After a two day slog up to Minneapolis to pick up the boat, and then to St. Cloud to put in we finally arrived at the Mississippi River....to find it at flood stage. We went to look at the river near the Beaver Island boat ramp and it was flowing very fast, with whitecaps and strong currents - essentially the river looks like a big Class 3 rapids right now.
According to the Corps of Engineers it peaked yesterday and will begin going down, so we plan to camp at a primitive campsite tonight and perhaps tomorrow, then put in and start heading down. That's if we can get to the campsite given the river levels. If we can't, we'll move to a more commercial campground down the river a little ways.
I wanted to put in today, but Larisa's cooler head prevailed, and she pointed out that getting on the river at flood stage could only end in bad things. So it's a waiting game for now. We'll be out of touch for a few days while we wait - primitive camping with no facilities, so updates will have to wait until we're near civilization. Will try and post pictures this afternoon before we're completely off the net.
A couple of honorable mentions: If you're ever up in St. Cloud stay at the Thrifty motel - they made space for the car and canoe to watch it last night - right in front of the cameras, have cheap rooms, and the friendliest staff at a hotel that I've ever seen.
Also, Justin and Tyler at Hertz. When we discovered we'd need the car an extra day they gave it to us at a discount, then offered to give us a ride back to wherever we end up camping when we turn it in. Great folks.
According to the Corps of Engineers it peaked yesterday and will begin going down, so we plan to camp at a primitive campsite tonight and perhaps tomorrow, then put in and start heading down. That's if we can get to the campsite given the river levels. If we can't, we'll move to a more commercial campground down the river a little ways.
I wanted to put in today, but Larisa's cooler head prevailed, and she pointed out that getting on the river at flood stage could only end in bad things. So it's a waiting game for now. We'll be out of touch for a few days while we wait - primitive camping with no facilities, so updates will have to wait until we're near civilization. Will try and post pictures this afternoon before we're completely off the net.
A couple of honorable mentions: If you're ever up in St. Cloud stay at the Thrifty motel - they made space for the car and canoe to watch it last night - right in front of the cameras, have cheap rooms, and the friendliest staff at a hotel that I've ever seen.
Also, Justin and Tyler at Hertz. When we discovered we'd need the car an extra day they gave it to us at a discount, then offered to give us a ride back to wherever we end up camping when we turn it in. Great folks.
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