As I was sitting across from long term Rogers Park resident Tom Heineman I got this image of him as a super hero. Formerly a consultant with Arthur Anderson, he is now, by day, a busy math tutor. Yet, underneath his smart exterior is a great amount of courage. Last summer, he did something nobody else has done - he circumnavigated Lake Michigan in a sea kayak.

From June 11 to July 29, 1996, Tom paddled 865 miles by himself. Paddling an average of 20 miles per day, his complete journey lasted 49 days.

"A lot of people see kayaking as being one with the water. In a sense, it's true: a person paddling a sea kayak is mere inches above the water. I was fifty the first time I went kayaking. I capsized 15 seconds into it. It freaked me out. I didn't know why I capsized. I hadn't taken lessons. That was eight years ago. I am not really afraid of the water given the fact that I am a great swimmer. What I am afraid of is hypothermia. That water can be cold. If the water is 40 degrees it doesn't matter how great a swimmer you are, if you are not dressed properly and you capsize you can die if you don't get back in your boat quickly. I wore my wet suit half the trip.

The best part of circling Lake Michigan in my sea kayak was just doing it. It wasn't fun. It was an adventure. Amelia Airheart said once that adventure is enough reason to do something. I was reminded of this by a twelve year old girl I met at a campground. Her seven year old brother asked me, why are you doing this? His sister piped in "he is having an adventure." Since I had wondered the same thing, this was actually quite a moment of revelation for me. Many adults thought I was must be fundraising for something. They couldn't imagine why someone would do something like this. Others understood the need for adventure and challenge. I did enjoy meeting people on my adventure and getting their reactions to the trip.

I enjoyed paddling with others for various strecthes but also enjoyed the solitude on Lake Michigan. In the Upper Peninsula for two days I only saw one person a day. This was a solo trip, but I had a lot of help. Friends and fellow kayakers gave me tips, lodging and wonderful food along the way. During the power point presentation that I do, it takes three slides to list all the people who helped with the trip.

It was a challenge to consume enough calories. Paddling and camping takes a lot out of you. I lost 15 pounds. I started out relying on mostly trail mix while underway and realized I needed more substantial food. I soon was relying on peanut butter, cheese and sausage and tortillas as "snack" food during the day.

This adventure was very humbling. At the end of the trip, I had a hard time believing I had actually done this. I think when I set out I was more confident about my ability than when I returned. I realized I was at the mercy of the lake. A number of times I could have died. Shoreline hazards, power boats, commerical freighters and cold water all could have done me in.

Next up, I am considering circumnavigating Lake Superior. The shoreline is rockier and more wild. The lake is bigger and colder. The thought scares and excites me. It is still a thought."

Besides last summer's sea kayaking exploits, Tom boasts an impressive agenda as one of Rogers Park's more active and respected community leaders. Tom and his wife Peg are long time Eastlake Terrace residents, where they have advocated for many measures that stabilized and improved that unique portion of the Rogers Park community. A founding member of the Rogers Park Builders Group, Tom has served as Treasurer of that organization for over six years.

vistit Tom's website: www.mathtutorchicago.com

http://caska.org/Heineman_Trip_2006/