Arrival in Minnesota

Bemidji, Minnesota

 

We are a day away from putting in on our 3 month 2,500 mile trip down the Mississippi River. Feelings of excitement course through my veins. The pre-trip preparations are nearly complete. Brian and I have been staring at maps for the last few days, speaking with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources river experts and learning as much as we can about the challenges that face us in the first 60 miles of the river. Our first three days of paddling from Lake Itasca to Bemidji are thick with cattails, braiding channels, and very little current to help guide our way. I'm hoping the cool weather we've been having will hold so the bugs won't be quite as treacherous and the water levels will stay a little higher; but it will unfold as it does, and we will adapt accordingly.

 

For the nitty details of what we've been up to, we left Sausalito in the wee hours of the morning to catch a 4am airporter, slept on two flights and arrived in Minneapolis. Did you know that in the Denver airport the bathrooms double as Tornado Bunkers? And swimming pools in Minnesota tend to be round not rectangular?

 

In Minneapolis we were hosted by the Melby's, Gordon and Betty, and were overwhelmed by their hospitality. Gordon took us all around the area. We saw the Mall of America, stopped at DNR headquarters to get maps, got our first glance at the Mississippi, and most importantly were introduced to the Auxillary Coast Guard. The President of the first Flotilla, Dennis, took time to go over maps, safety protocol on the river, and allowed Brian and I to introduce ourselves and our trip with What About Blue to the members at their monthly meeting. Everyone was more then welcoming and we've found that's a bit of trend around here.

 

Thank you to the Melby's, the Nelson's, and everyone who has opened their hands so far.

 

Our bus ride to Bemidji was long, and it's hard to imagine that it will take a month to travel by kayak the distance traveled in less then 7 hours by road but it should be a beautiful journey. The lakes and surrounding greenary are magnificent (even with Minnesota in a drought). And today we watched a play at the local art festival all about history and importance of water in this area. It was very appropos for the beginning of our trip.

 

But enough writing, it's time to start paddling! While the unknowns of this trip are bountious, for myself, for the group, for the journey, I am eagerly anticipating tomorrow and the next day and the next....

 

See you on the river!

 

(check out some photos from the last few days as well in the photos section)