I went about 45 miles today, no more than 50. Id told myself I just wanted to get to Hickman (20-25ish miles), and was there by noon. So making good time I just leisurely paddled for about 4-5 more hours. It worked out.
Weather was very favorable today. 85 and little wind. That meant the river was quite mellow. It does do new things though–even on a calm day. Waves are bigger. There are eddies and whirlpools that pop up unexpectedly. My 16 ft kayak doesnt have trouble with it bc it always is either halfway in or out, but if you had a small boat, 8-10ft, id be concerned. There is noticeable current as well. It isnt fast, like whitewater, but you can not paddle, look to the side and see you’re moving at a pace of someone slowly walking on the shoreline. It will also pull my kayak in a direction sometimes moving the nose of it 20 degrees for no obvious reason.
Im treating this river with respect and am interested to see how it changes with the wind and the weather.
Sleeping on an island on the bend before the bend that is nearest I-55.
Nana
Jul 20, 2014 -
Wow! Really clipping along. I should think that it’s a good idea to treat this river with great respect. I apparently is unlike the calm Ohio River. I was just looking into fish jumping all at once. There is a picture of many fish jumping at once as a result of electro(something) experiment. It also said that Asian Carp are becoming quite a problem. It is feared that the carp are working their way north to the Great Lakes and will upset the ecosystem. It also said that the fish will jump out of fear. Perhaps you were right that there was some sort of underground occurrence that frightened them.
Stay vigilant and safe!
Love you,
Nana
Zach
Jul 23, 2014 -
yea i cant think of anything other than a minor earthquake. i know the new madrid one that occured is said to have made the mississippi go backwards, so it definitely is an active earthquake zone. Ive heard humans cant detect small earthquakes. Who knows.
Nikki Mitchell
Jul 20, 2014 -
How many miles in are you? I’m trying to figure it out. Does it make you more tired to paddle on that river than the Ohio? It’s probation harder to paddle I’m sure. You, lewis and Clark, Samuel Clemens those will all be names associated with the Mississippi 😉 much love! Rest well
Love,
Mom
roberta hoheimer
Jul 21, 2014 -
hope you write a book about your traveling the rivers.