Leaving Crazy James’ campsite, I felt like it was my duty to record the spot (on instagram) since I would normally think it was quite beautiful. I did my best, but the mosquitos were thick, and so was the poison ivy. I was trying to get out of there as fast as possible. Along the river today, I continued listening to Harry Potter and the methods of Rationality—it’s a good keep-paddling-method, listening to a story. I saw more than 10 bald eagles, and an otter bouncing on a sand bar, and a bunch more rodents (can’t ever tell if they’re otter, beaver, or muskrats) swimming. The kingfisher are not enormous anymore, but they’re still plentiful. Goldfinch have started making an appearance, and at night I hear bullfrogs (I think not native?) in addition to the greenfrogs (which sound like knocks on wood).


I interviewed George, and it turns out in 4th grade, he and some classmates were the kids that came up with “Give a hoot, don’t pollute”!! I think that’s so cool! He’s my hero, and I met him! (interview coming soon) I enjoyed chatting with him on the river bank a while longer. He set me up with some pool noodle as paddle grips for my aching hands (a wider grip to relax my arthritic hands), and I was off.
The deer flies were really bad on the water today, so I wore my head net during the 2nd half of the day. I paddled on all the way to Schoolcraft State Park, just past Deer River where I arrived just before 10pm. I had just barely enough light to set up my tent, and then it was dark. The humming mosquitos swarming outside my tent lulled me to sleep.