KAREN, BACK TO YOU. >> Karen: SEE YOU AT 5:00.
>>> HERE AT HOME, IT’S A GREAT
LAKES CHALLENGE AND WE’RE ON THE
WATER AS THREE MEN TRY TO CROSS
LAKE ERIE ON BATTLE BOARDS.
THEY BEGAN THEIR ADVENTURE, AND
IT COMES WITH CHALLENGES.
PAULA TUTMAN JUMPED IN THE BOAT
TO FOLLOW THEM AND TELLS US WHY
THEY’RE MAKING THIS TRIP.
>> Paula: THE GREAT LAKES IS AN
IMPORTANT RESOURCE.
IMPORTANT RESOURCE. THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, THE
SHORES ARE KISSED BY FOUR OF THE
FIVE GREAT LAKES.
THAT’S WHY LOCAL 4 HAS A HUGE
COMMITMENT TO COVERING THESE
PADDLE BOARDERS, NOT ONLY FROM
THE GROUND BUT HIGH ABOVE THE --
IN THE AIR.
AND THE TAKEOFF FROM BELLE ISLE
THIS MORNING, THREE MEN, THEIR
OARS, SUPPLIES FOR THE NEXT
24OUR TREK BY WATER.
>> I HAVE TO PACK THE DRY BAG.
SO IN HERE, I’VE GOT A LITTLE
COOLER TO PUT SOME FOOD, GOD
SOME WARMER CLOTHES FOR AT NIGHT
IF IT GETS COLD.
>> Paula: AND THE SHEER DRIVE TO
DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT THE
GREAT LAKES.
GREAT LAKES. THEY WILL PALTHS TO THE MOUTH OF
ERIE AND MAKE THE PERIL OUTSIDE
60-MILE CROSS.
60-MILE CROSS. AND SEASONED SAILORS AND BOATERS
CALL HER THE MOST DANGEROUS OF
THE GREAT LAKES.
>> THIS CAN PICK UP IN
CHOPINESS, BUT IT NEEDS HELP
STILL.
STILL. >> Paula: THEY HAVE ALREADY
PADDLE DID THE ACROSS LAKE
SUPERIOR, MICHIGAN, AND HURON.
AND HAVE SEEN MAJESTY AND
BEAUTY.
BEAUTY. >> WE SAW THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
AND THE SLEEPING BEAR DUNES.
WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’LL SEE.
>> Paula: THIS MORNING STARTS
OFF GREAT.
OFF GREAT. THE DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT
WATER BOAT GIVES THEM A WATER
CANNON SALUTE.
CANNON SALUTE. >> THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS OVER
THERE, THAT’S COOL.
>> Paula: THEY STOP TO MAKE
FRIENDS, GIVE HATS AND PROMOTE
THE GREAT LAKES AND WILL BE
PASSED BY GREAT BARGES.
LOCAL 4 TRACKS THEIR PROGRESS
FROM HIGH ABOVE AND ALONGSIDE
THE PADDLERS WITH THE HELP OF
THE DETROIT YACHT CLUB AND BOB
AND JEAN.
AND JEAN. >> SO MUCH GOING ON, POISONING
OUR WATERS.
OUR WATERS. AND HAVING MORE AWARENESS OUT
THERE, I THINK WHAT THEY’RE
DOING IS GREAT.
>> Paula: NORMALLY THEY DRINK
WATER FROM WHERE THEY PADDLE,
BUT BECAUSE OF THE ALGAE BLOOM,
THEY MUST CARRY WATER.
THEY WANT PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE
THE JOURNEY WITH THEM AND HELP
THEM RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS
FOR RESEARCH AND JOIN THE TEAM.
>> DON’T THROW STUFF IN THE
WATER.
WATER. >> SHE’S BEEN A DUMPING GROUND
AND THIS IS A GREAT POSITIVE WAY
FOR US TO BRING ATTENTION TO
LAKE ERIE AND THE HARMFUL ALGAE
BLOOM AND RETHINK OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS RESOURCE.
>> Paula: IT’S SUPER HUMAN.
THEY’VE BEEN ON THE WATER FOR
ABOUT 7 HOURS.
THEY ONLY TAKE ABOUT A 10-MINUTE
BREAK EVERY HOUR.
I KNOW YOU FACE A HEADWIND, AND
THAT WAS TOUGHER.
WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING TONIGHT?
>> HOPEFULLY THIS WIND CALMS
DOWN BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE A
LITTLE BIT OF A HEADWIND.
IT’S SUPPOSED TO DIE DOWN AND BE
CALM THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.
>> Paula: YOU’VE BEEN DODGING
BARGES AND A LITTLE BIT OF
POLLUTION.
POLLUTION. >> IT’S BEEN REALLY NICE, THE
WATER IS CLEAR.
WE’VE SEEN A FEW DEAD FISH HERE
AND THERE, AND HAD A FREIGHTER
COME REAL CLOSE TO US AND HAD TO
DEAL WITH THEIR WAKE, BUT IT’S
BEEN REALLY NICE.
>> Paula: WE APPRECIATE THIS.
SAFE JOURNEY AND PADDLING.
THEY’RE RAISING MONEY FOR
RESEARCH.
RESEARCH. WE’LL PUT A LINK ON OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR YOU, AS
WELL.
WELL. AND WHAT THEY’RE DOING IS
INCREDIBLE.
INCREDIBLE. AND THEY EXPECT TO MAKE
SHORE-FALL AROUND NOON AND THEN
WILL SLEEP PROBABLY FOR A COUPLE
OF DAYS!
OF DAYS! >> Karen: I CAN’T IMAGINE
THEY’LL BE ON THE WATER THAT
LONG AND DEALING WITH THE