had paddled for over 2-hours. Was just coming to Baileys Mistake and was turning in when I capsized.
Because of the overloading I could no way self-rescue. I called the coast guard then spent one hour in 38-degree water. I was dressed for 45-minute immersion in 35-degree water. Ended up in the hospital with mild hypothermia.
I had unloaded all unnecessary gear, I basically went lean and mean and survival mode. Then I continued my trip.
If you are going to kayak the coast of Maine please join the Maine Island Trail Association. The information in their book is great. Also if you decide to kayak The Bold Coast (northern section) please hire a Maine guide for your safety. Trust me on that one I used every bit of knowledge technique and stamina to make it down that coast.
I did see a baby orca breach the surface three feet off my bow. That was fantastic.
I was stuck in Jonesport Maine for 5 days due to weather. Jonesport is a small lobstering town and I camped on a bluff the first two days in 50-knot winds and torrential downpours.

On the third day I packed my gear and headed into town (local hang out is Mooseabeck Video) I met a veteran there who gave me access to one of his houses for 3 days. The lobster men of Jonesport are excellent people who provided much information on currents and plotted my route. They also provided me with a radar reflector, don't let anyone tell you they don"t work, on a 44-inch light pole (Railblaza) it worked fine.

I capsized off of Rye, New Hampshire in shallow water. I was tired and was trying to take a short cut. I walked the kayak to shore and a surfer came out to help me. My son came to pick me up and while transporting me down the coast a bit the kayak folded in half so we went to his house where I could fix it. Those years of building surfboards come in handy. 

He took me Salisbury, Massachusetts to a state campground at the mouth of the Merrimack River. I waited 3 days for the mouth to calm down and it wasn't happening. There was 15 to 20-foot of surf. 

So talking with the local fishermen I went along the backside of Plum Island to enter further down the coast.
You need to be able to adjust plan on the fly as you may not always be able to camp or find lodging as you go.

Since I was in Massachusetts, I could call on friends to help. I won't have that luxury until I hit my hometown in Virginia. I can say there is nothing stranger looking than to see a kayak being transported in the back of your girlfriend's dump truck.
Watch Hill was my third capsize. I was a mile offshore going through a rip. I made it through the worst part and was going through the lesser part when I went to change course 4 degrees to head inland when it capsized so fast I could only wet exit and get it up right and install paddle float. 

Since the boat was traveling with the water above the transition strip I could not get any water out. I called a "mayday" and was contacted by coast guard but rescued by some local boaters. 

When I got to shore I noticed the top pin of my rudder system was missing which probably cause the abrupt flip. Luckily I do not panic nor quit.

OAM: OK, Gives us some highlights of the trip so. What has been the best part of the expedition so far?
JM: Seeing an orca breach the surface three feet off your bow is something you will never forget.
I will be forever grateful to the residents of Jonesport, Maine, and the 91-year-old veteran in Portland who gave me the grand tour of Portland and Cape Elizabeth. To all the other great people I have met along the way so far. The people who understand my cause and provide free camping and meals. 

To the media outlets that have covered my mission and journey. Catching the sunrise and sunsets out on the water. The tranquility of being out there man and nature in harmony.
Having PTSD, I'm at peace when I am on the water it's therapeutic to me.

OAM: Have you had any encounters with many veterans groups or veterans? 
JM: I have met with a number of veterans and we have shared our stories and experiences. We also have shared how many comrades we have lost to suicide. It saddens me that I didn't get the word out soon enough.
I have talked to veterans who belong to veterans groups who are willing to help spread the word about Mission 22. We have reduced the number from 22 to 20 (suicides per year) but our goal is zero. We still have a long way to go and much work to be done.

OAM: Have you been mostly going solo or have other paddlers come out to join you? What was that like?
JM: I get two reactions when I tell people. It's either great or they think I'm insane. They haven't convinced me yet on the insane part. 

It does take years of planning to get the right equipment. Having the right safety gear is paramount. You will be using all your skill sets as conditions are constantly changing. You will have to use every bit of your intelligence on kayaking and boating and every ounce of energy at times. 

When you think you are out of energy, you have to dig down and find more. Especially if you're going to kayak the Bold Coast north to south. There is no place to hide nor anyplace to duck in and rest.
I have sent out press releases to the (paddle) shops along the coast asking them to put up a notice if anyone wishes to come join me for any amount of time or length of the trip.
So far I have had only one Maine Island Trail member come out to the island I was on off of near Portland and we only got a short paddle as conditions changed and I went back to the island to camp.
I would enjoy some company and talk about the waters I'm in or heading into and also about the type of kayaking they do.

OAM: When do you expect to paddle into Key West? 

JM: I expect to leave Rhode Island sometime in April and I expect to make Key West, Florida by Christmas. However, I have extended my trip to include the gulf coast to Houston, TX.

OAM: How can people help? 
JM: First and foremost go to my website acske2017.org. At the top of the page click on the text with Mission 22 and donate.
Second I am paying for everything about this trip out of pocket. I'm on Social Security retirement so funds are very limited, you can help me at gofundme.com rkwvuqb8.
Kayakers can follow me on my site. When on the water, I post a blog every day. When I'm in your area and you want to join me send me a comment on the blog.
If you are willing to put me up for a night or to and feed me I would appreciate it or at least transport me to or from a near by campground.
Failure is not an option the cost is too great a price to be paid. The mission is far greater than the journey. Thank you in advance on behalf of my brother and sister veterans.