Loading the canoe
Loading the canoeThis river trip started May 3,2003 at Miami Missouri, and ended in Portland Missouri
I arrived at the ramp just before noon.
Loading the canoe
Loading the canoe
I left at 12:30
Leaving Miami
There are so many things to do as you leave. Take pictures, turn on the depth finder
and attaching it to the canoe. Check the cell phone for time and antenea strength.
Turn the radio on later on.
Dad stopped on the bridge and waved.but I had the camera off and I did not have time to
get the camera on and focused before he took off.
The depth by the ramp is 16 foot. A quarter mile down river in the channel, the depth was
24-26 foot, cell bars 2/5, 3.6 mph.
The 3 houses on the east side of the river are nice.
Again a light wind is blowing me towards the bank. Air temp 75, and the water temp is 65.
Surprisingly there are few clouds in the sky with T-storms on the way tomorrow.
Sign 262, 12:47 time to cross the river. cell 4/5 bars, 2.8 mph. depth 17 foot.
Today I will float about 12 miles to the mouth of the grand.
Time to remember to put the stuff in my pockets, into the blue wet bag to keep them dry.
I talk to Steve Burdic for awhile, who lives in Lupus. I had planned to stop and see him.
He lives on main street which goes right to the river.
Sign 260.7, cell 1/5 bars, 25 foot deep, 3.2-3.6 mph.
This is the first time I remember crossing to the river to stay in the channel and then
crossing right back.
These Walmart batteries don't last long. I almost hit the north shore again.
Looks like there maybe a connection with the outside of the bends being deeper and faster
and where the channel crosses the river to the other side, it is shallower and slower.
Other than tugboats and barges, snags are my biggest problem. Still no fish sited yet. Goodnight Brunswick I woke several times in the night. I got up at 6:45am. It was not raining. I set up Terry came and got me. She took me out to eat at Sherri's. Then I got the camera, from Monday 5/05/03 5/6/03 Tuesday 5/7/03 Wednesday Snoody's by the Booneville bridge 5/8/03 Thursday at Coopers Landing. 5/9/03 Friday 5/10/03 Saturday at Chamois
Sign 259.9, 1:38pm, cell 2/5 bars, 2.9-3.6 mph and 14 foot deep.
I had to paddle across the river because of the south wind. Then it was time to put
sun tan lotion on. No need for ice in the cooler today. I have seen only 2 ducks so far.
3 or 4 weeks ago when Allen and I floated from Leavenworth to Riverside, I saw several
beaver. Today, none so far.
I did not get the clip-on rear view mirror, to keep the barges from sneaking up on me.
If the wind is blowing their direction, I might not hear them until it is too late someday.
The wind has been quiet since 259.5 I am now at 258.
Sign 258.0, cell 3/5 bars, 3.8 mph, 15-22 foot
Brunswich Barge Terminal. I have not seen so many barges since St Louis.
Sign 256, 2:42pm, cell 2/5 bars, 3.1 mph, 18 foot deep.
The water temp has always always been 65.
Past the first of the barges downstream, 20 foot deep and 2.0 mph.
The wind has picked up and the surface is a little rough.
I am in 20 foot of water and a 4x4, 8 foot long post, has got caught under the my canoe.
Sign 255, 3:06pm, cell 2/5 bars, 2.6 mph, 19 foot deep.
The wind keeps blowing me into the north bank. I have to watch for parked barges now.
Last Tuesday or Wednesday night, I tried out my new depth finder at Cooley Lake Access,
since LaBinite Park at Highway 291 is closed for ramp construction. I stopped at John's.
He showed me the ceramic bouy that he had found in the Missouri River. There was a name
and address, a email address, a launch date and location, and a launch number.
The water is rough now, it's about like being in a perpetual wake.
Since the battery for my laptop is about $150.00 and a solar charger and regular to power
the laptop is about $425.00, I decided to buy a camera. I was going to buy a camera for my
niece Crystal anyway, as a late Christmas present. I would just buy it now, and use it on
the river.
Sign 253.8, 3:31pm, cell 1/5 bars, 1.6 mph, 21 foot deep.
This picture shows how big some of the drift wood is. It could be buried in a sand bar
next time.
There was a couple who floated with me along for about 2 miles. The guy explained to me
that eagles eat ducks and most other fling birds. The woman lives in Brunswick. They go
out on the river every 2 weeks. She had a camera. We talked about spotting beavers.
All of the trees have leaves today.
The river is calm the first 15 feet out from the parallel wing dam. Time to cross the river.
Sign 252.8, 3:57pm, cell 0/5 bars, 1.5 mph, 15 foot deep
Radio Shack batteries don't last long either.(like Walmart)
Fortunately I put a couple diskettes in my wet bag. I'm hoping to get a movie of a tug &
barges going up the river. I will tell Crystal to check the first diskette to make sure
the pictures are not tinted brown or brown on the edges.
There are still very few clouds in sky, even though the wind is a bit brisk. I am staying
close to the shore where the water is calmer & slower, 1.4 mph at 12 foot out the water
is 12 foot deep.
I want to camp out at the mouth of the Grand river. I might be better off paddling up it
tonight, than it will be easier to get to tomorrow. I would rather make it to Brunswick
than than going with plan A.
Sign 252.2 I am out of the wind. 2.5 mph, 16 foot deep. I can just see the 250.8 sign.
I will be at the Grand river a little after 5pm. Last year I launched about 5pm. The
swallows are pretty thick here. Salt Branch Creek hit here. There are verticle banks for
them to nest in.
I have a Legend GPS. The speed and heading show at the bottom of the compass screen.
I want them to show at the bottom of the map screen.
Last year 2
I have watched the depth finder sometimes and have noticed dark spots on the screen
above the bottom. And the screen is white above them, like they have stopped the sonar waves.
Sign 250.8 4:53pm, cell 2/5 bars, 3 mph, 19 foot deep
I see the area where the mouth of the Grand River is. 5:09 pm, 16 foot deep, 39.23.066, 93.06.500
Across from the Grand, upstream
UP the Grand River
There is a creek on the west side of the Grand, just after the rock parallel dam.
Fish now show up on the depth finder. The scale has changed to 15 foot from 30.
At the creek the water is still and the water temperature has changed to 67 degrees.
5:38 pm, cell 1/5 bars.
All the fish seem to be in the first mile of the Grand River.
I am moving very slowly upstream. The GPS says 0 mph. This is like paddling on a lake.
I am doing about 1.3 mph.
Up the Grand, at the first creek
Up the Grand, 1 1/2 miles
Up the Grand, 2 1/4 miles
Up the Grand, 2 1/4 miles
I reached Burnswick at 8:17 pm, 4 miles and 3 hours.
It took 4 trips to get the canoe and supplies to the campsite.
The guy who floated by the Brunswick Barge Terminal with me, and his girl friend, gave
me a lift to Casey's. Where I bought more batteries and a coke. I got the tent up by the
Lewis and Clark camped here 6/13/1804 sign. For a photo in the morning.
Now everything is in the tent except for me, the blue wet bag, the coke and the Kebbler
cookies. Also I am making the canoe sleep outside tonight. With the street light, I don't
need a lantern.
I have put the door of the tent facing away from the road. I really don't like camping
in towns. I guess I don't trust people, or expect the worst from them.
the solar charger to charge my phone. The red power light on the cigarette lighter phone
charger, came on. But did not charge. I saw the 110 volt plug ins on the power pole.
I got out the 110 volt adapter for the camera, but the plugs were turned off. I forgot
the 110 volt charger for the phone.
I got the lantern out and started to clean the corroded posts. The rain started up again.
I zipped the tent up, and moved the solar charger under the roof with the picnic tables
and me. It started raining so hard, I moved away from the side of the picnic shelter
from the table closes to the tent, over to the other side of the shelter. I had put on
sun tan lotion first thing this morning. My legs were pink, but not burned.
It is only raining lightly now, but I think I will wait until it quits to get something
to eat out of the tent.
I talked to the mayor's husband this morning. I told him I wanted to talk to the guy who
owns the newspaper, and see if he wanted to interview me by noon, and could they please
have someone come down to the boat ramp and turn the power on, so I could charge my camera.
The rain has quit for a minute, granola bars for everyone.
I put the batteries in the lantern. Only the flash light bulb comes on, and it is dim.
The flouresent bulbs won't come on at all.
A guy with a blue Ford Explorer came by, rolled the window down and said, "I prefer to
camp out in 80 degree weather." "I do too", I responded.
I have put on my jeans. I am a much happier camper now. It was pretty cold in shorts.
It is raining hard again. I checked quickly to see if I had forgotten to zip the tent
back up after getting out the sacks of food and clothes. I have had to put on shoes and
socks, and my regular jacket. The rain jacket was not quite warm enough.
Terry, the mayor, cam by at 8:11 am. She will be back after 11 am when time permits, with
a key to the electricity.
A boat just came in. I guess they have caught enough rain for one day. They probably checked
trout lines this morning. He's wearing a complete rain suit.
I did not get rain pants. I am thinking, I would rather be in the canoe in shorts rather
than jeans.
I wish that I had brought paper towels and trash bags. At least it will be some warmer this
afternoon. The clouds are still moving rapidly overhead to the east.
I have brought my canoe up under the picnic shelter to dry. The solar charger has been
out of the rain now for an hour and all the same drops are still there. However some drops
may have blown onto it in the last hard rain.
I am glad I brought the two big yellow dry bags to put my clothes and food in.
I finished getting everything out of the tent. Sadly my hat is wet as the tent. A little
water got in last night. My hat bravely sucked all the water up to keep everything else dry.
I have pushed the water off the face of the solar charger. The phone still won't charge.
I wrong the hat out and put it on the end of the paddle to dry. The air mattrace is dry now.
I kept running my hand over the water until it dispursed.
10:46 The inside of the canoe is dry. The solar charger is starting to charge the cell phone.
Some of the concrete sidewalk is dry. The solar charger is overkill for the phone.
The fisherman who lives on the east side of the ramp, and fishes a lot, has tried to talk me
out of getting on the river today. He told me of a Corp of Engineers boat capsized about
4 miles down from the Grand River where you have to cross the river to stay in the channel.
If I do not cross the river today I will only make about 3 miles on the Missouri River.
the City Hall where it had been charging. She drove me around town for pics. Then brought
me back to the ramp. She let me put my stuff in her truck, and then she backed down the ramp.
I loaded the boat and took some last minute pics.
I had everything in except for the life jacket that is. Just as I was turning around to go get
it, it blew into the river. I watched for a minute, but it was not headed towards the shore.
So I untied the rope and got in the boat. But I was careless and stepped on the river side
of the canoe and took in a little water. I paddled up stream and got the life jacket. The
wind was really pushing it. I made it stand in the corner(until it dried). The straight
stretch of the river by the ramp had big waves. I had to stay along the bank until I got
around the corner. Since then it has not been bad. The wind is still howling in the trees.
The swallows are flying around really thick. I have rarely seen so many. The wind must be
blowing the bugs off the trees.
At the mouth of the Grand River, there are rocks on the west side of the mouth of the river.
Then a little creek a quarter of a mile upstream(I am there now). By the creek you can see
the next bend. Where rock has poured down the bank in narrow strips to stop erosion. At
that bend you can see the rock on the outside bend on the right. When the rock ends you can
see the new grey party boat. The ramp is just beyond it.
In a minute, when I round the bend, I will see the Missouri River and see if there are white
caps. Well, there were no white caps, but the trees by the top of the bank were blowing.
I decided it was about rain and I felt a couple rain drops. I pulled over to the west side
with the rock. I unloaded the boat and pulled it on top the bank. I took the tent up in the
second load and put it up. Just as I was about to finish the tent, the sun almost came out.
I looked down the Missouri River and wondered if I could have made it three more miles.
But I'm too tired to try. Now that I am at the bottom of the bank, I feel to tired to carry
anything else up. I have been sliding on the bank going up and down, because of the rain.
The next time I go up I will attach the blue rope to a tree and throw it down for traction.
I am pretty sure I used the blue rope that way last Labor Day when I camped out on the island
below Fort Osage.
I am glad to get to the mouth of the Grand River. I will feel better tomorrow, although this
puts me about 12 miles behind schedule.
It will rain soon, when the temp drops.
The hawks that hover in the air currents are gone. The fishermen checking trout lines are
gone. My supper is gone.
Almost everything is on top the river bank in the tent. I did paddle last year to make up time
I lost in Peru Ne. at Ruby's Place.
I got up early today. I never did that last year.
Cinco de Mayo
When I got up there, it was a little orange in the sky. I am still tired as I discovered, when
I started bringing stuff down the bank. I slipped and slid the last couple feet with the last
load.
I left at 8 am. 39.23.099 93.06.507 I let the boat float to the current, which is flowing
down stream today. I had to keep resting while loading the canoe. The water came up and it
was not easy to load there. I looked around for the big rocks and realized that they were
under water.
When I got up the Grand River surface was flat as glass. There was no wind. Soon there was
a little breeze on the bank top, now there is wind.
I need to program the GPS so the heading and speed are on the map page.
The tent has a leak in the top of the seam.
MFA COOP abandoned mile 249.4, cell 2/5 bars, 8:28 am, 25 foot deep.
I put sun tan lotion on my arms, as I floated away from shore. Terry noticed that my arms
were burnt in the restaruant yesterday. The food was good and I like buffets. They did not
feel warm. But they woke me in the night as warm. Once I had to paddle at the mouth of the
Grand River to get around the bay which marked the end of a wing dam. My arms and joints
were real unhappy with this decision.
Sign 246.8, cell 1/5 bars, 9:08 am, 2.8 mph
Sign 246 , cell 1/5 bars, 9:24 am, 3.7 mph
The wind blew me against the shallow area. I had to paddle accross the river. I was about
100 foot out before I reached 20ft Grave Creek. 39.19.957 93.04.310
Franklin Woods Quarry and Dock
Mile 245
Rocks at small bluff
House with a private gravel ramp 39.18.895 93.02.420
Some of the land is farmed
A couple cows by the river
There are power lines at mile 241.7
New Frankfort, Does not show signs of use, but it is behind a parallel wing dam.
There was a boat 1/10 mile downstream from the overhead power lines. I don't see another
sign of New Frankfort.
Sign 240.2, cell 1/5 bars, 10:43 am, 4.1 mph, 21 foot deep.
I have seen a lot of birds today. Mostly herring and ducks. Now there is a white bird that
flies just above the surface of the water from side to side. Black face and beak. 12-15 inch(br>
wing span. There are 5 of them on a small branch floating down the river. Perhaps seagulls.
Sign 239.2, cell 1/5 bars, 11:00 am, 3.8 mph, 17 foot deep, 39.18.935 92.58.084
The channel stays about 21-23 foot deep, but a minute ago it went to 38 foot deep.
Chariton River 39.18.762 92.57.488
Then a lot of wind came up, blowing me towards the bank.
Sign 237.8, cell 3/5 bars, 11:22 am, 3.2 mph, 21 foot deep
Some hills are more valuable with out trees.
Buck Creek 39.17.254 92.57.604
Sign 236.5, cell 1/5 bars, 12:03 pm, 1.4-2.8 mph, 7-8 foot deep
I crossed the river too soon because because of the big waves. Going along the bank slower.
I scared several of the big carp with my paddle in 4 places along the rock. The second fish
jumped into the side of the canoe. "Dummy", I yelled. Another one splashed me good.
I just pasted 236.5, I am back in the channel. 3.2 mph, 24 foot deep.
At 237.8 I tightened the string holding my hat on.
Rosco at Brunswick says that when they take the Duck out, a WWII anphibeous landing craft,
about 6 of the carp will jump in with them.
The depth finder temp was 62 degrees this morning. Now it is 63 degrees.
Bear Creek 39.16.958 92.57.308
After I got past the second mile of the Grand River the tempurature went back to 65 degrees.
Sign 235, cell 2/5 bars, 12:25 pm, 3.1 mph, 16-17 foot deep
My cell phone decided to play hide and seek. It hid in the cooler. That was the last place
to look before giving up. I wondered how many minutes that the fish might use.
Sign 234, cell 1/5 bars, 12:48 pm, 3.1 mph, 29 foot deep
The sun is just right
The sun is just right. Forty foot out the water is 27 foot deep. Fifty foot out it is 30
foot deep.
The waves disappeared by mile 235.
Sign 233. Beaver damage to a tree.
The wind has picked back up. It is blowing me back up stream, speed 1.4 mph.
Sign 232.9, cell 3/5 bars, 1:10 pm, 1.8 mph, 6 foot deep
Nice sand bar
Sign 231.9, cell 1/5 bars, 1:23 pm, 2.9 mph, 20 foot deep
At mile 231 I hope to take pictures of cars and trucks on Hwy 240. I was unsuccessful.
Nice sand bar
I am coming up on 229.2, the river is 20 foot deep, my speed is 4.3 mph including the wind.
I had planned to only make 20 miles a day. It's not 2 pm yet and I have gone 20 miles already,
21 miles in 6 hours.
I will stop at Glasgow for supplies, I hope. They were supposed to get a second ramp this
year.
Sign 229.2, cell 3/5 bars, 1:57 pm, 4.0 mph, 17 foot deep
The solar charger charged the cell phone real quick yesterday even though it was cloudy.
But the battery on the cell phone went dead real quick too. Today it is not.
Glasgow is just 3 miles around the bend. Since I am doing over 4 mph, I am going to rest and
not paddle. I am headed right for the next sign. I have not seen any clouds today until now.
It has gotten nice and warm today. I think if it had to storm one day , then yesterday was a
good day, while I was off the river.
Sign 227.8 cell 1/5 bars, 2:21 pm, 3.8 mph, 16 foot deep
Glasgow is close now
The Little Chariton River 39.14.150 92.51.099
Glasgow Park
I took pictures at the bridge and of a sand barge.
I arrived at the Glasgow ramp at 3:09 pm.
The cell phone would not work. I have no long distense and no roaming charges. I dial 611 for
help. They said the cell phone needed to be off for a full 5 minutes. So when it came back on,
it would look for new towers. I had to stand behind the bathroom in one spot, and look one
direction for the phone to work.
I also got pictures of the sand dredge about 1/2 mile down the river.
Sign 237.8, cell 1/5 bars, 4:23 pm, 3 mph, 21 foot deep
The next picture was taken about the 225 mile, because of the rocks.
The next picture was taken as the Glasgow bridge was half way out of sight.
In Glasgow I called the office and ERS in Booneville, then mom and dad. I talked to Barb.
I might camp out on a sand bar tonight. About mile 223.6 the Glasgow bridge is out of sight
and it's 5 pm. The next picture is at the 223 sign, the last of Bluffport. The sand dredge
is just going out of sight.
Sign 223, cell 1/5 bar, 5:10 pm, 2.7 mph, 18 foot deep
Back in 1976, when Jay floated from Glasgow to 6 miles short of St Charles, he got to see
this country. I floated from Washington to 6 miles short of St Charles where the boat sunk.
Five more miles to go before stopping tonight. The road runs by the river here.
Sign 222, cell 1/5 bars, 5:27 pm, 2.9 mph, 20 foot deep
The wind blew me into the curve at Glasgow. Now it's slowing me 6own. As I leave mile 221.3
the tempurature is 64 degrees. At mile 221.2 I can see the grain elevator at Glasgow.
At the mile 222 sign I was out of the wind, also in the shade.
Sign 221, cell 2/5 bars, 5:34 pm, 3.3 mph, 26 foot deep
Richland Creek 39.08.847 92.54.297
Sign 219.7, cell 1/5 bars, 6:10 pm, 2.8 mph, 28 foot deep
I have seen a lot of ducks and herrings today. The few clouds have left and never gathered
into a band. I noticed the gash in the bluff by mile 219, it's the quarry.
Now it's time to find a camping spot. I picked a spot not too far from the 218 sign.
After getting on shore, I looked down at the bend to see if I thought it might be better
if I went that extra mile, but there are no rocks on that shore. That's why I'm here.
Just then a barge nosed around the bend. Yep, I'm staying here tonight, as I quickly
unloaded the canoe, so I could get it out of the water. No parallel wing dam to hide behind
today. I got a movie of the tug, the River Otter, and barges going by.
I got all the gear to the top of the bank and the tent put up before sunset. Setting the
tent up before dark, what a novel idea. I had barely started setting up the tent when the
small flying bug welcome committee arrived.
I am going to try one of those add water and have a steaming supper in 15 minutes. Probably
move the dry leaves first. The dinner comes with it's own water and fork.
The cell phone battery is dead. It had 3 bars for a minute. There goes my prank phone call
time again tonight.
My campsite is at 39.07.882 92.55.027
I got up late today. The sun was up and I am still tired. The blood still pounds through
my veins. I unloaded the tent and carried everything down to the river. The river had come
up again. A coote(duck) swam up river, until it got to my canoe. It swam away from shore
out in the current to get around me. The coote was starting to lose ground when it started
flapping it's wings. It finally got back by the bank about 20 feet upstream from my canoe.
The coote made me laugh when it tried so hard but did not get much done.
I left at 9:39 am.
Sign 218.1, cell 2/5 bars, 9:45 am, 2.6 mph, 19 feet deep
The next pictures are at the Lisbon Bottoms, where a new chute was cut by the flood of
1993. The entrance to the chute is about 12 feet wide. The Army Corp of Engineers wanted
to completely dam up the new chute so navigation would remain the same. No new dredging,
no new wing dams, no new navigation charts. They left the mouth of the chute 12 foot wide
for fish habitat. This is the only place that certain stergeons reproduce besides
Ponca State Park in Nebraska.
The next pictures is of the Lisbon bottom island, showing places to camp.
There is a thin layer of clouds today from east. There is very little wind. I am glad and
hope that I don't have to paddle across the river today. The wind seemed to die down after
the hottest part of the day.
Sunday night before the thunderstorms, the wind quit and the water became calm.
Sign 217.3, cell 2/5 bars, 10:02 am, 3.6 mph, 20 feet deep
There is a private site at 216.8
I got the barge movie I had been hoping for. Last year only one tug with barges past me.
I would say that with the Brunswick Terminal, I will see more barges.
Sign 214.2, cell 2/5 bars, 11:02 am, 2.5 mph, 19 feet deep
The new chute passes cuts through the "S" curve at about mile 214.5
Just before mile 213.3 is and eroding bank with little trees growing on the bank. I got to
see the dirt give away and a tree fall in.
Coopers Creek 39.05.885 92.54.636
Sign 213.5, cell 1/5 bars, 11:16 am, 1.7 mph, 31 feet deep, 39.05.883 92.54.600
Water tempurature is 63 degrees.
There is a road by the river here. Drive Hwy K to Lisbon, then head south along the river.
There were 2 guys fishing on a wing dam. I asked them, "Is it true, that if you fish with
worms you will catch a lot of stergeons?" He replyed, "I've heard that." Someone complained
at Brunswick that they couldn't fish with worms any more or they would get foot long
stergeons.
Picures taken at mile 213 to 212.5
Salt Creek 39.04.887 92.54.996
Sign 211.5, cell 2/5 bars, 11:59 am, 3.2 mph, 18 feet deep
I've seen a lot more ducks and herring than ever before, almost one for every wing dam.
At mile 211 there were 2 ducks, one behind the wing dam. The ducks quacked loudly.
I got a diskette out for a movie and put it in the camera and set the camera to movie.
I had the lens cap off, but they did not fly away, not until I was aways off and it was
too late for a movie.
Sign 210.7, cell 3/5 bars, 12:13 pm, 3.6 mph, 24 feet deep
Arrow Rock Bend pictures
Sign 209.5, cell 3/5 bars, 12:30 pm, 3.3 mph, 17 feet deep
Longs Hollow 39.02.879 92.55.810
After Long Hollow the wind has picked up and is blowing against me, however the water
surface is not real rough.
Sign 208.3, cell 2/5 bars, 12:56 pm, ? mph, 18 feet deep
In the last of the wing dams after mile 209.5, there were two ducks. I put the diskette 109
in the camera, set the camera to movie and got about 30 feet from them. Afraid they would
also wait until after I was gone to fly, I waved my hand and yelled to scared them. They
took off, but not very far. I got the movie. I took the movie diskette out thinking that
I would not get another shot. The duck took off again, but did not fly far as I approached.
Then 3 big hawks or eagles flew over from the cliffs above, and the duck became silent.
"I told you I was done shooting, don't try to blame this one on me.", I said.
I am hoping to spot the park bench on the bluff or the deck in Arrow Rock State Park.
A heavy layer of clouds has passed over, there is blue sky to the south and southeast.
I will have to build a mount on the depth finder for the gps and cell phone.
Sign 207, cell 3/5 bars, 1:23 pm, 3.4 mph against the wind, 27 feet deep
The heavy clouds are coming from the north. The blue sky is rapidly heading south. My plan
is to camp at the Booneville Bridge and get supplies. Now I am looking at the nav charts
and thinking, can I make it to the Lamine River, which will take about one hour, before
it starts raining? Once I stop, it will be for the night, because it takes so much time
and energy to get everything out of the canoe and carry it to the top of the bank and set
the tent. Then take it all back down to the river and go.
Sign 205.9, cell 2/5 bars, 1:43 pm, 2.8 mph, 25 feet deep
The wind from the south has slowed down. I can hear thunder from the north now.
Sign 205.2, cell 4/5 bars, 2:02 pm, 3.4 mph, 18 feet deep
Sign 204.6, cell 3/5 bars, 2:17 pm, 3.6 mph, 18 feet deep
I pulled over. There is a parallel wing dam which has filled in behind it. If this is a
false alarm or a short rain, I can move on when it's over. As I finished putting the
rain fly on the tent, thunder occured directly overhead.
I sat outside for awhile to get some experience with thunderstorms. I took some pictures.
After the load thunder boom that makes you jump, it was another 20 minutes before it started
to rain. There was lightening all around me. For a while it looked brighter to the east.
Fortunately it has not rained hard. I turned on the radio. The weather alerts were on
tornados and golf ball size hail, but they are far south of me. I had to get out the
Missouri Atlas to see what counties they were talking about, and what county I was in.
I am in Cooper county now. I pulled over about 2:20 pm . The county is under a tornado
alert until 4:15(now). A tornado touch down 2 miles east of Marshall, which is only about
10 - 15 miles northwest of me. I took about a 2 hour nap.
I had the radio off to enjoy the song of birds, probably a mistake today.
It's 5:30 pm and the rain has quit. The river is very turbulent. It's cooler too. The
radio says there is a chance of rain every night and some afternoons. Sounds like I will
have to float between rain storms.
At 6:27 I was underway.
I call Mark. He asured me that the tent he loaned me did not come with flood insurance.
Mark told me my house in Pleasant Valley was ok.
Talked to Andy from the office.
Sign 203.4, cell 4/5 bars, 6:42 pm, 2.8 mph, 20 feet deep
Lamine River 38.58.800 42.51.022. The water is 62 degrees. The wind is against me now.
Sign 201.8, cell 2/5 bars, 7:07 pm, 2.8 mph, 20 feet deep
Sign 200.5, cell 5/5 bars, 7:26 pm, 3.3 mph, ? feet deep
Sun comes out from behind the silver lining, the wind slows down, then the wind started
to howl.
Sign 199.1, cell 4/5 bars, 7:42 pm, 2.9 mph, 24 feet deep
Sign 198.1, cell 3/5 bars, 7:56 pm, 3.7 mph, 21 feet deep
I paddled as hard as I could for the last five miles, so I could make it to Booneville.
I pulled the canoe onto the muddy sand bar. I arrived at 8:15 pm. I found a good place to
climb up on the bank and get to the field. Then I remembered that I was going charge the
camera battery, so I went back through the woods on the river bank and climbed back down to
the canoe. Once back in the field the walk to the edge of the bridge and the old road on the
east was easy. I got to Snoody's at 9:00 pm. They closed at 9:30 pm. I got a sandwich and
other supplies. They let me charge my camera battery while I shopped. I bought another sandwich.
I talked to Allen. He told me about all the places that tornados had touched down in
Kansas City, including the Baptist Church in Pleasant Valley, which lost it's roof. And I
said, "You know what I do at times like that, I go out of town on vacation." Kansas City lost
power in 1983. My brother Mark had told me earlier in the day that the house in Pleasant Valley
was ok, but in 21 years a tornado has never visited the neighboorhood.
The walk back was uneventful. There is a pond under the bridge. There are frogs in the
pond. Snakes like frogs. I should have done the trip in daylight.
It was darker when I arrived back at the river. I was glad then that I had to go back
for the camera battery, because I knew the way through the woods in the dark.
I should have bought a flashlight since the lantern quit.
I left at 7:43 this morning. The sky is already cloudy. I put my warm jacket in a bag
and put the rain coat on the top of the tarp. The depth finder is starting the fourth
day on these batteries. The clouds seem to be disapating. The radio tells of weather
damage in Illinois, Missouri and Kansas.
I stopped at Franklin Island for pictures. I left there at 8:32 am. There are no trees
on the downstream side of the ramp for a half mile.
Sign 194.5, cell 4/5 bars, 8:42 am, 4.1 mph, 23 feet deep
Trees start about mile 194.5
The radio says about 70 degrees today, with a chance of rain tonight. At 8:53 the skies
are clear. No north wind. Last night it did not rain. I may have to put on shorts.
Yesterday after the rain I paddled hard to get to Booneville before dark. Last night
my pen was running out of ink, also sun tan lotion, and asprin for those now sore muscles.
The nap I took during the afternoon nap did me a lot of good.
Sign 193.8, cell 3/5 bars, 8:58 am, 3.9 mph, 14 feet deep
Trains and tugboats make about the same low rumble sound at a distence. When I hear that
sound, I have to keep looking over my shoulder.
Sign 192.4, cell 3/5 bars, 9:11 am, 3.1 mph, 19 feet deep
As I left after the rain delay Tuesday, I could hear the trains crossing the Lamine bridge.
Looks like there's no chance of rain until tonight. However it could rain tomorrow.
The cell phone battery had a charge this morning and really did not need to be charged.
I lost track of one of the little yellow bunge cords that were so convienent to tie the
solar charger down with. At the same place fortunately, I have the practice of counting
the tent support sticks for the dome tent, or I would have left one there.
Bonne Femme Creek 38.58.582 92.39.796
Sign 191.5, cell 3/5 bars, 9:29 am, 4.2 mph, 17 feet deep
Private houses at mile 190.4
Sign 189.9, cell 2/5 bars, 9:30 am, 4.2 mph, 19 feet deep
Fortunately there is just a little breeze ane the surface of the river is reasonable calm.
The depth finder is informational, but it's reassuring that I'm not about to hit bottom
as I get ready to dock or cross a wing dam.
Sign 188.8, cell 2/5 bars, 10:08 am, 4.1 mph, 24 feet deep
I looked through the navigation charts to Mokane. I had planned to stop at Lupus. I
thought it was only 3 miles to Coopers Landing, but it's 5, and it's going to rain
tomorrow. So I will make less miles. I still made 20 miles yesterday even with a 4 hour
rain delay. It was dark when I got to Booneville, but I have a flashlight now. So I will
stay at Cooper's Landing to make more miles while the weather is nice.
The wind is pushing me now.
Sign 187.8, cell 4/5 bars, 10:22 am, 3.9 mph, 18 feet deep
There is a new chute before Rocheport. 38.58.099 92.34.734
Salt Creek 38.58.230 92.34.496
Next to the last wing dam before Rocheport, I pulled over and called Steve Johnson. We
talked for a while. He was surprised I could call from the river. I left a msg for Steve
Burdic.
Moniteau Creek 38.58.412 92.33.890
Sign 186.4, cell 3/5 bars, 11:20 am, 3.6 mph, 30 feet deep
I could see the I-70 bridge from the wing dam.
A barge a Rocheport.
Bluff by Rocheport.
There is a wing dam by the bluff where you could get out for supplies.
Sign 185.6 is across from the end of the new chute. Water tempurature is 63 degrees.
New chute exit
Taylor's Landing
I talked with some people doing research. They are investigating the effectiveness of
notching the wing dams. The are measuring the flow. They expect land to erode away.
They expect to keep the navigation channel. The don't expect to bring back dredge boats.
There are 2 more chutes on the drawing board. One is at St Joe, Mo, Worthwine Island and
the other is at Hamburg, Iowa. It will start in Iowa and end in Missouri.
Now I am now going under the I-70 bridge. 12:36 pm. This is where I saw Jay's white boat,
a 16 foot, v hull with a custom cabin, back in 1976. I did not recognize it. I caught him
in Washington. He just happened to stop, he did not see me waving on the bank.
Missouri River bridge
More bluffs, a creek bridge and a cave
There is a new island at mile 183.3
Sign 184.2, cell 4/5 bars, 12:52 pm, 4.1 mph, 17 feet deep
I saw some big birds that were large hawks or eagles
Sign 182.4, cell 4/5 bars, 1:23 pm, 3.2 mph, 21 feet deep
After seeing the bluffs, I am looking forward to seeing them again, on a bike ride from
Rocheport to Coopers Landing(17 miles).
Sign 181, cell 4/5 bars, 1:46 pm, 4 mph, 14 feet deep
New fish habitat bay
Second new fish habitat bay
Third new fish habitat bay
Sign 179.5, cell 3/5 bars, 2:05 pm, 3.7 mph, 16 feet deep
Sign 179, cell 3/5 bars, 2:13 pm, 3.7 mph, 22 feet deep
Looks like a new public ramp at sign 179.5 next to Huntsdale.
Picture of the east bank and a duck blind
Sign 178.1, cell 3/5 bars, 2:32 pm, 2.8 mph, 15 feet deep
Small creek that wants to be a chute at 177.9
Petite Saline Creek 38.52.579 92.28.817
Sign 177.1, cell 3/5 bars, 2:43 pm, 4.2 mph, 24 feet deep
Pictures of the sand bar and the bluff
Sign 176, cell 2/5 bars, 3:00 pm, 3.5 mph, 15 feet deep
Sign 175.4, cell 2/5 bars, 3:08 pm, 3.4 mph, 21 feet deep
There is a river access at 175.4, it turns out to be private.
Big Splice Creek
I arrived at Lupus at 3:15 pm. I left at 3:56 pm.
I took a picture of a tree buried in the river, which is a big hazard for canoes.
Bluff on Lupus side of the river
Steve won't be home until 6 pm. I am leaving for Coopers Landing. I would like to see Steve
but I need to make miles today while the weather is good. 60 percent of chance tomorrow.
I just stop at Coopers Landing for a shower and food, then go on a little ways.
I had to stop for more diskettes.
Sign 174, cell 3/5 bars, 4:30 pm, 3.5 mph, 26 feet deep
Sign 172.1, cell 1/5 bars, 4:57 pm, 3.5 mph, 26 feet deep
The bluffs along the Perche Creek
Sign 170.7, cell n/s bars, 5:16 pm, 4.3 mph, 24 feet deep
Perche Creek 38.49.191 92.23.441, There is a ramp on this creek.
Little Femme Bonne Creek 38.49.055 92.23.155
I arrived at Coopers Landing at 5:29 pm. I got a shower, then 2 bowls of salid.
I got to meet the guy who did the rock schulpture. His daughter is 2 1/2 years old.
She was pulling plastic animals out of a bag and putting them on the picnic table.
Mike would ask her the name of some of them. Then he would ask her what the spanish
name is. About sunset Mike and his daughter set off in his 2 man kiyak, up the Missouri
River. I took pictures. They go about 5 times a week when the weather is nice.
Then I talked to Mike Cooper for awhile, then to his new mechanic who use to do deep sea
fishing. Mike told me about all the people he contacted on the web.
I decided to stay.
I am glad I stayed. I woke at 6:36 am, used the bathroom and decided I needed more rest.
Then the metal scrap guy arrived and threw all kinds of old rusted metal into his truck.
Later he got out a torch and cut something up and threw it in his truck too.
I got up at 7:30 am. The sky is still very cloudy with thunder in the distence. I gotten
all things out of the tent, and was taking it down, when I noticed rain drops on the tent.
I started to hurry. I took my equipment into the office. Now I'm setting on the porch under
the roof. You can't beat this place for a rain delay. It looks like it will rain until 10 or
12 am. Sun all day tomorrow.
At 10:12, finally a little sun on the side walk. We looked at the weather channel on the
computer. A band of rain is on the way. Mostly red. I am very lucky I decided to stay here
so I could watch the weather channel. It has been really rainy this vacation. Last year
was very dry. This year the rain has been normal amounts, but has not made up for last
year yet, but I think that this week it trying to make it up. About 3 years ago April,
May, and June each were about the 2nd rainiest months on record each, 3 months in a row.
There have been 15 months of dry weather.
The History Channel was playing on the big screen TV. The show was the biggest storm to
ever hit the east coast, which happened back in 1993. Same year the Missouri River flooded.
Soon it was raining so hard you could not see the other shore of the Missouri River. Then
Lisa asked, "Didn't you tie your canoe to a tree?" "Yes", I replied, "But it's light and
the log will hold it." "What if the log floats away?" she asked. "I had to pull it out of
the river a little to tie the canoe to it."
At least there was no major wind gusts with this rain.
There is a blue herring on the wing dam below.
I talked to Brenda who came to Columbia in 1987 to go to college. She is now doing
construction. I gave up on carpentry and construction back in 1978-1979, when construction
stopped.
At 11:30 the rain ended. At 11:45 shadows returned again.
At 12:04 I started to carry stuff down to the boat ramp. At 12:56 I left. My hat and life
jacket sat out all night. The hat is a little too wet to wear.
Easley 38.47.093 92.22.686 The navigation charts showed a ramp, but I couldn't find it.
Houses in Easley 39.47.895 92.22.688
Big Bonne Femme Creek 38.47.429 92.22.936 The road runs along the river here.
Picture at mile 167.5
A lot of moisture is still in the air. Anything 2-3 miles away is grayed out.
My depth finder my be acting up, even though I have kept it dry. Every once in a while it
reports a big hole like 95 feet deep. I think any big holes would silt in unless its a
spring.
The sun is not coming out, but the thunderstorm has passed through. It's supposed to hit
75 degrees today. I packed the radio away so I would listen to the birds.
Sign 167.2, cell ns bars, 1:48 pm, ? mph, 23 feet deep
There is a island at mile 167 that is not on the navigation charts.
Sign 166.1, cell 0/5 bars, 2:03 pm, 3.1 mph, 48 feet deep
I pulled over to change the batteries in the depth finder. I did a brake stroke and the
paddle broke. Fortunately I was close to the bank and it was pretty ease to land.
Looking at the charts, I am about 100 yards from the Sandy Hook Rail Road Yard. I will
call Steve and see if he is busy. I have watch the Red and Green show a lot, but did not
bring any duck tape. I did bring electrical tape.
I grabbed my cell phone and walked about 50 yards and found a place where I could climb up
on the RR track. I walked about 100 yards and found a place where my cell phone had 2 bars.
I walked back over the area slower and found a spot with 3 cell bars. I called Steve Johnson.
He called Steve Burdic who lives in the area. Steve was just leaving work. Perfect timing.
Steve J call me back and said that Steve B would be in Sandy Hook in 30 minutes. I said
thanks and bye, then "Will Steve B take a check without ID?"
I went back to the canoe and got the blue wet bag that contain my check book and favorite
toys. I thought after looking at the navigation charts, that the RR yard was a 1/8 of a
mile at the most. It turned out to be about 2 miles. I started walking as fast as I could.
This vacation is turning into a marathon.
I found another spot where my cell phone worked and called Steve J, for him to relay to
Steve B that the distence was further than I thought and I would be 10 minutes late.
Steve B was walking my direction. I meant him at the edge of Sandy Hook.
We talked for a while about indian mounds and life styles of native people, and parts we
could integrate into our lives. Then we said goodbye.
On the way back I saw a tugboat and barges, 38.44.465 92.24.110 and got a movie.
I walked back to the place I climbed up the bank. The canoe was still there. On the way back
a tugboat and 5 barges came by. I go some more barge movies, but then I thought, what if the
waves set the canoe free. I kept watching the river for my canoe.
I called Steve J to thank him. I climbed down and changed the batteries in my depth finder
and took off. It still acted up. Soon I thought to check the angle of the transducer. That
was it.
Back under again, I got a picture of a passing train and a house on the hill by Sandy Hook.
There is a private gravel ramp at mile 164.7
The water is very rough and the wind is blowing steady at about 30 mph. I heard thunder.
Just as I'm looking for a place to get out, the wind calms. Once I got past the new bay
at mile 164 the wind and the river calmed down. However before crossing the river to Wilton
I'm going to put everything in a wet bag.
Sign 162.7, cell 1/5 bars, 6:40 pm, 3.2 mph, 21 feet deep
I decided to pas a perfect campsite close to the water to get 3 more miles.
Sign 161.8, cell 0/5 bars, 6:59 pm, 3.2 mph, 25 feet deep
I found a place where the land had filled in behind a parallel wing dam. It was not real
level, but close enough, at mile 160.8
The River Otter tugboat went by again but it was too late for a movie, same boat as on Monday night.
I had 3 cell bars so after 9 pm, I talked to my dad and my friend Allen until the phone
battery went dead.
I was looking at the bend, there was a bright light in the trees. I figured a barge was
coming up river. Then I heard a noise behind me. The leading edge of the first barge was
50 foot behind me. I was on land fortunately.
I woke at 6 am and left just before 7 am. There is a lot of debris on the river, which will
no doubt speed my journey.
There is a lot of noise on both sides of me. Even while breaking camp. I will have to watch
both ways for a tug.
I could see the Hartsburg ramp from where I camped. I stopped for pictures. I left at 7:42 am
Sign 159.3, cell ns bars, 7:46 am, 2.9 mph, 20 feet deep
The rain coat is off today, the sun tan lotion is on.
Today I need 30 miles to get to the mouth of the Osage. If the paddle had not broke, I belive
I would have considered paddling up to Bonnet's Mill.
I have picked up flies at the Hartsburg ramp.
I am moving along at 4.5 mph between the ramps today.
Sign 158.4, cell 2/5 bars, 8:05 am, 4.1 mph, 27 feet deep
I meant Mark at the Marion boat ramp. He owns land on the Moniteau River. He takes care of
graves with a 1704 date stone marker.
The friendly little black retriever puppy at the ramp on Mar 26, is now the big black friendly
retriever puppy.
I took a picture of Mark. Then Mark showed me metal washers nailed to a cottonwood tree
showing the height of the floods in 1951 and 1993.
I took off and the puppy started swimming along side me. After about a mile downstream
the puppy got tired and the owner started calling the puppy, he headed for shore. Wait,
he's beside me again. 2 miles later the puppy is getting tired. He would like to get in.
Most of the time he has a stick in his month, now a bottle.
At mile 157 there is a noticible rock and a deck.
Sign 155.5, cell 2/5 bars, 9:11 am, 4.3 mph, 23 feet deep
Meadow Creek 38.40.246 92.19.533
3 miles later, the puppy is really tired. At 3.5 miles I pulled over to the Marion bank
think that he could not see the shore and that's why he stayed with me. I will try to
sneak off while he's on land. He got out and walked about 10 feet to the left and came
back. He turned towards the top of the bank and fell over from exhastion. He went about
30 feet to the right(upstream). All this time the river was starting to carry me away.
When the puppy noticed this, he came back and then fell into the river insteaded of
wading into it.
It is time for me to cross the river to get pictures of Busch Landing. If the puppy follows
me, he will probably won't get home.
I paddled hard to get across the river. The puppy followed. He never got more than 100 feet
behind me.
There is a house across the river. I did not get a pic.
Sign 154.9, cell 0/5 bars, 9:58 am, 4.5 mph, 25 feet deep
The puppy has been gasping since the fourth mile.
A private stairs at 152.4
Sign 152.6, cell 2/5 bars, 10:09 am, 4.8 mph, 21 feet deep
We are 6 miles from from Marion now. The puppy continues to swim to shore, but turns around
and swims back. I am approaching the Marion side again. He just likes the water too much.
Sign 151.4, cell ns bars, 10:28 am, 3.1 mph, 30 feet deep
I'm beginning to wonder if the puppy is smart enough to get out before he drowns from
exhastion. He finally got out. He has started following me down the bank. But I am moving
too fast at 4.6 mph, for him to keep up on the uneven shore line. The puppy is over a 1/3
mile away. He is heading back to Marion now. I'll bet he did not get far before he layed
down and slept the rest of the day.
There is a sand bar that runs from mile 151 to 150.3 The tip at mile 150.3 is a island
Sign 150, cell 3/5 bars, 10:47 am, 4 mph, 21 feet deep
The bluffs before Cedar Creek are some of the tallest
Cedar Creek 38.38.365 92.12.609 Capital View Access is on this creek.
Sign 149.2, cell 2/5 bars, 11:00 am, 4.1 mph, 29 feet deep
At mile 147.7 I thought I heard something. I looked downstream, it could be a tug grayed out.
Then I turned around and a sand tug without any barges was coming down river. I hid behind
a wing dam. He did not leave much more of a wake than a big boat.
A small creek downstream from Cedar Creek
It did not rain last night.
Sign 146.8, cell 3/5 bars, 11:50 am, 3 mph, 23 feet deep
The bluff by Cedar Creek is one of the highest in the area. The houses of Jefferson City are
on a bluff ahead of me.
Grays Creek 38.36.180 92.12.137
Sign 145.6, cell 2/5 bars, 12:17 pm, 3.6 mph, 33 feet deep
There is a sand dredge at mile 145.6
After mile 145.6 I'm out of the main wind. There's a tug under the bridge, what's he doing?
Noren is on the shallow side.
Turkey Creek 38.35.413 92.11.061
Sign 144.3, cell 5/5 bars, 12:35 pm, 4.5 mph, 20 feet deep
I got new pictures at the Noren Ramp.
I did not get a picture of all the building or barges. There was a guy at the ramp who had
a interest in Lewis and Clark, so I gave him Steve J's phone number. A guy on a bike said
the airport was the closes place to get some thing to eat. Airport food is always cheap.
It would be convenient to get off a plane and into a boat.
At this time the Army Corp of Engineers has let contacts to dredge the area under the
Jefferson City bridge because of silt build up.
The old Jefferson Landing ramp.
Sign 142.3, cell 4/5 bars, 1:43 pm, 4.4 mph, 24 feet deep
There are 9 more barges by the sign.
Sign 141.6, cell 3/5 bars, 1:54 pm, 4.1 mph, 26 feet deep
Sign 139.4, cell 2/5 bars, 2:20 pm, 4.0 mph, 24 feet deep
I'm glad to have a peaceful afternoon. I wish I had brought the car charger for the gps.
Moreau River 38.33.414 92.05.121
Sign 138, cell 3/5 bars, 2:56 pm, 3.8 mph, 15 feet deep
Island at mile 137.7
An Army base with a ramp.
Sign 137, cell 2/5 bars, 3:12 pm, 3.6 mph, 31 feet deep
Rising Creek 38.33.451 92.03.308
Sign 136.2, cell 2/5 bars, 3:23 pm, 4.3 mph, 20 feet deep
The wing dams seem to all be almost underwater today and the bouys are.
Sign 135.1, cell 3/5 bars, 3:42 pm, 3.7 mph, 19 feet deep
Looks like Dodd's Island is all trees, with a few crosses
Sign 134.5, cell 3/5 bars, 3:54 pm, 3.9 mph, 24 feet deep
Rivoux Creek 38.34.374 92.00.222
Sign 133.1, cell 2/5 bars, 4:10 pm, 3.9 mph, 23 feet deep
Dodds Island
Accoss from Dodds Island
I think the reason I have not seen any blue herring and only a few ducks today is because
the wing dams are under water.
Sign 132.1, cell 2/5 bars, 4:24 pm, 4.8 mph, 23 feet deep
Sign 131, cell 2/5 bars, 4:46 pm, 2.7 mph, 13 feet deep
A house on the other side of Dodds Island by Bonnets Mill
There are more crosses on Dodd's Island across from mile 131. No telling if they were
unsafe boater, early settler, indians, or where wives caught there husbands fishing on
the wives birthdays.
Osage River 38.35.646 91.56.921
Where the river starts to bend on the left is Bonnet's Mill. It would take 1 1/2 hours to
paddle there. They have sandwiches, but probably close at 5 pm.
Sign 130, cell 3/5 bars, 5:00 pm, 4.3 mph, 23 feet deep
Sign 129.2, cell 3/5 bars, 5:14 pm, 4.2 mph, 28 feet deep
I think these are some of the most impressive cliffs. Good as I-70 cliffs. I remember Mike
Cooper telling me if it rained south of Sedalia the water flows into the Osage, which does
not affect him. Also Hwy 63 north of I-70 at Columbia, Mo. is like the continential divide
of Missouri, because if it rains east of Hwy 63, the water flows directly to the Mississippi
River. If it rains west of Hwy 63 the water flows into the Grand River, which is upstream
from him.
I got a hold of Dad at the mile 130 sign. I am going to float to Chamois tonight, which is
past Mokane where I had planned to take out. The wind is with me now.
Sign 128, cell 4/5 bars, 5:33 pm, 5.6 mph, 22 feet deep
Loose Creek 38.37.400 91.54.500
At the little town of Isbell, there is no sign of life.
From mile 128-126 my speed was in the 5's all the time.
Sign 126, cell 3/5 bars, 5:48 pm, 5.1 mph, 23 feet deep
I arrived at the Mokane ramp at 6:12 and left at 6:32. I took pictures and talked to some of
the people there. The Middle River flows into the Missouri River at the ramp. Some of the
people fish around the ramp. I asked one couple about the crosses, but they had no idea
why they were there.
Sign 124.6, cell 2/5 bars, 6:39 pm, 4.3 mph, 26 feet deep
The wind has pick up, but the river is reasonable calm. A guy at the ramp said that the river
is up about 3 feet. Big rain clouds ar moving in.
Sign 123.1, cell 2/5 bars, 6:53 pm, 3.5 mph, 18 feet deep
Sign 121.3, cell 3/5 bars, 7:17 pm, 3.4 mph, 23 feet deep
The big clouds are rolling over. The wind is pretty quiet. But there is a tornado watch in
Columbia.
Auxvasse River 38.40.843 91.49.214
Sign 120.2, cell 2/5 bars, 7:32 pm, 5.4 mph, 29 feet deep
St Aubert Chute 38.41.065 91.48.213
Sign 119.3, cell 2/5 bars, 7:43 pm, 3.8 mph, 23 feet deep
I arrived at Chamois at 7:58 pm.
Sign 117.8, cell 2/5 bars, 8:00 pm, 3.7 mph, 16 feet deep
I tryed to find a camping site outside the city park. No luck. I walked the canoe back to
the ramp. I camped in a grassy spot next to the top of the ramp. The local kids who hang
out at the park at night, were agrivated that some unknown person was camping out in their
party area. If I had tried to make friends with them every thing would have turned out better.
But I was tired from a long day and wanted to sleep.
I recommend only camping in the park when there is a public event there.
At 6:00 am someone was practising duck calls. At 7:00 am it started to rain. They were real big
black clouds. At 7:30 am the rain finally quit. I could could contact dad, who was coming to
pick me up.
A fisherman at the ramp said the canoe was close to washing away. I had checked it already,
I thanked him and he left to check trout lines.
Soon it started to rain hard. When the rain ended, I got out and called dad. He was almost
to Columbia. I told him to meet me in Portland. There was enough time between the first and
second rains to pack and make it to Portland before the second rain started.
I quickly moved stuff out of the tent and down the ramp close to the canoe. I had just finished
loading the canoe when it started to rain. It was pouring, but not raining hard and no blowing
sheets of rain. The river surface was reasonable calm. It poured the first 3 miles. The new
rain jacket was worth every penny. It had quit raining when I reached Portland.
I discovered the Chamois Power Plant, a nuklier power plant across the river from Chamois
and a island across the river and just a little upstream from Portland.
I had all my toys packed away incase of rain. So I did not get any pictures after Chamois.
I will have to start from Mokane next year to get pictures I have missed.
I got pictures of Portland and then Mokane on the way back.
I discovered a spare paddle when I arrived home.