Summer Kayaking in Ohio

I finally got the kayak out on the water the other day. After hauling it on top of my little car all the way from Utah and lugging it all over from one living place to another, it all finally paid off. It's a 12' Old Town Loon made in 2006. I got it a pawn shop in Alabama two years ago and it came with the two piece paddle and a nicely upgraded foam seat with adjustable back rest. I can't wait to get it out on Lake Erie and some of the many rivers in the area.

Here are a couple shots of it on the road trip from Utah to Ohio. Coming across Wyoming the winds were literally 50 mph plus and it I thought it was going to blow the thing right off the car.

Here we are on Lake Medina, just a mile from where I work and live. It was the first place I put in here in Ohio. Went out at about 7:00 am after my night shift and it was very peaceful and quiet. A little mist was rising off the water in the back coves which was neat.

The following 4 pictures are from my second outing. The next day I went to Portage Lakes south of Akron and had a nice long paddle. There are a lot of houses built along the sides with boats at the docks. Not exactly the serene natural setting I prefer but it was nice anyway. A lot of fishermen in boats, as expected on a Sunday morning.

I look forward to getting out with it more this summer. More pictures to follow.

A couple of quick pics of my trip to Mogadore Reservoir. There I encountered the largest carp I have ever seen. It nearly swamped me as it was startled and tried to swim away. It must have been at least 3.5 feet long. Nasty.

Virginia Kendall Ledges

The Cuyahoga (pronounced: ki ya hoga) National Park is located in North Eastern Ohio. The park was established as a way to help preserve the river of the same name which flows through it. The river begins in tributaries near Lake Erie east of Cleveland. It forms a "U" shape and is sometimes called Cleveland's "Emerald Necklace". In the national park valley there are dozens of recreational opportunities to enjoy. I am fortunate to live within a 15 minute drive to access to the lower part of the park. Best of all, all access is free!

As I set out to explore the different areas I find myself amazed at the natural beauty of the forests and wildlife that inhabit it. On my first time through any given trail I usually find myself keeping my camera in hand snapping shots of almost everything cool I see. I do this in an attempt to share the experience with my family back home who I hope will get a chance to come out here and experience this place for themselves.

Here are some pictures of my latest outing in to the park. I visited the Virginia Kendall Ledges area near Peninsula. What I saw was amazing and these pictures really don't do NE Ohio justice.

VIRGINIA KENDALL LEDGES

 Sunroofs are nice.

 Well over a hundred feet tall and about 4 feet in diameter.

Looking west from the ledge, sunsets here must be great.