Last weekend reminded me once again that October is the most splendid month of all for paddling the Mighty Mississippi. Deep blue, cloudless sky, sun bright but not hot, northwest tail wind invigorating. Despite despoliation by barges and trains, white-headed eagles watch majestically from the trees and beaver signatures dent the trees. Most power boaters have abdicated to warmth of their fire places, so muddy stew of summer is replaced by (relatively) clean water. With underbrush deceased, every island is a campsite. Thick, sweet-smelling traw mats to make sleeping comfortable. Police state has not designated camp grounds and posted every tree with rules, and one can still defecate with a trowel and not be "churched" into an odoriferous community crapper. Evenings are a time for campfires and sharing tales. Mornings are splendorous, with hard frost on tent and kayak, burning away only iwhen the sun tops the trees. Coffee steaming like the river is downright spiritual. Partner and I covered 40 miles of river and didn't see another kayak. Don't know why more paddlers don't ply this magic river. It's great! Rick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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