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Day 268 - CLOSING UP THE GAP

8/30/2010

3 Comments

 
Daily Stats
Start: 2:15 AM - Boscabel, WI
Finish 7:15 PM - Wyalusing State Park, WI
Time: 5:00 hours
Daily dist: 27 miles
Total dist: 5200+
Companions: None
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80’s, SW winds 10+
Notes: Many memories of last winter and my first time through here.
If you’ve been following along with this blog since the beginning, you are probably well aware that there is a bit of a gap in the loop that’s the result of being chased south by an early winter storm last year. Like I said in the last post that Portage always was and still is the town I consider the finish line of this trip. The fact remains, however, that I have a little unfinished work to do in order to make it official.

It may not mean anything to many other people, but I have a burning need to close up that gap and know better than to think that I can take my time and paddle those miles some other day. For that reason, the day after reaching Portage (still tired from all the celebrating), I am back at it.

Boscabel was the place where my parents found me at the end of the third day of paddling last fall at a canoe launch with a half foot of snow on the ground. By the next day more snow had fallen along with the temperature and the river was clogged with huge rafts of snow and ice. As a result, my parents and I were left with no prudent choice but to jump south to warmer weather and an unfrozen river.

Picture
Picture
Today was a different story. With the temperature in the 80’s, clear skies, and a pleasant wind, it was an absolutely glorious day. Watching the river flow past the put-in (finally in the direction I was going once again) I was giddy with excitement to be getting back on the very river I grew up on.

Picture
A little warmer than the last time I saw it.
With the river pushing me at two miles per hour and my added three, I made awesome time heading downstream toward my destination for the day, Wyalusing State Park. Wyalusing lies at the confluence of the Wisconsin river where it meets the Mississippi. I’d paddled this section of river once before, about eleven years ago as my brother and I finished paddling the entire length of the Wisconsin River. With my mind swimming with memories of last winter and eleven years ago, I drank in the beauty of the steep hills that flank the river dripping in lush green vegetation.

With a late start (we did have to drive four hours to the put-in) it was nearly dark by the time I reached the take out at the boat ramp in the State Park. The road to the boat ramp was closed for construction so I locked the Ikkuma to a kayak rack nearby and walked out with my gear to my parents waiting in my truck. This being our last night together for a while, we went into town to enjoy a meal at a restaurant then returned to camp for a campfire. Knowing that we’d be saying good by once again in the morning, all three of us were uncommonly silent as we sat watching the flames dancing in the fire. Alas, sometimes the only way to have someone return is to let them go.

Picture
Pretty nice
3 Comments
Lyn Stachovak
8/31/2010 11:04:16 pm

Yes Jake, I can hardly wait till you're home for good. I couldn't believe how hard it was for me to say good bye to you this time.

Mom

Reply
John Remstedt
9/1/2010 04:02:00 am

Jake,
Just to let you know that there will be Off Shore Racing in Grafton on Saturday the 11 of September and a lot of boats out early in Pool26 to get good anchor postions for the for the race. Watch out for them because there not watching out for you!

Reply
Al Benton
9/1/2010 11:41:09 am

It's my understanding that the racing will take place between mile markers UMR-212 and 215 off the main channel, between Portage Island and the right descending bank (the Missouri side).

Grafton Harbor is at mile marker UMR-218 and will be a safe distance from the racing activity.

You will see the active area if you do a commemorative paddle between Grafton and Alton but it will be on the opposite side of the channel and behind the mile-long Portage Island. I think you'll be o.k.

Reply



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