I wonder if this is what happened to me, long time ago (I think on a 1990 trip around).
I stopped for the day on a rock outcropping on an island near the Pic River (Canada).
I pulled the kayak well up. Took out camping equip (note: empty forward bulkhead, still fully loaded rear bulkhead - closest to water)
There was a storm on the Michigan side overnight. I woke in the morning to discover my kayak gone.
Long story made short - the kayak luckily floated nearby and was bouncing off some rocks near shore.
Yep u r lucky! I had 1 disappear when i took out at the Detroit River in Windsor once…had nothing to do with tidal anything…i had to go a bit of distance to retrieve my vehicle so i could put my kayak on it…i had an uneasy feeling…i kept looking back…i had seen a guy hovering around…i looked back 1 more time and it disappeared…i ran back abd found it! I hid it…then i ran to my car and drove down and picked it up…it just about got stolen that day!
I think I’ve been kind of lucky over the years.
Problem with doing an extended trip is that you must leave the kayak to resupply in town occasionally.
The worst I had was done while I was asleep (camped on the beach).
I left a very heavy gear bag outside the tent (not in kayak).
In the morning it was gone.
I imagine the thief had a tough time carrying this heavy bag back with them.
And then unpleasently surprised when they checked out their ‘loot’.
What was in the heavy bag? - water.
(though it was a bit of a loss to me - the drom bags were kind of expensive)
We get wind driven water in the St Johns River here in Jacksonville. When there is a nor’easter blowing the water gets blown into the river. The high tide is higher and low tide higher when that is happening.
The longer the fetch or higher the wind the more the effect.
I’ve been more concerned about the higher temps (and nasty humidity) on the St Johns the past few days.
Even the pre dawn hours are quite uncomfortable, bring back those 40deg Jan days.
I paddled Lake Huron extensively, and paddled from Superior to Montreal one summer. While I have not experienced it, I understand that Superior does have enough mass and volume to create slight tides.