| November 29, 1998 Happy Holidays 1998.
The trip to northwest Iowa went very well. The tow car system has
allowed me to go places and see things few ever get to. My only regret
is that it's hard to go exploring when you're towing a car.
It was fun talking with you from lakeside in Emmetsburg. Did you get to
see the moon and planet configuration? It was lovely by the lake. I
brought along some foam floor mats, and in combination with a tent, a
self-inflating mattress, and a warm sleeping bag, I had a very
comfortable night.
The Friday trip through Rutland and Humboldt was very challenging. I
started the day by finding the portage route along the Cornbelt REC dam
below Humboldt. Every time I drive into Gotch Park (at the junction of
the East Fork, West Fork, and Des Moines Rivers), one of the locals
tells me that 5 people have died going over that dam, and I tell them
that I portage around dams.
So that's what I did. It was a 19 mile run from Bradgate to Gotch park,
and I portaged around the Rutland dam and the Humboldt hydro dam, both
of which are 20-30 feet high. I also walked the boat around some heavy
rapids. The riverfront in Humboldt was spectacular, with beautiful
homes, and a myriad of "seascaping" styles from beaches to docks to
rocky banks. The river down to Gotch Park returned to wilderness, with
eagle nests in the oak trees. I saw my first eagle of the season.
On Saturday, I had a fast 12 mile run from Emmetsburg to the Mulroney
area by Rodman. It was challenging staying off the snags in a
fast-running river...I turn my paddle blades to the flat side for extra
power. I saw an owl...the wings are more rounded than an eagle, and I
caught a glimpse of the ears in profile. I also came upon 3 deer
swimming across the river. The water was deep and fast, but they
swam the 150 feet in less than a minute. They were on the bank shaking
themselves off as I went by...I could see the spray.
So it was a fine weekend. I've paddled 380 miles now, 20 miles to go.
I'm also working on the website for the gazebo.
Love,
Gigs and Megs |