I had a good float in Van Buren County on Friday. My cold-weather gear is working perfectly. I had to walk once for several hundred feet, and the water was very clear and the bottom was sandy. I stayed nice and warm and dry. It was snowing a bit but just flurries. There were lots of eagles, and flights of wild turkeys (one of which passed within a few feet of me.) At the end of my trip, I got a ride back to Keosauqua with one of my Bentonsport buddies.

After camping out Friday night, I spent some time visiting and exploring on Saturday. I had breakfast with the Bonaparte Historical Society, and bought Christmas cookies for $4.50 per pound. I'll be a hero at the office.

One major goal was accomplished when I found a boat ramp that has been eluding me.   Turkey Run is about 8 miles south of Farmington, and it's right along Belfast Road.   As you come south through Croton, turn right on Belfast Road and it's about 2 miles south.  Or, get on Belfast Road just a few hundred feet north of the 394 bridge at St Francisville and follow the river road north about 8 miles.

I visited the Battle of Athens site again. This time a park ranger (Bruce Ketchum) gave me a personal tour of the house that was hit by Confederate cannon fire, and I got to see amazing artifacts from the battle. This was also the site of Indian settlements back to 1000 BC, and since the park administrator is an archaeologist, there are lots of pottery and arrowhead displays. It was really neat.

My big treat was camping out in Bentonsport and visiting with my friends there. The highway department has dislodged log jams, and the logs have settled in the rapids at Bentonsport. The eagles love to perch on the logs and fish, so there are about a dozen of them soaring and diving. I got to watch them as I was taking down my tent (I camped right next to the river). So, my soul is full of wildness and my spirit is content. It was a wonderful ride home. I took the little Escort, and it took me along all the back roads along 90 miles of river (as far as Ottumwa) and used very little gasoline.

There's snow on the ground in Des Moines, so it's been in the 20's at night and about 35 in the daytime. Not too bad, just right for a little Christmas spirit.

Nov. 19, 2000

I found the upper reaches of Saylorville iced in, so I paddled on Saylorville Lake.  It was windy and fairly rough, so I paddled from Jester Park to the Mile-Long Bridge access.  There was a strange grinding noise along the way, and I finally figured out that it was chunks of ice being driven on to the shore.   I always enjoy the rocky cliffs of Saylorville.  My companions were some geese and a few ducks who were shot at by some duck hunters who were out ahead of me.

I scouted the river by Hwy. 17 and up by Madrid at Hwy. 210.  There were chunks of ice floating down the river near Madrid, but the river was basically impassable.   South of Saylorville, the river is clear of ice for now.

Thanks to the Polk County Conservation Board for leaving the gates to the Jester Park boat ramp open.  Also, I appreciated the opportunity to share my thoughts on making the most of the river at the PCCB focus group on 11/16/00.

My winter gear is working quite well, and I hope to be out quite a bit this year.

Nov. 4 and 11, 2000

On Nov. 4, I made the Runnells to Benington run, about 6 miles.  The river was running about 600 cfs, and I only ran aground a few times.  About a mile past the Hwy. 316 bridge, the river divides, and this time I went to the left.  Last year, when the river was bank full, I took the right fork and ended up going a mile south and a mile east before rejoining the other branch.  This time, I went north a mile, then east a mile before meeting up with the other branch.  This means there is a large island in the Des Moines, one that does not appear on any maps save for the one of the Dragoon Trail.

I did encounter some duck hunters.  I saw lots of ducks floating, then I saw the boat covered with marsh grass, then the gun barrels.   The hunters popped up and waved hello as I went by.  I did not linger.

On Nov. 11, I made the 6 mile run from Benington to Box Cars, which is just at the north end of Lake Red Rock.  On my last run, the river was lost in the high water.   This time I got to follow the channel through an endless sea of marsh grass.   The ducks, geese, and hawks were out in abundance.  I even came on a swimming pelican, and I though it might be injured.  I got up within 5 feet, the pelican turned to look at me, then spread the great black-tipped wings, flew a hundred feet away, and settled in.

At one point I passed 2 camouflaged boats of duck hunters.  A great cacaphony of duck calls rang out and I noticed a flock of ducks overhead.  The ducks paid no attention, but I did not go back and rub it in.  Later, the duck hunters told me that there were still quite a few pelicans on Red Rock, and I saw several in flight.

The discovery for the day was that there is an access road that runs from Benington directly to the Box Cars.

October 28, 2000

We had a pleasant weekend here, 50's and a little light rain.

I drove the Escort, the boat, and a bike up to Estherville, which is near the
Minnesota border. Friday night I camped out near a lake, and Saturday I did
somescouting along the river. The water was low, but I really wanted to get in a
paddle along the upper stretches of the Des Moines. When I pulled into the first
access point a group of deer was in my headlights, so I knew it was going to be a good
day for wildlife.

I found several take out points by bridges, and these were very helpful. The
first mile or so that I paddled were a bit of a problem, but I had some water. There
were deer, hawks, and herons along the river valley. Then, the water got very low,
and I had to do lots of walking. About every 300 feet, the river turns and often
there were huge stacks of driftwood blocking the channel, so I had to pull the boat
around across sand bars. Then, the water would get deep and I would paddle several
hundred feet or so before the boat ran agound again.

I must have gotten out of the boat 90 times in 3 miles, so when I got to the
first bridge I pulled the boat out of the water and started walking. I had left my
bike at the next downstream access, which was 3 miles away. I got a pretty good pace
going, and made it about an hour. Then, it was about 40 minutes back to the car
(about 8 miles). The boat was under the bridge where I had left it, so it was back to
Des Moines by 10 pm, really worn out.

All the gear worked well. The little Escort drives like a champ now that the
ball joints are fixed and uses half the gas of the van. The bike is 18 speeds, and
goes up hills and down. The waterproof boots kept me nice and dry, so I'm a happy
camper. I think I'll stick with the south of Des Moines part of the river until
we get a little more rain.

Sunday, MJS and I went to a craft fair, replaced the furnace filter, and
napped.   My feet are sure sore.


Gerry Rowland
Des Moines