Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Wetlands
In one of my earlier posts I mentioned that it is expected that one will get lost going through the wetlands but that one will get out eventually. It is just a rite of passage. The trick to not getting lost when the current is not discernible on the surface,is to look at the grass growing on the bottom and see which way this is pointing. But sometimes this fails. On one occasion,after going around in circles (I think) and getting no help from the advice of a passing fisherman, I spied a man mowing his lawn on a sit on top mower about 1 kilometre away. I decided to paddle straight to him ,blasting through reeds and bull rushes until I could get no closer than about 300 metres away. I then got out and started walking in thigh deep water stumbling over clumps of grass until I eventually made it to shore, The man had been watching from his lawn mower all this time and when I finally collapsed prostrate at his feet his first words to me were "Do you want a beer?" "No thanks" I replied,
"I'm a teetotaller"
"I'm a teetotaller"
Portages
There have been numerous portages over this stage,varying in length from 100 metres up to 1 kilometre.
I am so glad I bought a small set of wheels,otherwise I would have had to unload the boat each time and make several trips. The wheels were even a help on the very first portage over a rough stony bush track. Some of the portages involved walking along pavements or streets. Others involved a walk through a park. The worst was Blanchard Dam. Not only was it one of the longest but it went up and over 2 or 3 small but very steep slopes, one of which had a set of steps which is not very helpful. It took all my strength to haul the fully laden boat up these slopes(although it did help when I took the 10 litres of water out). I was lucky not to do myself a serious injury going down the first slope.I was still pulling the boat from thee front and it got away from me on the grass, knocking me off balance. I was very proud of my judo roll down the slope and escaped without serious injury even with the kayak also running over me.
I am pretty sure there are no more portages
I am so glad I bought a small set of wheels,otherwise I would have had to unload the boat each time and make several trips. The wheels were even a help on the very first portage over a rough stony bush track. Some of the portages involved walking along pavements or streets. Others involved a walk through a park. The worst was Blanchard Dam. Not only was it one of the longest but it went up and over 2 or 3 small but very steep slopes, one of which had a set of steps which is not very helpful. It took all my strength to haul the fully laden boat up these slopes(although it did help when I took the 10 litres of water out). I was lucky not to do myself a serious injury going down the first slope.I was still pulling the boat from thee front and it got away from me on the grass, knocking me off balance. I was very proud of my judo roll down the slope and escaped without serious injury even with the kayak also running over me.
I am pretty sure there are no more portages
Stage 1 Completed
I am now back in the Twin Cities having completed 500 miles which constitutes a kayak "expedition"This is 200 miles longer than my previous longest trip although it is not yet my longest in time. That will be in another three days.I am now over 3 days ahead of my schedule which added to the 2 days earlier than expected start is giving me plenty of room if I have to stop for a few days for some reason.
Tomorrow I start the second stage of the 29 locks to St Louis. The locks in town have been shut to small craft for some time but reopened on Monday. I would have been disappointed to have missed them.
As you may have gathered from previous posts ,the hospitality has been amazing. Last night ,for example, I knocked on the door of the Kraus household in Montecello (despite the sign saying No Solicitors). They gave permission for me to put up my tent on the front lawn and later father and son came down to fish and talk.We were soon joined by the grandfather who lived next door who invited me out to dinner.His son and grandson joined us at the local corner cake/restaurant where I had roast beef,mashed potatoes and gravy with a good beer. Other people have cooked me lunch and dinner and driven me to the local Walmart to resupply. A special mention must go to the Northland Lodge at Lake Winnie. I had just completed a gruelling 5 hour crossing with a continuous storm for over half of whipping the waves enough to make it interesting, I arrived wet and cold and the owner agreed to let me put my tent up. This was bettered by an offer from a visitor to put me up at his place nearby. The owner's son then advised that a cabin had come free with a bed that had not been slept in which I could have free of charge. Within 5 minutes I went from feeling like a drowned rat to having a hot shower in a warm cabin.All warm and clean I adjourned to the bar where I enjoyed a pitcher of beer and conversation with visiting fishermen and the owner and his son. (Actually,I think the son was the owner) The father, Ray,is convinced I am not going to make it all the way so I have to prove him wrong.
The weather certainly changes from one extreme to the other here. After enjoying pleasantly coolish weather we have had 2 scorchers. The first day the temperature reached 95 degrees and was a record here for that day of the year. That was exceeded the next day when the temp reached 103 degrees and it was the hottest in the country. It was accompanied by a strong warm headwind,strong enough to negate the current if I stopped paddling. I drank copious amounts of water all day
Tomorrow I start the second stage of the 29 locks to St Louis. The locks in town have been shut to small craft for some time but reopened on Monday. I would have been disappointed to have missed them.
As you may have gathered from previous posts ,the hospitality has been amazing. Last night ,for example, I knocked on the door of the Kraus household in Montecello (despite the sign saying No Solicitors). They gave permission for me to put up my tent on the front lawn and later father and son came down to fish and talk.We were soon joined by the grandfather who lived next door who invited me out to dinner.His son and grandson joined us at the local corner cake/restaurant where I had roast beef,mashed potatoes and gravy with a good beer. Other people have cooked me lunch and dinner and driven me to the local Walmart to resupply. A special mention must go to the Northland Lodge at Lake Winnie. I had just completed a gruelling 5 hour crossing with a continuous storm for over half of whipping the waves enough to make it interesting, I arrived wet and cold and the owner agreed to let me put my tent up. This was bettered by an offer from a visitor to put me up at his place nearby. The owner's son then advised that a cabin had come free with a bed that had not been slept in which I could have free of charge. Within 5 minutes I went from feeling like a drowned rat to having a hot shower in a warm cabin.All warm and clean I adjourned to the bar where I enjoyed a pitcher of beer and conversation with visiting fishermen and the owner and his son. (Actually,I think the son was the owner) The father, Ray,is convinced I am not going to make it all the way so I have to prove him wrong.
The weather certainly changes from one extreme to the other here. After enjoying pleasantly coolish weather we have had 2 scorchers. The first day the temperature reached 95 degrees and was a record here for that day of the year. That was exceeded the next day when the temp reached 103 degrees and it was the hottest in the country. It was accompanied by a strong warm headwind,strong enough to negate the current if I stopped paddling. I drank copious amounts of water all day
Thursday, June 9, 2011
A brief update from Juliet
Greg has now paddled over 400 miles, and is 3 days ahead of schedule. He hopes to reach Minneapolis this weekend. The weather is now extremely hot with yesterday's temperature of 102 degrees being highest in the US. In these conditions simple pleasures such as consuming fresh fruit and cold chocolate milk are greatly appreciated.
Local people continue to be extremely hospitable, providing lawns to camp on, showers, meals,drinks, and companionship.
Right now Greg is a very happy camper!
Local people continue to be extremely hospitable, providing lawns to camp on, showers, meals,drinks, and companionship.
Right now Greg is a very happy camper!
Fundraising
The Rotary Club of North Harbour has promised close to $NZ 3,000 if Greg completes the 3,734km (2,320 mile) trip down the Mississippi. Funds raised go to Greg's nominated charities - Parkinson and Alzheimer's Research. Most people are pledging small amounts for each of the eleven stages Greg completes. The current goal is to complete stage 4 in the next few days by reaching the 500 mile mark at Minneapolis. Stage 5 ends at the 1000 mile mark, while stage 6 will be completed in St Louis. Other stages are as follows - stage 7 - 1300 miles(Ohio River), stage 8- 1600 miles, 9 - Baton Rouge, 10- New Orleans, 11 New Orleans to Gulf. Greg hopes to finish the journey by returning to Venice Louisianna.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
An update from Juliet
Greg is camping in the wilderness tonight, so this update comes from Juliet.
Greg paddled from Sandy Lake to Aitkin today in perfect kayaking weather with blue skies and a breeze.
He'll pass the 300 mile mark tomorrow, thereby completing stage 3 of the journey.
Greg has manged to keep in touch in a variety of ways, sometimes by direct phone-calls and emails to New Zealand, but more often by phoning our daughter, Jane , who lives in New York.( Thank-you for relaying news in both directions, Jane.)
Sometimes an email arrives from a kind stranger who has been given a business card with our email address .
Thanks to Joe Thompson who emailed from the Four Seasons Resort to say Greg was enjoying warm pizza before setting off across Lake Winnibigoshish on a windy day. We heard later that the trip took 5 hours, after which Greg spent a free night at a riverside lodge where he was still finishing his lunch-time pizza!
Thanks also to Matt Purdy from Grand Rapids, who emailed on June 2nd to let us know he had helped Greg with a portage . He told us Greg was looking well, was in great spirits, and appeared to be a "very interesting man":) Joe Muller of Minnesota Power lent Greg a computer, and we received the news that Greg had spent the night before camped in a primitive campsite after getting lost in the wetlands and losing some time.Joe gave Greg a Google map and directions so he could find Cohasset to buy supplies and a hot meal.
People Greg has met on the river have been extremely kind.. Meals are shared, beer and coffee are offered, and places to camp provided as well as much companionship. This paddle through Minnesota will surely remain one of the highlights of Musselman's Mississippi Kayak Adventure.
Greg paddled from Sandy Lake to Aitkin today in perfect kayaking weather with blue skies and a breeze.
He'll pass the 300 mile mark tomorrow, thereby completing stage 3 of the journey.
Greg has manged to keep in touch in a variety of ways, sometimes by direct phone-calls and emails to New Zealand, but more often by phoning our daughter, Jane , who lives in New York.( Thank-you for relaying news in both directions, Jane.)
Sometimes an email arrives from a kind stranger who has been given a business card with our email address .
Thanks to Joe Thompson who emailed from the Four Seasons Resort to say Greg was enjoying warm pizza before setting off across Lake Winnibigoshish on a windy day. We heard later that the trip took 5 hours, after which Greg spent a free night at a riverside lodge where he was still finishing his lunch-time pizza!
Thanks also to Matt Purdy from Grand Rapids, who emailed on June 2nd to let us know he had helped Greg with a portage . He told us Greg was looking well, was in great spirits, and appeared to be a "very interesting man":) Joe Muller of Minnesota Power lent Greg a computer, and we received the news that Greg had spent the night before camped in a primitive campsite after getting lost in the wetlands and losing some time.Joe gave Greg a Google map and directions so he could find Cohasset to buy supplies and a hot meal.
People Greg has met on the river have been extremely kind.. Meals are shared, beer and coffee are offered, and places to camp provided as well as much companionship. This paddle through Minnesota will surely remain one of the highlights of Musselman's Mississippi Kayak Adventure.
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