I saw that the weather brought winds from the south and I didn't want to encounter that mid-day on the open lake ahead of Lock and Dam 13. I put on my big boy pants and paddled out into the main channel. The river here is about a mile wide and the area outside channel is thick with grasses and lillypads making it hard to paddle. The wind picked up and with it the waves came too. I have no pictures or video because I need both hands to paddle and keep the boat pointed into the waves. You can imagine the bow crashing down onto the next swell with a spray of water that gets blown into your face. Do that for about 3 hours and you've earned some fried potatoes and coffee on an island!
Following the lock and dam, the sky darkened and I knew a storm was blowing in. Boats raced past me all headed for the safety of their slip or home marina, I found a covered marina and hauled in to an empty spot. A neighboring boat suggested I go to the restaurant and have lunch while it passes. I climbed the restaurant to the Inn and upon entering felt the "look". I was in no state to go into a place like this during Sunday brunch. My pants were muddy and stained, my feet encrusted with mud, my hair was wild and my face sunburnt. I stammered, said something, and exited. Downstairs, the marina had showers so I made use of the warm water and enjoyed washing off the grime accumulated after a few days.
Back on the dock, I had a beer with some nice fellows on a 37ft motor cruiser. They enjoyed the stories of my trip and gave me advice on places to camp down river. The storm cleared and I paddled out of the marina feeling refreshed.
Back on the dock, I had a beer with some nice fellows on a 37ft motor cruiser. They enjoyed the stories of my trip and gave me advice on places to camp down river. The storm cleared and I paddled out of the marina feeling refreshed.
My left sandal is losing the sold and falling apart. They only cost $2 on sale last winter so I'm not complaining. I am however in need of footware. I spotted a WalMart right on the river...well sort of up a creek but I figured I could paddle there. First I headed down Beaver Slough around the bend from Clinton. On one side was a huge industrial factory area and the opposite bank, a National Wildlife Refuge.
I made the left turn at Mill Creek and paddled underneath the railroad tracks, around a few twists then up to a line of containment booms that seem to be keeping the trash of the Mississippi back from the creek. I was able to paddle over them and soon came upon an area near the store. Notice how steep the bank is in pictures? Well my takeout was about that steep but I wanted the boat hidden due to a homeless person not far downstream. He was on the opposite bank so I should have figured he wouldn't swim across. Oh well.
Surprisem surprise, WalMart didn't have any sandals or water shoes that would remotely work for boating. Damn. Back to the boat, I was carrying my bag of cereal and fruit down the slippery mud hill when I slipped, grabbed a root and continued sliding. My left foot sank into the mud but kept sinking up past my knee. When it hit bottom, it felt sharp but solid. Phew. Stopped, hauled my leg out of the mud and worked to get the boat out. I remember thinking "Well I may have nicked my ankle a hair but not too bad." I looked down in the mud and this is what I saw. I figured I should take a picture just cus. The cut was pretty deep on the heel and not so bad on the ankle. Either way, an injury like this packed full of mud on the Mississippi will take constant care and attention so as not to get infected. After getting back to the main flow, I pulled aside and cleaned and bandaged the wound, then wrapped it in an Ace bandage to keep it from getting irritated. Hell...at least I'm not hiking!
I paddled on until sunset when I found this beautiful beach on the left. The level spot to camp was just under the trees so I didn't need a rainfly. I pitched up facing the river and enjoyed listening to the radio briefly before falling fast asleep with my foot elevated. Here's to hoping tomorrow (today) isn't nearly as eventful.