During a brutal heat wave I set out on an intended overnight thru-paddle trip on the Mad River. I put in at Lipponcott Rd. just South of West Liberty Ohio and planned to take out at Deed's Park in Dayton where the river merges with the Great Miami River. An incident at the low head dam in Urbana changed the course of this float but with a quick change of plans the evening was salvaged with a surprise visiter that ultimately brought us to Buck Creek State Park in Springfield Ohio for a campfire cookout.