With sunny skies and a slight breeze I did my best to dry out wet gear.

As I paddled through the day my solar charger replenished both my phone and speaker battery, meaning music was rolling in the boat.

The river hard turned into what for all intense purpose was a massive lake. Extremely wide with no islands to duck behind for wind cover, I paddled into a slight headwind. Passing Fort Madison, IA and Nauvoo, IL the river was at its widest point to date. A beautiful, large white church peered out towards the water from a hill near Nauvoo.

Around 5pm I pulled up to lock 19 near Keokuk, IA. As I entered what is the longest lock on the Mississippi, I asked the Lock master if he knew of a good spot to pitch a tent for the night. First, he recommended some of the islands down river, then he told me of a restaurant just down the way, the Warsaw Brewing Company.

With the sun setting I paddled past Keokuk, a bustling industrial town. Just below town the Des Moines river poured in, marking the border of Iowa and Missouri. Goodbye, Iowa. Hello, Missouri!

As I pulled up to a grassy area near the Warsaw Brewing Co. in Warsaw Illinois, two fellas in a golf cart sat on a hill overlooking the water.

"Looking for a place to stay?" One yelled from the hill.

"As a matter of fact I am!"

Jay and Travis came scooting down to the waterfront to meet met.

Turns out, Jay owned the property and offered to let me camp on a flat grassy patch. Things couldn't have worked out more perfectly if they had been planned.

The two fellas then ran back to Jays house next door, and offered to take me into the Brewing company once they returned.

After setting up the tent the three of us walked into the bar. The building was a beautiful old stead, with tall ceilings and stone walls. Jay and Travis had a crew of friends around the bar, and they welcomed me as if I was an old buddy. We talked and drank and enjoyed the evening. A few in the crew told me that the brewery was haunted, sharing stories of past run ins with ghosts. I enjoyed talking with Jay, who was excited to hear of my travels and some of the memorable stops along the way thus far. Jay mentioned several times that he had always wanted to paddle the Mississippi, a fact verified by his wife ("He has talked about wanting to do that trip forever"). It was great hanging out with the crew, and at the end of the night Jay ended up buying my dinner and drinks (which to be fair, was no small number of captain and cokes).

As Jay and Pam (his wife) left, Jay gave me a business card with his cell scribbled on it.

"Call me when you make it to the Gulf, I'd love to hear from you and know that you made it".

Will do buddy, will do.

As Jay and Travis' gang filtered out I was left hanging out with a crew of younger locals. We shot pool, told stories and enjoyed the evening. By the time the bar closed I had been hanging out with the bartender, Ivan, for a while. I helped close up, taking the garbage out to the dumpster in back. Afterwards Ivan, a fellow worker and I sat outside shooting the breeze and talking into the night.

As both fellas left, Ivan offered to let me tag along as he went to downtown Warsaw for a few more. Already feeling the Captain, I declined and walked down toward the water. I stood under the open sky, watching a beaver make laps near the dock and slap his tail in the same spot over and over again.

Life is good, the trip is great, Warsaw Brewing Company is even better, and the people of Warsaw just as good.

Rain in the forecast tomorrow, but feeling great after meeting another round of kind river folk.