Day 1 - 2012

Today started out at about 4:00. By the time the car was loaded and some last minute items taken care of at home, it was 5:00.



This was the kayak on top of the rental car, just as I was about to leave home.



I stopped outside of Wheeling, West Virginia to get a floaty for my waterproof camera.



This was my destination. There is a nice boat ramp within a little park, which is also part of the recreation trail around Pittsburgh. I met a nice couple there, fishing with their grandchildren. They were interested, so I gave Steve one of the papers I'm handing out that explains what I'm doing and my website. I setup the kayak, then returned the rental car and hiked the mile and a half back to the park.




This is the way I left the kayak.....of course without any money or electronics inside. It was locked to the dock with a cable. Fortunately, it's honest people hanging out at the park. I had no incidents this year or last year when leaving it unattended.




This is one of the inclines Pittsburgh has for tourists. You can see the car going up, passing the car coming down.




Heinz Field, where the Steelers Play.




Behind the bridge, is the stadium where the Pirates play. The team is in Cincinnati today.




The is the actual "point" at point park. This is where the Allegheny and the Monongahela Rivers come together to form the Ohio River. I made sure I touched the point as my official starting spot, even though I started more than a mile up river.




I encounter a submarine within moments after beginning. it's for tourists.





Here I am inside the first lock.




The river leaking through the closed gates as the water in the chamber falls.




This my rope I hold onto as the chamber waters lowers. The rope keeps my in one spot.




This is the open gate after my fifteen foot drop.




I stayed just a little downriver from this Coast Guard Station. There is a little inlet for my kayak and a flat piece of concrete to stay on. It's so nice out, I'm not setting up my tent tonight; I'm just going to sleep under the starts. That should save about twenty minutes of packing in the morning.

Location:Osborne, Pennsylvania