River Odyssey Will Honor Vietnam Vets; Solo Kayaker Takes on Susquehanna

RIO GRANDE – One local kayaker will celebrate Armed Forces Day, May 20, by setting off on a 444-mile trek down the Susquehanna River. The voyage will be in honor of a close friend who served in the Vietnam War and who has Parkinson’s disease after exposure to Agent Orange while serving in the military. 
Denis Carmody, 70, plans to kayak 20-25 miles a day, solo to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s disease.
He will start his trek from Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, N.Y., and travel to Havre de Grace, Md., stopping only for food and sleep. He expects the trip to take about 20-25 days unless there are unexpected safety issues or weather concerns such as flooding.
“It’s a chance for me to give back to the veterans who served our country,” Carmody said.
Although Carmody was unable to serve during the Vietnam War due to a medical condition, he has witnessed the war’s effects. Twenty-six young men died during the war from his Philadelphia high school including several close friends.
A close friend of 54 years was exposed to high levels of Agent Orange, an herbicide and defoliant chemical used in Vietnam by the U.S. from 1961-71.
He also has taught disabled veterans white-water rafting skills, allowing them to “do an activity where it doesn’t matter if you have legs.”
His kayak will carry the American flag and another for Vietnam veterans so people can recognize him along the way.
“I’ve been paddling since I was 45,” the Rio Grande resident said, noting he has kayaked in Florida. He doesn’t do anything special for training purposes, making sure he paddles “efficiently by using the core of his body (broadly considered to be the torso) rather than my arms, that way my arms don’t get tired.”
The river has 15 dams and some rapids along the way, so Carmody said there is always a potential for an accidental slip or fall.
He has an app to stay attuned to the weather, especially if rains cause the river to rise toward flood stage or other dangerous conditions.
The Susquehanna River is the longest river on the East Coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean. Its depth ranges from 20 feet to one or two feet deep.
“Susquehanna” comes from a Lenape (or Delaware Indian) term which means “Oyster River” because of the widespread oyster beds in the bay near the mouth of the river.
Local legend claims the name came from an Indian phrase meaning “mile wide, foot deep,” according to Wikipedia.
“I’ve got a 16.5-foot sea kayak made of polyethylene, which is a very durable plastic,” he said. “It isn’t the lightest, but is larger and should work the best for the river conditions. My legs will be trapped under the deck and in the front and behind the seat are waterproof sections where I can store my gear and food. I’ll be carrying a smaller three-and-a-half foot kayak behind me as a backup.”
Although his wife does kayak with him sometimes, she won’t join him for this trip. She’ll be caring for grandchildren in Boston. Carmody plans to join her in Boston June 20.
“I’ve been sharing my story with school children and will have a Spot Gen3 (a satellite messenger service that provides tracking information beyond cell phone service) on me that will upload every 30 minutes so you can see me on the river and watch my travels,” he noted.
“There is no glory in this for me,” he added. “I wanted to do something for my friend and other vets, and this is one way I can bring attention to the cause.” 
Carmody is partnering with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and supporters can contribute at https://www.kayaksforheroes.com/ or help Carmody with his “extraordinary expenses” at https://www.gofundme.com/kayaks-for-heroes?ssid=860512332&pos=1.
All foundation donations go toward fighting the disease to speed better treatments and seek a cure.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.