The Great Mississippi River Adventure

Day 21

Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa...

Stats

43.9 miles traveled in 9:07 hours

River mile start:698

River mile end:652

River mile today: 46

River mile total:689

% complete: 29

Average 4.8 mph ( lock, breaks, lunch)

Burned 2182 calories

Kayak: Y&H Quest 

Temp at laulaunc6 degree, at recovery 69 degree

Today's take off was a little slow. I loaded up for 2 nights of camping and wanted to make sure I had everything.  I'll probably figure out what I forgot in the middle of the night. 

Right away my eagle escort made their presence known. They were present all day long staying vigilant over me.

The paddle to lock 8 was treacherous it was at the south side of a big lake and the wind was blowing from the north. By the time I got to the lock I was sweaty and winded(no pun intended).

The highlight today...after 3 weeks and 674 miles, I finally left Minnesota and entered Iowa! No disrespect to Wisconsin, they shared the border with Minnesota. 

I was planning on paddling until 5:00 pm but the way the islands were I would have had to commit to at least an hour to 90 minutes past that if I didn't take what was available. I wanted to stop at an island at River mile 653, but ironically it was submerged. Navy friends will get that. There were a few islands in the area but the Army Corps of Engineers had them closed. Fortunately I found a little island with a nice beach. Home sweet home for the night.