The Great Mississippi River Adventure

Day 19

Stats

39.06 miles traveled in 8:09 hours

River mile start:771

River mile end:732

River mile today: 39

River mile total:609

% complete: 25.6

Average 4.8 mph (lock, breaks, lunch)

Burned 2103 calories

Kayak: Y&H Quest 

Temp at launch 50 degree, at recovery 67 degree

First of all...day 19 in a row of an eagle escort. We've taken to talking to each other. I hope im not mispronouncing my words.

This morning began in lake Pepin.  I put in before 8 in hopes of beating the wind. The picture above shows how beautiful it was.  The 9 am hit, the wind started, and the struggle bus began. For the next hour I was fighting the wind and the waves. Eventually I made it out of the lake. So here are two postulates 1. Don't paddle in lakes(there is no current) 2. Avoid the wind, specially the downwind side of a lake.

After I left the lake the paddle was a pleasure. I locked through locks 4 and 5. 

I passed my 1st brewery on the river...Reads Landing Brewery...they have a nice brown ale and Denean liked their kolch.

Later on I passed the National Eagle Center. 

Overall it was a good day of paddling and I think I could have kept going further.

On the exciting news...I have paddled over 600 miles. That means I am 1/4 complete.  I guess I can commit to doing this now. I  now have 732 miles until the confluence of the Ohio River, and 1732 miles until mile "0" of the Mississippi. (30 more to the gulf).