Day 2 - Wednesday, August 12, 2009

DAY 2 - THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

SCENE: Tahoe State Recreation Area in Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe, California

TIME: 10:00 p.m.

ACTION: Lynda stands on the very end of a pier that extends far out into the waters of Lake Tahoe. The thin mountain air has relinquished most of the day’s warmth. As she gazes out across the dark lake, a meteor suddenly streaks across the night sky. One of the many gifts of this week on the lake: a chance to view the Perseids meteor shower, away from manmade lights. Chilly, yes, but the show is definitely worth the cold and the late hour.

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Day two and all is well! Lynda reports that the group pushed off from Kings Beach early on Wednesday morning, less than half an hour later than they had planned. Since it always takes longer to schlep and stow the gear than they think it will, staying on schedule is a challenge.

On Wednesday, the paddlers had a chance to work out their jitters and gain confidence in their kayaking abilities. The paddling was a bit more challenging, choppy water in the afternoon requiring them to dig a little harder to make headway. The group moved at a somewhat leisurely pace, stopping often to stretch and cool off. They reminded themselves that it wasn’t a race and that they should take time to savor the journey. However, they also remained mindful that afternoon winds can kick up suddenly, so getting off the lake by early afternoon was wise.

The paddlers often drifted apart into pods of two and three, but tried to keep the entire group in sight. They passed the time by talking, telling jokes, and—at least on Wednesday—SINGING! I can only imagine the looks on the faces of unsuspecting beachgoers when they heard Broadway tunes wafting out of a hidden cove!

Lynda reported that the paddlers are all doing well, albeit a bit sore and slightly sunburned. At high altitude, water and sun can combine to concoct a whopper of a sunburn, so I hope they’re all slathering on the SPF. Lynda admitted to being somewhat stiff in her legs and . . . ahem . . .derriere . . and that several people had been dipping into the Icy Hot to soothe shoulders and knees. However, overall everyone is healthy and happy and enjoying the experience. The group has gelled well, which is a wonderful thing, considering that some of the paddlers hadn’t even met each other until the first day of the trip.

Paddlin’ for Paws 2009 has brought out a couple of supporters who made a special effort to redezvous with the group along their route. One of Lynda’s former grad students—a middle school teacher at King’s Beach—read about the trip and made a point of seeing them off at Wednesday’s launch. A fellow named John Merryfield also tried to meet them on Wednesday morning, but missed them because they were a bit behind schedule. He’ll be circumnavigating Lake Tahoe next month on a stand-up paddleboard to raise money for Farm Sanctuary and wanted to connect with Lynda.

Because Lynda and Mo missed out on it last year, the group made a point of stopping for breakfast at the Old Post Office Café in Carnelian Bay. Reportedly offering one of the best breakfasts on Lake Tahoe, it did not disappoint.

After a full day of paddling, the group arrived at Tahoe City and secured their kayaks, lugging their gear to their campsite at Tahoe State Recreation Area. Proving once again how vital the support crews are, Terri Bostick had hauled their camping gear to the campground at Tahoe City so it was there when they arrived.

After stowing their gear, the group ambled around Tahoe City, sightseeing and stopping for well-deserved ice cream. I can imagine they made quite a splash walking en masse through town in their bright yellow Paddlin’ for Paws t-shirts. A number of people have questioned them about the shirts, which is, of course, the perfect opening to spread the word about Paddlin’ for Paws. I think we all know that Lynda can talk to just about anyone(!), especially when it comes to discussing issues near and dear to her heart.

People they have encountered along the way have commended them for their cause and have also been amazed by the sheer mileage of the event and the fact that they’re doing it in single kayaks rather than tandems. Paddling the circumference of Lake Tahoe is no walk in the park and the sight of six middle-aged women (ages 48-56) tackling that challenge has impressed the folks they have met. It’s especially remarkable when you realize that several of the kayakers are novices, including Mary, who had never touched a kayak until last month!

Later, they returned to camp for dinner. Another extraordinary volunteer, Celia Ranson, not only drove her camper to the campground at Tahoe City, but also cooked dinner for everyone, including spaghetti, chicken, and that ambrosia of the gods—s’mores! The sunset from the pier, reading, chatting, and Skip-Bo followed as the group relaxed from their labors. Then it was off to bed in two tents (and one cot outside under the stars) to rest up for the next day. Natasha Hrenoff also arrived at the campground to shadow the paddlers for the next few days, providing support and a potential sag wagon for anyone who needs a break.

For Thursday, the paddlers are planning a 6:30 a.m. launch and they’ll try to keep to their schedule in order to be off the lake in the early afternoon. Thursday’s mileage is longer (11.9 miles) and the weather is expected to be somewhat unsettled, so they’ll want every advantage. Lake Tahoe can be treacherous in windy conditions because of the choppy water and shoreline rocks. Taking out earlier isn’t really an option; they need to make it to their destination (Meeks Bay) in order to have a place to sleep.

FUNDRAISING

Lest we forget that the ultimate goal of this event is to raise money for animal charities, I asked Lynda if I could put in a plug for donations. Yes, paddling around Lake Tahoe is an adventure and a good time, but the core of Lynda’s passion for this event is the opportunity to support organizations that help animals. What you may not know is that Lynda has donated hundreds of hours of her time to plan this event, in addition to a substantial amount of out-of-pocket expenses. She does that so every dime donated to Paddlin’ for Paws can go directly to the charities.

The Paddlin’ for Paws website isn’t completely up to date, but Lynda estimates that they have raised somewhere in the neighborhood of $3,000 so far this year. Ideally they would like to raise $6,000, so I encourage everyone to visit the “Donations” section of the website to see how you can help.

--Tamela Gorden