Weather conditions
High: 77
Low: 61
Skies: Mostly cloudy
Winds: SW 6 mph
Today’s mileage: 22
Total mileage: 74 miles
Where we traveled: Island at Lake Pepin Head Light to Chippewa River confluence, mile marker 763.4
Ate:
Breakfast: granola
Dinner: taco mac and cheese
Dessert: strawberry shortcake
4:45 p.m.
The alarm sounded at 4:00 a.m. After three snoozes, we were up and getting ready to tackle Lake Pepin. Last night, I could have sworn I heard dogs barking. This morning when I heard the dogs again, John informed me the Great Blue Herons were “barking” their displeasure at our invasion of their home.
We carried all our gear on John’s self-made path to the beach. As we packed Ripple, we were thankful we were headed downstream. Upstream, fog walled off the river. Downstream, the sun beckoned us to the lake.
Keep us upright and safe.
Paddling in a lake takes more effort because of the lack of current. Also, it doesn’t take much wind to create waves. With today’s light breeze, ripples glazed the surface. Any boat traffic was reserved to the other side of the lake—a mile or more away. We traveled alone. Towns and homes sat at the foot of the bluffs and hills.
Eleven miles into our crossing, Stockholm Park had the three essentials for a stop—food, trash can, and restrooms. We used all the amenities before sitting on a bench, eating lunch, and enjoying the land view of the lake.
Rested, my strokes were strong as we started the last nine miles. We were over halfway. The rest should be a cinch. I don’t know what happened, but about five miles after our break, I was beat. I counted my strokes to take my mind off my sore core. John could tell I was crashing, so he told stupid jokes. Who am I kidding; he always tells stupid jokes.
John wrote a song based on one of my comments as a pelican flew towards us. John said, “Duck.”
I said, “No, it’s a pelican.”
“Hey that’s funny! That should be a song…
Here’s what followed (imagine a country tune),
A goose was flyin’ at my girlfriend’s head.
I said, “Hey, DUCK!” or you’ll be dead
She said, “No, it’s a goose.”
So it hit her in the head
And now, my girlfriend’s dead.
He was proud of himself and sang it over and over and over…
When we finally reached the end of twenty-mile Lake Pepin, we stopped on a rock beach. I collapsed under a shade tree.
The mosquitos!
We discussed staying there for the night, but I was too tired to stay there. Yes, it seemed like too much work. We couldn’t set the tent in the shade because of the rocks, and the sun radiated on the hot beach.
Back into Ripple.
Good move. Two miles downstream, we found a beautiful, shaded beach at the confluence of the Chippewa and the Mississippi. The breeze is heavenly. I just wish it would blow the mosquitos away.
8:00 p.m.
I am snug in bed. After collecting water in the kitchen sink and bathing, I ran to the tent to escape the mosquitoes. I feel like a new woman. Clean clothes tomorrow.
P.S. While we were eating our taco mac and cheese, we watched hundreds of cormorants fly over our heads and down the Chippewa River. Where could they be going? John said he saw some turn their heads as if they were looking to see if so-and-so was coming. Nature.