Weather conditions:
High: 82
Low: 64
Skies: clear to partly cloudy
Winds: SSW 11 mph
Today’s mileage: 17 miles
Total mileage: 17 miles
Where we traveled: Hidden Falls Park (mile marker 847) to island, mile marker 830
Ate:
Dinner: dehydrated/vacuum packed taco macaroni and cheese (made with nutritional yeast)
Dessert: chocolate pudding cake (the “cake” being dehydrated/vacuum packed homemade cake)
4:17 p.m.
We paddled upstream 17 mile today. Not literally, but with the headwind and waves, we earned every stroke. Although, while sitting static during our snack break this morning, we did actually float upstream. After we pulled our canoe out of the water at the end of the day, we plopped in the sand on this island in the Mississippi River. We haven’t moved.
This morning we ate breakfast with Dennis, our last non-dehydrated one for ten days, at the Egg & I diner in St. Paul before driving to our launch site at Hidden Falls Park.
Since the canoe doesn’t have small hatches like our kayaks, packing didn’t need to be precise—no stowage map needed. Even though we are going to be on the river for ten days and not three-and-a-half months, we still need the same gear. The biggest difference is the food—we have more. Our kayaks could hold only one week of food. For this trip, we stuffed ten days of food into four white buckets. We have everything we need, so no one will need to send packages to post offices for us.
John and I are relaxing in our Helinox chairs (lightweight, packable chairs with a back). Ripple is resting after a hard day with her stern in the water.
Speaking of Ripple, our canoe. I am traveling in the same boat with John the entire trip. No breaks. I will be honest—I enjoyed my day with him. (Don’t tell him.) When I was in my kayak, I didn’t realize how often he entertains himself. Randomly, he makes up songs, tells jokes, fills in conversations for animals or people who don’t exist. I give this one boat thing a 9 out of 10. (Nothing is perfect.)
Several eagles rode the air currents, oblivious to our existence. Two eagles—one mature (Dad) and one immature (Junior)—fought in the air. Dad chased Junior and ran into him. Junior flew away. Dad had more to say and followed, hitting him again. Finally, Junior out-flew Dad. The majestic white-headed dad landed on a tree and made I’m-the-victor noises. Never a dull moment.
We have paddled under several train tracks over the years, but today was the first time we saw a train bridge pivot to allow a tug and barges to pass. We paddled through after the tow passed us and the bridge was still open. I wonder if it stays ajar until another train comes.
Recreational boats outnumbered the tows. Is that always the case or because it isn’t grain harvest season?
John bets $47 that the complex humming across the river is a refinery. Will the constant noise offer white noise when we sleep tonight?
Neither of us has made a move to set up the tent or make dinner. How long will we sit here before our stomachs convince us to leave this comfy position? How long will fatigue win?
P.S. I can pee like a boy. Peeing with a Go Girl, patting dry with a Kula cloth, and wearing a dress are life changers. Too bad I didn’t make these discoveries before our long trip.