4th Annual Santa Paddle Brings Christmas Cheer to Browns Tailgaters

Christmas cheer was in abundance along Cleveland’s Lake Erie shoreline yesterday as Nalu Standup Paddle & Surf’s 4th Annual Santa Paddle greeted Cleveland Browns fans before the game. In contrast to last year’s wind-blown affair, this year’s paddle was blessed with sunny skies and no wind as temperatures hovered around the freezing mark.

After putting on costumes over their wetsuits and pfds, 30 paddleboarders and 3 kayakers headed out on Lake Erie from LeanDog’s floating office for a trip around North Coast Harbor. Browns fans were treated to the sight of snowmen, reindeer, and elves as Santa and Elvis teamed up for more than a few photo-ops in front of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Spirits were even brighter later in the day when Browns fans left First Energy Stadium with a win as opposed to a lump of coal. You gotta believe, right?

Santa Paddle Brings Wonder to Browns Fans

Here comes the Cuyahoga River Water Trail Open House at Merwin's Wharf!

This Wednesday, October 24th, the fourth in a series of five public open house meetings for the Cuyahoga River Water Trail comes to Cleveland from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Merwin’s Wharf. Just what is a water trail? It might surprise you to know there are 1 1 of them in Ohio. The goal for Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of State Parks and Watercraft is to designate trails across the state and promote safe access and wise use of the water trail.

After a recent Open House, ODNR’s Tom Arbour reflected on the unique nature of the Cuyahoga River. “What’s amazing about the Cuyahoga River are the diverse paddling experiences it offers. From the calm, forested headwaters, to the raging rapids in the gorge and ending at its mouth at Lake Erie with amazing views of the Cleveland skyline, the Cuyahoga River has something to offer for every recreational paddler.”

Cuyahoga River Water Trail Primer

Trail supporters (Share the River is one of many supporting organizations) highlight the benefits of the Cuyahoga River being recognized as an Ohio Water Trail:

• Celebrating the Cuyahoga River’s Revival

• Connecting Vibrant Communities

• Creating Experiences for All

• Benefiting Local Economies

Andrea Irland of The National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program adds: "The Cuyahoga River Water Trail Partners, a collaboration of more than 25 regional organizations, are creating a recreational paddling trail on the entire length of the Cuyahoga River!  When this water trail opens in June 2019, it will be a legacy project of the rejuvenation of the Cuyahoga River.”

Wednesday’s Open House is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Merwin’s Wharf. Stop by to learn more about the proposed water trail and how you can help make that designation happen. Additional info is at the Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/331836177390266/

For more detail, check out Laura Johnston’s Cleveland.com article on the water trail.