Sullivan

Sullivan e-mailed me, so I guess he's still alive. I sent him a note six months or so ago but the e-mail came back undeliverable.

I figure he's retired now and moved into his new house and has little interest in communicating with the working world. He probably sits on his porch most of the time, drinking Chablis and getting on Linda's nerves.

Riverhead, NY and Fishing Memories

It's out on eastern Long Island, a resort town near the sound. I'm working in Bridgehampton this week, about 40 miles farther east, toward Montauk.

This a great area, and it brings back memories. I used to, with a bunch of cronies, go fishing here about this time each year. At least we told everybody we were fishing. I mostly remember hanging out in the local barrooms, misbehaving with Ray, Greg and Gil.

We actually did go fishing once, sort of. We hired a charter boat out of Montauk. We drove up early one morning and had breakfast about 5:00 am at some greasy dive by the wharf. I had toast and coffee and Ray wolfed down a plateful of awful looking red and yellow stuff. We warned him, but he said he was a navy veteran and could handle anything. I forget what Greg and Gil ate because I only saw it once.

I saw Ray's breakfast twice.

The weather wasn't good. It was windy and overcast. The sea was so high that most of the boats stayed in, but our captain took us out.

He needed the money.

We bucked the waves on the way out, powering up the crests and then dropping down into the troughs. Greg slept on a padded bench the whole time. When the boat fell he would hang in mid-air for two or three seconds, and when it hit bottom he would smack down so hard we thought his fillings would fall out.

We got to the fishing area and put some lines in the water. But the swells were about 8 feet high and we didn't catch anything. We just watched the horizon rise and fall, rise and fall.

Ray the navy veteran got seasick, which we enjoyed immensely. I was fine. I've never been troubled with motion sickness of any kind, plus I didn't eat much for breakfast. Greg continued to sleep -- he didn't really wake up till we were near the dock. He looked around wild-eyed and asked when we were heading out. We told him we'd been, and that he had a good time.

Times have sure changed. I don't fish much any more or hang out in bars.

I still eat, though.

River Trip #4 - Greenwood Access to Howe Township Park

This was Bonzi's first kayak trip. He did OK, a bit nervous at first but he settled down and began to enjoy the scenery. He wasn't real wild about sitting in the storage compartment so he hopped back with me. It was a little awkward at first be we adjusted.

The trip took about 3 hours. The river level was a 3.39 feet at Newport. That's a little low and I had to get out two or three times and walk the kayak. Bonzi seemed content to stay still while I floated the kayak and waded, as long as I was visible.

We took one break just below the Newport Bridge and stretched our legs. Bonzi saw turtles, ducks, egrets, a goose, and a couple of fish.

Attica, Ohio

Yep, all this week. I'll do some research on the area and let you know what, if anything, happened here.

Historically, that is.

Haven't found anything historical, but there's a racetrack in Attica. That should count for something.

Doggy Life Vest

I saw a picture on a web site of a dog riding in the cargo area of a kayak. I showed it to Bonzi and he appeared to be interested. So I did a little research and and it looks like, with a few basic safety precautions, it can be done.
So we'll give it a whirl. I ordered a CFD for Bonzi, small size. For the uninitiated, CFD stands for Canine Flotation Device. Of course.

It should be here in time for River Trip #4.

At some point I'll also get another paddle tether -- those coiled plastic cords that stretch out. I can attach one end to the CFD the other to my belt loop. If Bonzi falls in or jumps in to chase ducks I can reel him back.

River Trip #3 - Thompsontown to Greenwood Access

T drove me to the PA Fish Commission access area near Thompsontown. The parking lot was full of boat trailers and I saw some bass boats with two or three fishermen in each. Motor boats on the Juniata can't get very far -- a little upstream or downstream from the access areas, and that's about it. I guess the attraction is more fishing that boating. I haven't bothered to get a fishing license yet. I'm having enough fun just paddling and taking pictures for now. Maybe next year.

I traveled light this time -- a small cooler with drinks and a dry-bag with my GPS and camera. I had the the GPS tracking turned on. I like to measure the exact distance in river miles so I can see how fast and far I go. Plus it helps get the timing down so T can plan her day.

Because of the Labor Day holiday there were more people than usual on the river. In addition to the fisherman I saw canoes and kayaks. I think kayaks outnumber canoes now. When I was young there were more canoes.

Occasionally I passed families on the shore -- parents sitting in sling chairs, kids playing in the water. Most modern Moms are horrified at the idea of kids playing in a real river with rocks, mud and critters.

The float was smooth for the most part. I paddled through a few riffles but nothing too exciting. I ran into a shallow stretch just below Millerstown. I had to get out and drag the kayak for about 50 yards or so. No big deal.


The trip lasted just about 2 1/2 hours, which turned out to be perfect.

I'd like to take at least two more trips this year. Early fall is a nice time to paddle.

Defiance, Ohio

View of Defiance, Ohio from the north side of the Maumee River, 1887.

I'm in Defiance, Ohio this week -- enjoying really ncie weather. I'll be here until early Saturday morning, then I'll join the holiday travel crowd and head home. Holiday travel crowds are a real joy for business travelers. But I'll get through it.

Some Historical stuff on Defiance:

Defiance is the county seat of Defiance County, Ohio. The city was named for Fort Defiance, which once stood in the confines of the city. In August 1794, General Anthony Wayne ordered the construction of Fort Defiance at the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee Rivers. Wayne built the fort during his campaign against the Indians of Ohio to provide his men with protection and a staging ground for their operations. The fort was a rough square with a blockhouse located on each corner. In addition to the stockade, a wall of earth eight feet thick and a ditch eight feet deep and fifteen feet wide protected the fortifications. Lieutenant John Boyer, an officer in Wayne's army, claimed that the fort could protect the American soldiers from "the English, the Indians, and all the devils in hell."

Pretty arrogant, but he was an officer. The enlisted men may have felt differently.

Find more stuff about Defiance here.