Toxic Algae In Our Waters: What Is The Fix?

Our region struggled with the toxic algae breakout in the Ohio River and Lake Erie this past summer.

These outbreaks negatively impacted the availability of these waterways for outdoor adventure. While folks struggle with the role of government and control of waterways, it is clear that a solution will inevitably involve both government and private sector participants. What are your thoughts on this issue?

Check out this story on the toxic algae problem.

http://news.yahoo.com/feds-plan-guidelines-toxic-algae-lakes-rivers-155955346.html

History Channel Host Visits New Richmond on the Ohio....

Scott Wolter, host of the History Channel Show "America Unearthed," visited the Green Kayak Market in New Richmond on the Ohio and toured this historic venue. Check out the link to hear what Scott had to say...

https://youtu.be/YWlmQuuBx20

In addition to his profession as a forensic geologist and an accomplished television host, Scott is a member of his local Mason Lodge and quite knowledgeable about this interesting organization. Many of the United States forefathers were Masons and utilized the learnings from such organization to outline the fundamental beliefs on which the United States of America was formed.

Get Outside & Play....and go HIKING

Hiking is a great way to Get Outside & Play, and you need not go far to do so.

Here's a list of the top 100 Hiking Trails in Ohio; #3 "East Fork State Park" is only a ten minute drive from New Richmond on the Ohio and the Green Kayak:

Rank	Hiking Trail	Location
1.	Arc of Appalachia	Hillsboro, Ohio
2.	Hocking Hills State Park	Logan, Ohio
3.	East Fork	Cincinnati, Ohio
4.	Archers Fork Loop Trail	New Matamoros - Wayne National Forest, Ohio
5.	Highbridge trail	Akron, Ohio
6.	Sells Park	Athens, Ohio
7.	Brandywine Falls and Stanford Trail	Sagamore Hills, Ohio
8.	Zaleski Backpack Trail	Zaleski, Ohio
9.	Lake Vesuvius Lakeshore Trail	Ironton, Ohio
10.	Cuyahoga Valley National Park	Peninsula, Ohio
11.	Lake Hope State Park	Athens, Ohio
12.	Mohican	Loudonville, Ohio
13.	Scioto Trail State Park	Chillicothe, Ohio
14.	Blendon Woods	Westerville, Ohio
15.	Caesar Creek State Park	Waynesville, Ohio
16.	Alum Creek Phase II	Lewis Center, Ohio
17.	John Bryan State Park	Yellow Springs, Ohio
18.	Jermain Park	Toledo, Ohio
19.	Charleston Falls Preserve	Tipp City, Ohio
20.	Glacier Ridge	Plain City, Ohio
21.	West Branch	Ravenna, Ohio
22.	Van Buren	Findlay, Ohio
23.	Blackhand Gorge	Nashport, Ohio
24.	Farnsworth	Waterville, Ohio
25.	Zimmerman Trail	Mentor, Ohio
26.	Burr Oak State Park	Glouster, Ohio
27.	Deer Creek State Park	Mt. Sterling, Ohio
28.	William H. Harsha Lake	Batavia, Ohio
29.	Battelle Darby Creek	Galloway, Ohio
30.	Sharon Woods	Westerville, Ohio
31.	Highhbanks Metropark	Lewis Center, Ohio
32.	Garbry Big Woods Sanctuary	Piqua, Ohio
33.	Twin Arch Reserve	Troy, Ohio
34.	Tower Park	Cincinnati, Ohio
35.	Kris-Mar Trails	Marietta, Ohio
36.	Stonelick State Park	Pleasant Plain, Ohio
37.	Thorn Mtn Bike Trail	Wellington, Ohio
38.	City Trails - Marietta Hs	Marietta, Ohio
39.	City Trails - Marietta Middle School	Marietta, Ohio
40.	Ohio View Connector Trail	New Matamoras, Ohio
41.	Cave Canyon Nature Preserve	Bainbridge, Ohio
42.	Ohio View Trail	New Matamoras, Ohio
43.	Harbin park	Hamilton, Ohio
44.	Quail Hollow	Hartville, Ohio
45.	Little Miami State Park	Loveland, Morrow, Corwin, Ohio
46.	Cowan Lake State Park	Wilmington, Ohio
47.	Geneva State Park	Geneva, Ohio
48.	Portage Lakes State Park	Akron, Ohio
49.	Clarence J. Brown Dam and Reservoir	Springfield, Ohio
50.	Great Seal State Park	Chillicothe, Ohio
51.	Paint Creek State Park	Bainbridge, Ohio
52.	Scenic River Trail	Newport, Ohio
53.	Atchinson (hogback Ridge North)	Madison, Ohio
54.	Hudson Springs Park	Hudson, Ohio
55.	Little Beaver Creek Greenway	Leetonia, Ohio
56.	Dillon State Park	Zanesville, Ohio
57.	Rays Indoor Mtb Park	Cleveland, Ohio
58.	Findley State Park	Wellington, Ohio
59.	Wolf Creek Trails	Barlow, Ohio
60.	Keehner Park	West Chester, Ohio
61.	Hueston Woods Bike Trail	Oxford, Ohio
62.	Deerfeild/ Landen Park	Landen, Ohio
63.	Hopewell Culture National Historical Park	Chillicothe, Ohio
64.	Kelleys Island State Park	Port Clinton, Ohio
65.	Kiser Lake State Park	Conover, Ohio
66.	Lake Logan State Park	Logan, Ohio
67.	Lake Loramie State Park	Minster, Ohio
68.	Lake Milton State Park	Lake Milton, Ohio
69.	Madison Lake State Park	London, Ohio
70.	Malabar Farm State Park	Lucas, Ohio
71.	Mary Jane Thurston State Park	McClure, Ohio
72.	Maumee Bay State Park	Oregon, Ohio
73.	Alum Creek State Park	Delaware, Ohio
74.	AW Marion State Park	Circleville, Ohio
75.	Barkcamp State Park	Belmont, Ohio
76.	Beaver Creek State Park	East Liverpool, Ohio
77.	Blue Rock State Park	Blue Rock, Ohio
78.	Buck Creek State Park	Springfield, Ohio
79.	Delaware State Park	Delaware, Ohio
80.	East Fork State Park	Bethel, Ohio
81.	East Harbor State Park	Lakeside-Marblehead, Ohio
82.	Forked Run State Park	Reedsville, Ohio
83.	Guilford Lake State Park	Lisbon, Ohio
84.	Harrison Lake State Park	Fayette, Ohio
85.	Headlands Beach State Park	Mentor, Ohio
86.	Hueston Woods State Park	College Corner, Ohio
87.	Independence Dam State Park	Defiance, Ohio
88.	Indian Lake State Park	Lakeview, Ohio
89.	Jefferson Lake State Park	Richmond, Ohio
90.	Mt Gilead State Park	Mt. Gilead, Ohio
91.	Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park	Nelson Township, Ohio
92.	Punderson State Park	Newbury, Ohio
93.	Pymatuning State Park	Andover, Ohio
94.	Rocky Fork State Park	Hillsboro, Ohio
95.	Salt Fork State Park	Lore City, Ohio
96.	Shawnee State Park	Portsmouth, Ohio
97.	Sycamore State Park	Trotwood, Ohio
98.	Tar Hollow State Park	Laurelville, Ohio
99.	Tinkers Creek State Park	Streetsboro, Ohio
100.	Van Buren State Park	Van Buren, Ohio http://www.tripleblaze.com/best/?c=39

Lots of Music In New Richmond on the Ohio

This weekend is, once again, filled with the sounds of music on the Ohio River. The Green Kayak Market, a small eatery in New Richmond on the Ohio, continues to support local music. Whether it's the now local tradition of "Open Mic Thursday" or the local talent taking the Old Lodge Stage on Friday and Saturday nights.

Thursday: Open Mic (various artists) (7-9p)
Friday: Mike Mullee (8p)
Saturday: TBA (8p)

Veteran's Day: Thank You!!

It's Veteran's Day and a reminder to thank all our veterans, as well as all those currently serving. Here at Ohio Kayak, we are thankful for all the men and women who have protected (and continue to protect) our Country and the freedoms it exemplified. Please take time now and throughout the holiday season to thank all those who have serve in the United States Armed Forces......

A Short Trip From The Green Kayak to Hocking Hills to "Get Outside & Play"

Wooded ravines, massive rock outcroppings, waterfalls, fauna and wildlife,  are just a few of the signatures of the Hocking Hills area of Ohio. This region, located in south-eastern Ohio, is only a short drive away from the Green Kayak in New Richmond on the Ohio and well worth the trip.

The Hocking Hills areas has a rich and interesting history. Whether it was the native Americans hunting wildlife or the early settlers mining minerals, this region has long been an attraction. Nowadays, thousands of tourists visit the Hocking Hills State Park area to enjoy outdoor adventure , including taking in the beauty of  Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls and the other pristine natural attractions.

The following is a link to the hiking trail maps at Hocking Hills State Park: http://www.hockinghills.com/trail_maps.html

Small Town Folks Make A Difference....How About You?

Word just made it to us that the Paddling for a Cause Event, sponsored by the World's Only Cardboard Boat Museum, the Green Kayak Restaurant and others, will host a check presentation on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at the World's Only Cardboard Boat Museum (311 Front Street, New Richmond, OH)....Everyone is invited. Hope to see you there

Guiness Book of World Record Holder, Rich Jetter; 22 miles, thru a river lock in a cardboard boat

Paddle For A Cause....A Complete Success

A group from New Richmond on the Ohio, including folks running the World's Only Cardboard Boat Museum, volunteers from Tri-State Kayakers and business owners from the +GreenKayak Market , created and participated in an event called "Paddling For A Cause." Led by Angie Williams (GM at Bob Evans Restaurant), the group organized a 22 mile kayak paddle through the Dam locks, with net proceeds donated to the Cancer cause in memory of Lauren Hill (local college basketball player and hero in the fight against cancer). The inaugural event included over 20 paddlers despite some adverse weather.

Another cool aspect of the event was that 3 paddlers began the event in their own, custom-made cardboard boats. Prior to the event all the necessary paperwork was filed for the Guinness Book of World Records and, indeed, one cardboard boat paddler completed all 22 miles!! How awesome is that. We will update with the person's name once we learn more.

The lesson learned here is that no matter where your from or what you do, with a little effort and vision you too can make a difference......Paddles up to all our friends!!

All pics taken from Paddling For A Cause Facebook page

SUPER MOON SUNDAY

It's another Super Moon Sunday. Check out the article in the Link. Stay up late, open a nice bottle of red wine, sit back and watch the moon......

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/09/25/Supermoon-eclipse-set-for-Sunday.html

This event will not happen again until 2033....

Once in a "Blue Moon"

A full moon occurs once every approximate 29.5 days, but every once in a "blue moon" two full moons can occur in one month. This Friday, July 31, 2015, will be just such a phenomena.  The next Blue Moon will not occur until 2018.....Get Outside & Play this Friday and have fun!!

Celebrate Earth Day 2015

We hope all acknowledge today as "Earth Day 2015."  Earth Day began in 1970, launching on the energy of the anti-war movement and the evolving awareness of the ravagess of environmental disasters. Indeed, the idea for Earth Day was hatched by a then-US Senator from Wisconsin, in part, based upon the fallout from an oil spill in California. ( www.earthday.org )

We spoke to some folks down in New Richmond on the Ohio. We caught someone at the Green Kayak Market. Not surprisingly, every day is Earth Day at the Kayak. The Kayak folks told us that they weekly recycle all their glass/plastic bottles, have plans to plant a garden and will be capturing rain water in barrels; now that's how you make a difference!

Clean Rivers......

As summer approaches and the minds of folks turn to rivers, lakes and fun; that's good. However, regardless of your views on "global warming" or other such issues, the cleanliness of our waterways is a very real and paramount concern.

Early this year, a report was issues regarding the Ohio River and identified one company downriver from Cincinnati allegedly responsible for a large amount of contaminants in the river. This must stop. Other rivers face similar concerns
 http://act.americanrivers.org/page/content/mer-2015/#sthash.S3W7kpxg.dpbs

In an effort to make a difference, rumor has it the the Green Kayak Market (New Richmond, OH) and Sweetwater Brewing (Atlanta, GA) our in discussions to begin a weekly Ohio River clean up initiative this summer. We love to hear this and encourage such action......Every little bit counts!! We will update you as we learn more and encourage you to check out the link to americanrivers.org

Paddles Up!!