When good people eat bad mushroom

Yesterday, I put the Romany on the Blazer and went over to Bradford Beach (which is on Lake Michigan...but I digress). Air temp was around 72F and the water probably 65F. There was a light, warm wind blowing off shore, so the beach launch was easy enough.

After paddling up the shore for about 5 miles and returning, I used the remaining time to work on braces and rolls. I hit my first attempt at a hand roll, and that was on my "off" side. I was so into it that I failed to notice the videography team on shore taping my every move. As I was to learn later, they were gathering footage for This Is The Lake, a DVD that will premiere at Canoecopia this spring (Derrick is already working on the cover).

Did I mention that, during the 10 mile paddle, I bumped into some other paddlers and helped them out? Lucky for them. I came upon JB only to discover all his hatch covers were loose (I fixed them). I helped Alex off the lake to a safe landing site. Poor fellow was exhausted from trying to learn how to do his first roll. I told him to get some rest and call me in the morning.

I most surprised when I came upon Michael, he of Canadian fame. He was way over dressed and on the verge of heat exhaustion. I splashed him with water and removed the tire iron he had stored under his compass. He was grateful, as were they all.

I didn't actually see Sam, but I did find an empty bottle of Irish Whiskey with a note in it that read, "Ireland or bust." It was signed by Sam and Pat E. O'furniture.

A lucky thing for Greg that I found him when I did. He was doing sea trials on a boat he had built out of old barrel staves, and the thing was leaking like mad.

Coming ashore, I was swarmed by a group of gals who said they all worked at some place called Hooters and, after having watched me, wanted to know if they could buy me lunch. Lucky I still had on my PFD as things were getting pretty deep by then. I declined politely. Still, they insisted on carrying my boat and putting it up on the car while two others insisted on giving me a back rub. Hey, I didn't want to be rude.

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This morning, 36 hours after eating those funny mushrooms Lady Linda had prepared for supper, the temp had dropped to 15F and, some how, the harbor had frozen over. I won't be able to paddle today so I plan to use the time to try and find some more of those mushrooms.

Paddle safe...

DS