Day 48: Wind, rain, and no beaches

Well we had planned to get up at 3am so as to get a head of any wind and if we did get wind that forced us off the water or slowed our pace, then at least we would have made some significant progess.  TWO problems with that plan.  1.  The wind was still raging at 3am.  2. The wind continued to rage till about 530am.  When we finally got on the water the winds were a steady 10mph.  Which doesn't sound that bad.  However they varied from 10-15mph with gust far over that.  Those conditions created white caps and a deafening roar which grinds away at ones sanity.  Anyway we finally made it within two miles of Lock 18 when we saw a barge bearing down on us.  We paddling like, you'll have to forgive me here, the wind.  After 20 grueling minutes we had made it, beaten the barge.  We were within 1200ft of the Lock and  radioed requesting to lock through.  The response was crushing.  After a Morning of high winds, out running a barge (well kind of) we were told we would have to wait for the barge because he was already beginning his final approach.  Final approach?  This isn't an airport!  It's not as though at 3/4 of a mile he can't stop!  Dave was furious/ utterly defeated.  Just as we were getting ready to pull off onto the levy the captain of the barge in question radioed the lock stating that we should be allowed through because he didn't have anything to rush for!  FANTASTIC!  We were stoked and paddled into the lock making sure the lock master thanked the barge captain for us.  As we paddled on we came across an odd site indeed, an entire neighborhood of houses on stilts!  If you were too far off you would be none the wiser that a neighborhood was there at all.  Maybe at a slightly closer distance you may think there were a dozen or so cars abandoned along the river.  However, if close enough you would see there were about 18 houses perched upon stilts 10-20ft off the ground.  We would have taken pictures were it not for the wind.  Anyway the day went on and the wind stopped just in time for the rain to start.  A light sprinkle persisted for about two hours then we were welcomed by miles of flat calm water, beautiful.  By the end of the day we managed 36 brutal miles and camped on Dallas Island.