From the Rouge River to Rick's Boat Repair
by Denise Janus

At 6 a.m. we put in at the Melvindale public boat launch and canoed the Rouge River to the Detroit River. Dearborn Press and Guide photographer Millard Berry photographed us on the Rouge, and WDIV Local 4 TV videotaped us as we entered the Detroit River. Dr. Andy Gerhart was interviewed as he stood on the walkway at the top of Michigan's newest lighthouse, the Mariner's Memorial Lighthouse, and Mike Means was interviewed when the team pulled into Belanger Park for a snack.  Tony Laginess, River Rouge city commissioner, hosted us at the park and lighthouse. People waved to us from all along the shoreline. 

We ran into rough choppy waves on the Detroit River but got through and were more confident afterwards about the boat and our abilities to command it.  We stopped at Humbug Woods, a nature conservatory that occupies the last mile of natural shoreline on the Detroit River, where we were met by Dr. Kay McGowan, a Native American and anthropologist, who gave the team a dream catcher. More newspaper photos were taken.

We landed at Lake Erie metro Park about 1:45 p.m., after canoeing 21 miles. We were so tired that it was difficult lifting the nearly 400-pound canoe onto the trailer. We loaded it but scraped it up a bit in the process. We set up camp and headed to Rick's Boat Repair shop. A place David Means, Mike's Dad, had found as he was scouting the area for restaurants and a place for us to watch the Pistons game. Rick Sheardown, the shop owner, opened up his shop and helped us redesign the trailer so that it would be easier to get the canoe on and off. He offered us soft drinks to go with our pizza and worked with us until the trailer was finished around 11 p.m. While we didn't get to see the Pistons play, we learned a valuable lesson from Rick about helping other people. He was like a guardian angel and we are extremely grateful for what he did for us.