Clevelanders, last night I did one of the coolest things in this city. I went kayaking on Lake Erie.
41º North Kayak has a bunch of different tour packages — I chose the Cleveland Rocks! Sunset Tour. I have no kayak experience, but felt I was capable enough with my rafting skills… and that canoe thing I rented in Costa Maya. We left Wendy Park (on Whiskey Island) around 6 p.m., after quick safety instructions for a 5 nautical mile (3 hours) trip. The tour took us past the old Coast Guard Station, which our guide tells us there are plans (finally) to rebuild into shops and other touristy things. Did he say Towpath? Awesome. We continued from there over the Cuyahoga River, past the Browns Stadium, that Mather boat museum where I hit my head on something sticking out from an interior wall when I was a child and the Science Center. The best part was being able to kayak underneath — yes, UNDERNEATH the Rock Hall! There is a portion of the building goes into the water, you can paddle around it. Very, very cool. There was no wake in this area, so it was calm and peaceful to paddle around and admire the Cleveland skyline from a water perspective.
The remainder of our tour lead us down to the old Hornblower’s and another naval vessel. I don’t know anything about this submarine, but I think this area would be a perfect paddle boat rental spot for Clevelanders and visitors. There was a martini glass painted on the side of the boat with “0-19.” Another guide tells us it was because they saved 19 sailors and celebrated. Does anyone know anything more about this submarine? And do they intend to do anything with that restaurant?
The weather was overcast and storms expected in about 30 minutes from the end of our voyage, but our waves were minimal within the breakwall area (it stormed on my drive home. Ha!). 41º North posts schedules about every 6-8 weeks of packages offered — and they sell out QUICK! There is a Burning River Tour coming up late summer that I really want to do. I absolutely love living in Cleveland with its never-ending options of outdoors activities.
See, Cleveland? Fun stuff to do. You just have to look.
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I want to do that! Sounds like a great adventure. I would need to take a beginners class first since it has been a long time since summer camp. Thanks for the Fun stuff to do list, I moved here last year (from Akron but I never really ventured into Cleveland until I took a job here) and have been looking for fun things to do!
July 5th, 2008 at 7:30 am
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July 6th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Very cool, Mel, and very appropriate to sail past the USS Cod on this particular holiday.
The Cod is the fleet flagship for a design of diesel-hybrid electric submarines that helped stop the massive Japanese Navy in its tracks at a time when they seemed invincible. 3% of the US Naval force, U.S. submarines sank more than 55% of the Japanese ships lost in all of WWII, including more than 70% of her merchant fleet and more than 220 warships. They also conducted secret intelligence gathering missions and rescued more than 550 aviators who were forced to ditch at sea in enemy waters, including former President George Bush. The U.S. Navy lost 52 submarines with a loss of more than 3,500 men, or 22% of the submarine force.
From the USS Cod website;
We recently acquired two GM Cleveland Model 248 engines that had originally been used aboard another WW-II submarine, USS Stingray SS-186. The two engines will be used for parts for the restoration of Cod’s engines. These very large V-16, 1,600 HP diesel engines were originally built right here in Cleveland, Ohio — the last in 1943. Each engine weighs about 43,000 pounds (21,000 kG). Here is a photo showing one of these engines loaded aboard a transporter. click here
Cod’s Mark IV Torpedo Data Computer has been restored to full operation. Click here to see a few photos of this amazing mechanical computer.
(Westinghouse torpedoes, also Cleveland made)
and;
It was on Cod’s seventh and final war patrol that she would carve a unique niche for herself, not for destroying enemy ships, but for performing the only international submarine-to-submarine rescue in history. On the morning of July 8, 1945 Cod arrived at Ladd Reef in the South China Sea to aid the Dutch Submarine O-19 which had grounded on the coral outcropping. After two days of attempts at pulling O-19 free, the captains of both vessels agreed that there was no hope of freeing the Dutch sub from the grip of the reef. After removing the 56 Dutch sailors to safety, Cod destroyed the O-19 with two scuttling charges, two torpedoes, and 16 rounds from Cod’s 5-inch deck gun. The Cod was home to 153 men for the two and a half-day run to the recently liberated Subic Bay naval base.
After delivering the O-19 crew, Cod returned to her patrol area off the coast of Vietnam where she resumed boarding and sinking Junks carrying enemy supplies. During one of these “pirate-like” operations, a five-man boarding party was stranded on a junk after Cod was strafed by a Japanese plane and forced to crash dive. It was several hours before Cod could surface to retrieve her boarding party. When she did, the horizon was littered with Junks.
After a two-day search involving several U.S. submarines, the lost crewmen were recovered by the submarine Blenny. Highlights of the patrol, including the O-19 rescue and return of the lost boarding party, were recorded in color movies made by Norman Jensen, a Navy photographer, who was assigned to film Cod’s war patrol. The films were discovered in the National Archives in 1992.
Cod returned to her Perth, Australia base on August 13, 1945, and was met at the dock by the men of the O-19 who invited their rescuers to a thank-you party. It was during the party that word of the Japanese surrender was received. Today, Cod’s battleflag and conning tower both carry a cocktail glass above the name “O-19″ to commemorate the rescue and the party.
Before you visit the Cod, rent “Das Boot” and watch it on the biggest screen you have at max volume. Cod class subs were luxury yachts compared to U-boats, Japanese subs tended to sink at first launch.
When you visit the Cod, and its ice cream machine, look at Cleveland through the periscope mounted on land nearby. It’s a great way to see Cleveland, you just have to look.
July 7th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Wow, will there be a quiz on this later?
Thanks a bunch for posting this historical information, Mr. Goodwrench!
July 7th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
You’re welcome,Mel. No quiz, but imagine what a blowout that party must have been!
July 7th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I’m now suddenly in the mood for a good martini.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Gin or Vodka, Mr. Goodwrench?
July 15th, 2008 at 2:20 am
Informative and Very useful posting.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Sorry Mel, lost at sea temporarily, actually, work.
Vodka, generally.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Tour West Rafting…
I enjoyed reading your blog. It is so interesting reading other peoples personal take on a subject….