The Great Mississippi River Adventure

Day 22

Stats

41.1 miles traveled in 9:43 hours

River mile start:652

River mile end:610

River mile today: 42

River mile total:731

% complete: 30.8

Average 4.2 mph ( lock, breaks, lunch)

Burned 2110 calories

Kayak: Y&H Quest 

Temp at launch 49 degree, at recovery 70 degree

Today began with last night. The temperature got into the low to mid 40's. My "sleeping bag" is a fleece liner for when I'm in the south with warmer temperatures.  I  thought that my fleece pants and sweater would keep me warm in the liner. I was mistaken. Because the ground was so wet I used the rain fly as a bottom inside my tent. Everything was getting wet. At 10 pm I woke up cold, so I put my regular pants and shirt over the fleece and went back to sleep. At midnight I woke up cold so I put my raincoat over me and went back to sleep.  At 2 I woke up cold again, this time I pulled up a bit of the rain tarp that wasn't wet and placed it over mt legs. That did the trick until 6. At that point I got up and put everything up to dry as the sun came up.  I made my breakfast, packed up and took off just before 8.

Today is Memorial day. My submarine veterans base celebrates by remembering all the lost submarines and their crews. I also spend a lot of time talking to God about Anthony. I remember Anthony every day but some days are more emotional. In one of my discussions with God an eagle flew past me. 

Believe me, there is an eagle flying away in the middle. The thought that came to mind is "Here, between Wisconsin and Iowa, an eagle soars watching over our beautiful land! Please know, all you who sacrificed your life for our country, it was not in vain! You have helped preserve our freedom and the beauty of our land!"

There were a lot of boats on the water. Overall everything was going ok(except the radio, rechargeable batteries don't last more than a day). When I got to lock 10 I had to wait for an hour while they locked 15 barges going up River. 

It's not a good picture because I was fighting the current created by tow boat.

I found an island for the night. I set up a second tarp since there is a chance of rain tomorrow. Home sweet home for the night.