Paddling was fast and easy today with the first 20 miles flying by with sunny skies, huge trees on both sides of the river and every drop of Minnesota nature on display.
At mile 21 I clipped a large bolder under water and smashed the boat pretty good. It will need some attention tomorrow after another 30 miles to a larger city. Nothing a little resin and glass won’t fix. I was very comfortable in the rapids, as I have run much larger but the headwinds played havoc reading the water boiles as you run the faster waters. Luckily I spotted it fast enough to correct and not hit the bolder about 6” under water head on, but took a side blow to the center of the boat about where my hips are. That was way better than a day ender going head on. The rock would have won!
Mile 22 to 35 had more amazing views, and I was able to catch a deer, 2 geese and a bald eagle all within yards of each other. I bet if I would have paid for the all inclusive trip I would have got the black bear as well.
Just before Palisade, I heard a friendly yell from the house along the bank Sue Kennedy laughingly corrected me… it’s apparently the Gulf of Mexico in these parts. She sent a great note to me on FB as was very kind.
I arrived at the public park in Palisade MN to find everything locked up. No showers, no bathrooms, not a soul. A very nice woman Sue Scheuneman Ellis happened to be in her car reading and offered to give me a ride to the local gas station/ restaurant…. Happened to be 2 blocks away, but she wanted to talk river as she lived next to coffee pot landing (a camp spot close to lake Itasca) many years ago.
I had a quick burger and headed back to bunk down for the night. 37 degrees out. Gonna be a chilly one!
