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October 16, 1998 Dear Mom and Dad, We're going to have a few storms out this way. I'm headed over to the far SE of Iowa early tomorrow and Sunday. I have the Mississippi River in sight, and I'm going for it. It's about 40 miles from Keosauqua to Keokuk, and I have 2 days to get it done, and it's going to be a spectacular trip. MJS is at her science fiction convention,,,they have great fun. I got home from our library conference yesterday. We are doing quite well, us Iowa libraries. This was the 19th Iowa library conference I've attended. So, I wish you a very good weekend, and I'll see you down the chute, or the rapids, or the sandbank!!! October 18, 1998 Dear Mom and Dad, It's chilly here also. MJS had a good time at the sci-fi convention, and I blew in from southern Iowa about 10 pm. We had lots of rain yesterday. The streams are bank full, and the rivers are building. I was scouting access points down by the Mississippi on Saturday, and my keen nose for boat ramps did not go to waste. I found a ramp and access area just a mile from the confluence of the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers. This area was unmarked, and beyond a junk yard and the railroad tracks. I took every road that looked like it might go to this area, which is called Redwing Access, and I finally got lucky. I also found roads and ramps all along the river. It is quite scenic along the river, especially in the state forest areas, which have large pine trees, limestone bluffs, and red and yellow foliage. Actually, with the hills, pastures, streams, and forests, I am reminded of Vermont in this Van Buren county area. I also found my way to Croton, which was the site of a skirmish between Federals and Confederate raiders in August of 1861. There is a cannon with shot, and a sign that says this was the northernmost battle of the Civil War. Much of this exploring was done in intermittent heavy rain. We had several inches, nothing like poor Texas. I had planned to camp out, but the rain was more than I cared to experience, so I stayed in a 140 year old hotel in Keosauqua. Sunday dawned cold and clear, with the river running well. I paddled 32 miles, averaging 5 mph. There was some debris in the water, and the current quickened throughout the day, but I had good control of the boat and many great blue herons to keep me safe and on track. I had a 7 hour row, with a break for lunch by the toll bridge at St. Francisville, MO. Most of the area I was in borders MO, from whence came the Confederate raiders. I had set up the tow car at Redwing access, near Keokuk, on Saturday night. The little Escort is a champ for towing, all the way from Des Moines, about a 4 hour drive. I had left the tow car at a campground while I explored, then later in the evening I pulled it to the down stream area. It was a welcome sight to see at the end of the long journey. I had entertained thoughts of rowing to the Mississippi and then returning to the tow car, but the current was much to swift to allow that. So, I'll say that I rowed from almost Minnesota almost to the Mississippi, and that will be just a few miles off. It's is ever so much fun, this rowing and rivers. But then, you knew I was a river rat back in Golden Spur, (on the Niantic River in Ct.) So, have a good breakfast, and enjoy the day... Gigs and Megs |