More pics of Prarie du Chein

Visiting Colleen

Days: 49-50

Day 49:  Took our time waking up this morning because of early morning rain.  When we got on the water we met our good friend wind again.  After paddling only a short while the winds had pushed a little thunderstorm into our area and caused us to get 8ff the water till the lightening passed.  Since we had nothing better to do we busted out the cards and enjoyed a nice game if kings corners which I beat Amanda at handily.  We pushed on and progess varied from slow in the wind and waves to quite quick and eventually we reached lock 19.  Normally reaching a lock would not warrant special attention but this one is very unique in that barges pushing 15 (the maximum north of St. Louis) do not have to separate.  That is the boat pushing the large metal containers does not have to take them through the lock in small groups.  In addition the drop was massive!  We were lowered 38ft and the lock was very long.  The doors at the downstream end that loomed over us loomed like to gates of a futuristic military fortress.  That night we got in late after covering 27 miles.  Our camp was on a sunken barge covered in sand just south of the Des Moines river. 

Day 50:  watch stopped working last night but thanks to Amanda's natural attuned sleep patterns we still woke up at a decent time.  The morning was calm and warm unlike our cold oatmeal.  We walked Reggie loaded up and were off.   Conditions were perfect.  No wind glass surface and no boat traffic aside from a couple barges which are not a big deal.  Anyway, the miles melted off and so did we.  The day was hot, the sun relentless, and not even a breath of air to cool us.  In no time we did it we hit 1000 mile mark!!!!  This was a huge milestone for us and we're lucky enough to have a mile marker mark the occasion!  Well technically it was off by about .7 but who cares.  The point was we made it this far and that felt good.  In a way it reaffirmed what we had always known, that we would make it to the golf.  We paddled on and made it to Quincy Illinois in record time however finding a campsite was a bit difficult.  Eventually we found a nice spot with good trees to hang and extra tarp to keep us dry tomorrow.  Yep that's right, rest day while we wait for our friend Ryan Welch to come to town to help us do our resupply bit most importantly to see a good friend.  We paddled 36 miles today and at a sight that shall from this point on be known as Bay Beach.

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.

Day 47: Keithsburg

The wind forced us to take a rest day.  Winds averaged 25-30mph and gusts of 40+.  We were told about this stop by one of the Lock guys at Lock 17.  The shower felt great but the best part about the site were the campground hosts Charlie and Carolyn.  They were great!  This morning they woke us up with coffee and an invite to see the home they just bought there in Keithsburg.  We sat at their place enjoyed a great conversation then took the grand tour of the town.  It only took about 10min but they were proud to tell us all about it.  After another hot shower...because we could, we went over to their camper next to our site and had supper.  We talked for several hours and learned all about their lives and where they had been.  Carolyn did most of the talking but that fine because she was a hoot.  After a long walk with Reggie we stopped at the bar in town for $1.75 taco night...bad idea.  Any way the plan is to wake up at 3am tomorrow to get ahead of any wind which may be a factor.

This card is from Charlie and Carolyn.  Their son Chuck runs a lodge/outfitters which is geared towards helping veterans who need a place to get away from it all for a bit alone or with their families.  If you know a veteran who could use a place to  connect with other veterans or just have some peace and quiet please have them contact Chuck.  Also his lodge is run on donations alone so there is no set cost to use his services.

Day 46:...

Sorry folks not a whole lot to say about today.  We woke up at a respectable time pounded out 10 miles at a great pace and then it happened, wind.  Yes, I know wind should be expected on a paddling g expedition but come on 4 days straight?!  Today winds were only 10 to 15 bit that really wears on ya mentally and physically.  Anyway we stopped in Keithsburg Illinois where a friendly lock operator at Lock and Dam 17 told us one could get a hot shower.  Enough said.  We stopped after paddling about 24 miles, took a long hot shower, walked the bed and relaxed.  Way better than pushing out 6 more painful miles just to make 30 on the day.  Besides we will be grounded tomorrow because of 30-40mph winds and what better way to spend an off day than a place with showers!  We are currently at Riverside Campground in Keithsburg Illinois.

Day 49: Waiting

The name of the game today was waiting.  This morning it was too cold...well at least that's what we told ourselves, so we waited to get up.  But legitimately we did need a break after the stupid windy day yesterday.  We felt like having a nice filling breakfast so we waited a bit more to have biscuits!  We finally got on the water at 1040am and we're feeling good.  The Miles passed quickly and we took a nice hour long break for lunch.  There would have been no waiting at lunch but Reggie was whining in the way he does when he has to poop so we walked back and forth on shore waiting for him to go...which he didn't.  Again we started paddling and the miles seemed to fall away faster that the leaves from the trees.  Then we hit Lock and Dam 16.  When I radioed them what I heard in response was not what I  had hoped for. And so the waiting began again.  He told us it would be another two hours because of a two section barge locking through.  After Checking out the portage route (looked to be about half mile or so but hard to tell) we decided to wait some more.  While we waited we charged my phone l, laughed a little and Amanda made use of my lap as a pillow  and got comfortable ( I was sitting on a small tow barge thingy in the auxiliary lock which put my knees and head hight).  After we finally locked through we decided that we both felt good and this would be a good chance to do our first night paddle.  As we took off the speed of the current combined with paddling propelled us and a rate we have not yet experienced.  It was exhilarating.  We paddled into the darkness for about an hour before finding a suitable campsite which we named Night Paddle beach. By the time we stopped we had covered 31 miles on the day...well half day.  

Also, it was fun to paddle past Muscatine where our good friends Amy and Jimmy were from.