Weather conditions:
High: 73
Low: 48
Skies: cloudy with a stray shower or thunderstorm
Winds: NNE 5 mph
Today’s mileage: 18 miles
Total mileage: 43 miles
Where we traveled: Hastings, MN, to Mr. Sippi Campground, Hagar City, WI, mile marker 794
Ate:
Breakfast: Quinoa with fruit
Dinner: Pizza at Mr. Sippi
5:29 p.m.
Freshly showered, we are sitting in the bar at Mr. Sippi Campground on the Wisconsin Channel, a shoot off the Mississippi at mile 791, waiting for our pizza, drinking beer, and charging our electronics. When we left Hastings, Minnesota, this morning our plans were to spend tonight at an Army Corps of Engineer’s Campground above Lock 2. Just above the lock, we paddled into a small inlet full of lily pads and soon realized the campground was no longer there. Without a place to stay, I wanted to cry as we paddled into the lock.
So, like everyone does while hanging onto ropes in the lock, John investigated, called, and made a reservation at a campground downstream.
Now that you know where we are, let’s back up to last night.
To escape the mosquitos, we were in the tent by 8:00. John went to sleep at once—I read until 8:30. We NEVER go to bed before 9:30 or 10:00 at home, but we also don’t normally spend our days paddling eighteen miles Even though we didn’t have a refinery humming across the river, the night was not peaceful. Music from a concert in nearby Hastings was loud enough to know it was happening, but not to name the songs.
The off-road transportation seemed extra noisy. On land behind us… The rumblings from the railroad track bordering our campsite jostled me from my dream world several times during the night. Clanking and lights on a tow woke me. Several other tows passed, shining beams on the tent as they searched for buoys and shorelines in order to keep them out of danger. Do trains and tows travel more at night? Maybe the towboats and recreational craft have an agreement—fun boats during the day and workboats at night.
Nature doesn’t sleep at night. John heard what he thought were beavers flapping their tails. We both heard raccoons fighting violently in the distance, leaving us wondering if everyone made it out alive.
We are getting into a morning routine. John sets up the kitchen while I get ready. Then, I start breakfast. While our food rests in a cozy, I make our snacks and lunches for the day. John starts rolling up and packing the bedding. When the food is ready, John joins me at the foil “table” for breakfast and “coffee.” I add Moringa hot chocolate to my cup for a mocha treat. After breakfast, John washes the dishes and I finish packing. Then we both tear down the tent and pack Ripple.
We were on the river by 8:00.
Keep us upright and safe.
The St. Croix River joined the Mississippi at Prescott, Wisconsin. With the addition of the St. Croix, the river is wider and has more accessible shoreline. The river divides Minnesota and Wisconsin. Wisconsin is now to our left, and Minnesota borders the river on the right. The river creates a division in the topography. In this section Wisconsin is hilly while Minnesota is comparatively flat.
When it began to rain, we coasted in the river and pulled out our rain gear. As I was pulling on my pants, our first speedboat of the day passed us. The pleasure craft traffic and waves increased as the morning continued.
Our bird sightings today were mainly eagles. They screeched and yelled at us. We are used to them sitting quietly in the trees, watching us pass. We have seen more families—two adults and one or two juveniles.
We are grateful for a place to sleep, eat, and take a shower. But, getting from the river to our campsite was challenging. We unloaded Ripple and carried everything up a steep, rocky hill. Once she was empty, John pulled Ripple to a neglected boat ramp. We carried her up the ramp, attached the wheels, and pulled her to our site.
Of course, we attracted attention and questions. When asked where we are going, I am embarrassed I can’t say The Gulf. I know to most people what we are doing is more than they have or will ever do, but it feels like less of an accomplishment compared to our last trip. Pride? This feeling has taken me by surprise.
Dinner and relaxation before bed. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.