Day 10 Mississippi River
Today was the toughest day yet, but still a great day.
I woke up to the sunrise and my small makeshift campsite drenched in dew. Throughout the night I heard several big fish rise and feed off the surface, making big splashes. All kinds of waterfowl and river life was bustling around me.
I knew today that I needed to reach Grand Rapids, MN as my beloved CU Buffs kicked off their season with a rivalry matchup against little brother Colorado State.
The day called for cloudy skies, a stiff wind and a chance of rain. Clouds and rain are no worries- but that wind....ouch. Small white caps were being blown my way for much of the day, making it look as though I was traveling upstream. It was tough, slow going. The thought of watching the game with a warm burger and beer in Grand Rapids kept me moving toward my 35 mile goal.
10 miles in I stopped at a makeshift landing to catch a quick breather. I could smell campfire and heard a few voices. Soon after a gang of guard dogs picked up my presence and began barking and howling at me. The dogs owner, Mike, walked over and introduced himself. Mike works at the power plant in Grand Rapids, and told me that his company will portage boaters around the dam if you call the company. Sweet! He also told me that on the very ground we were standing, the Hudson Bay Company long had an outpost. When America won independence, the Mississippi River was the western and northern border. At the time, it was thought that the rivers headwaters was farther south, and thus, the British took claim to the land "north" of the border, or river. He also mentioned that the small town of Deer River, Mn held a yearly rendezvous for fur trappers and river travelers. Journey men from the north and south would meet in town and exchange fur and goods to take back to their respective areas.
After letting me know I had just missed steak and eggs (damn! Lol), I hopped back in my boat and headed down stream thinking of the men of old traveling the same river by canoe hundreds of years earlier.
The wind. It was tough.
I continued to paddle all day, pausing only for a few moments here and there to grab a handful of trail mix to refuel. Football and a burger was still on my mind.
It was about 6 o'clock when I pulled into Cohasset, MN, a town of 2,000 people and a few miles short of my Grand Rapids goal. With a light rain coming down I pulled into the public landing, and a fisherman pointed me in the direction of the local pub in town, Florio's. I moseyed in, wet and tired, and saddled up at the bar. A 1/2 pound bacon cheeseburger, fries and a cold one quickly lifted my spirits! With the Colorado game on my phone, and NIU game on the TV all was good in the world.
I made friends with a local couple and we talked all kinds of topics for most of the night. The gentlemen was an iron miner in the area, and had recently lost work due to a plant closure.
I can see why Minnesota produces so many hockey players...these folks love their hockey! The Grand Rapids high school team had won state this last year, and a photo of the squad along with signatures and a few sticks hung on the wall. A picture of the owners with the Stanley Cup was framed near by. Apparently a local kid played for the Pens when they won it, and he brought the Cup to Florio's when it was his turn to hold it.
After a big Buffs win I closed the place down and walked across the railroad tracks to the public access where my boat and gear was stashed. I set up my tent and hit the hay with a full belly, new folks to call friends and more of a buzz than I care to admit.
A tough day of battling wind made way for a great night. Grand Rapids and beyond tomorrow!