Just before I took off (just below Grand Rapids Dam)
Minnesota to get slammed. Laying in, checking the overwhelming response to all the blogs I posted last night, and thinking about the thunderstorms forecasted, I heard, “Hello? Is this Alyssum’s tent?” Still bed-headed, I popped my head out of the tent to meet Steve Otto, official representative of the local planning commission, on his bike. “I’ve been reading your blog, and just wanted to check and see if you needed anything.” I chatted with him for a little bit and he assured me that Jim Lewis, a Grand Rapids river angel with whom I’ve been texting, was the patriarch of river angels in the area. Indeed, I realized a few days ago that I was running out of contacts (I wear daily contacts because my eyes dry out too easily otherwise—another strange symptom of EDS). I had my uncle send a box of contact lenses to Jim, and he'll meet me tomorrow night at a campsite, to bring them to me!
Above Pokegama Dam, at my campsite this morning.
I called the portage assistance and chatted with Cheryl (with whom I have been sharing the campsite for 2 nights). She and I bonded over our love for wildlife and nature, and though her idea of climate change was God telling us he was unhappy about how much sinning we’re doing (as opposed to my more scientific explanation), I agreed that we weren’t doing a great job of taking care of the world we were given. She said to me, “Alyssum, you’re the first person who didn’t just brush me off, and tell me I was crazy. Most people say I don’t know what I’m talking about. I feel like we’re really on the same page. I don’t want you to go.” I said, “Well, I’m atheist, but I think we all come to the conclusions we come to based on our experience of the world. And the thing is, we all want to live in a healthy world, so why don’t we focus on that instead of our differences?” “Yes!” Cheryl said, “There’s so much corruption and greed, why isn’t there more collaboration!? And I don’t care if you call your higher power “nature,” and I call mine “God”; we all have a higher power, something that gives us strength.”
Rick and Cheryl Westcott, and Dean--River Angels!
The portage assistant, Dean, showed up then, and I rushed to finish packing up my things before the oncoming threatening clouds came in. Cheryl and Rick gave me a donut (yum!) and we drove through Grand Rapids, saving me 3.5 miles of water and 2 long portages. At the boat ramp, the clouds were even more ominous, but I opted to just get in and get going. The clouds rolled in fast, and I hoped it would just blow by. “There’s a bridge not far from here, you can take shelter there,” my helpers informed. I had just enough time to take a single water quality measurement (downstream from the Blandin paper factory) and lodge myself between some rocks under the bridge when a torrential downpour arrived. Dry and grateful for the shelter, I snapped some pictures, and then heard a question. Looking up, I saw 2 bikers who were also using the bridge as cover. We shouted to eachother over the din of the storm, asking and answering questions.
Yes, I’m headed all the way to the Gulf.
Wow, the water so shallow you could walk across the river here a few weeks ago?
The rain let up, and I set off.
Yes, I’m headed all the way to the Gulf.
Wow, the water so shallow you could walk across the river here a few weeks ago?
The rain let up, and I set off.
Dry under the bridge
Bikers sought cover here too!
Quite the downpour!
The rest of the day was just gorgeous. Interesting cloud patterns, and a river lined with trees on both sides. For the first time, it was wide enough that I felt like I was on a proper river, not just a swollen creek. I realized too late that I had forgotten to pack my GoPro on my deck bag, so I couldn’t video record any of the beauty today. I saw a mama otter and her two little ones, all bouncing their squiggly bodies across the bank. So cute!!! That was my favorite thing today. I also so a merganser with 8 ducklings, and several scrawny deer. Then I saw…horses? No, they were cows up there on the bluff! Cows were strange to see after so much wildlife, but I expect I’ll be seeing more of that. Some of the banks had this soft pillowy-looking grass, dotted with daisies, and I was reminded of the opening scene of Little House on the Prairie where Laura is bouncing happily down the prairie hill.
I paddled 20 miles down to Blackberry campsite. Similar to Crazy James’ where you have to haul your stuff up a hill, the campsite was nice—and provided a bear-proof locker for my food. Not sure if there are bear this far east, but was happy to have a way to confound the raccoons. After hauling all my gear up the hill, I was sweating. I realized how much I’ve been enjoying the perfect 60-75 degree weather so far. After a wet-wipe “bath” in my tent, and still sweating, I realized how much more difficult and uncomfortable everything will be, as I move further south and into the hottest months. For dinner, I enjoyed a packet of corn chowder with a packet of ramen mixed in (not cooked—just cold water poured over it, and a longer waiting period before eating).
I paddled 20 miles down to Blackberry campsite. Similar to Crazy James’ where you have to haul your stuff up a hill, the campsite was nice—and provided a bear-proof locker for my food. Not sure if there are bear this far east, but was happy to have a way to confound the raccoons. After hauling all my gear up the hill, I was sweating. I realized how much I’ve been enjoying the perfect 60-75 degree weather so far. After a wet-wipe “bath” in my tent, and still sweating, I realized how much more difficult and uncomfortable everything will be, as I move further south and into the hottest months. For dinner, I enjoyed a packet of corn chowder with a packet of ramen mixed in (not cooked—just cold water poured over it, and a longer waiting period before eating).
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