Originally Posted by
SilvrSurfr
What an epic hang. PBTB12 and I met up at Bodine Field at 3:30 and paddled upstream on the Oswego River. We portaged over Chatsworth Road, and explored Harrisville Lake. After a few hours of paddling we headed back downstream to Bodine Field. About five minutes from camp, we spotted an underwater obstacle a bit too late, and capsized the canoe. Cell phones were not properly secured in ziploc bags, so there was a stupid tax to pay. The water temps were, um, chilly, to say the least, and I lost my Hammock Forums hat.
We rushed back to camp, turned up the heaters in the cars, and changed clothes. PBTB12 took the wet clothes to a laundry on Rt. 9 and dried things out. Ratdog, Chris183 and Diane arrived later and we had Jersey Mike's subs for dinner.
Next day all 25 hangers showed up. Some hearty souls got a shuttle from njredneck and Chris183 to Hawkins Bridge so we could paddle nine miles back to Bodine Field. Pretbek and effensmurfy were in my boat, when all of a sudden we capsized again around mile 4. I have no idea what happened this time - it all happened so fast. I lost my Boston Red Sox hat and a glove. Krust paddled downstream and retrieved a paddle we had lost. Daytime temps were in the thirties, and we were pretty hypothermic. We paddled into Godfrey Bridge and lit a fire to dry out the swimmers, which definitely stopped the uncontrollable shivering and teeth-chattering. It started snowing for a bit, which definitely wasn't in the forecast.
I started shivering again at mile six, around Evans Bridge, so we pulled over to take a rest and jog in place. When we had warmed up a bit, we started to shove off. Njredneck's friend Jim got in his canoe, and as it slid into the water, it capsized and he took a swim. Departure plans were postponed; a fire was lit, and the swimmers all warmed up again.
The final three miles were excruciating for me, trying to stay warm. We got into camp at 6:30 pm and switched into dry clothes. It took me a couple of hours to stop shivering, but njredneck had a warming tent, and there was a nice fire to warm up at.
It was great seeing old friends and making new. Many thanks to njredneck for organizing this trip. The food was amazing!
Pretbek, effensmurfy and PBTB12, thanks for taking the Polar Bear Challenge with me. Let's not do it again, ever!
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