I told Dave today that I can’t write about paddling on water every day… 65 (or so) days of that will be boring for everyone. So, maybe if I add a theme or “word of the day” to each day that may force some variety. If yesterday’s word was VEGETATION, today’s word is: LUMBER.
But first… I made a map reading error yesterday; instead of 10 miles traveled, it was only 5. And instead of nearly completing a section noted as “numerous log jams”, we hadn’t yet started it. Today’s plan for late start and leisurely 3-mile float turned into sometimes laughable navigation over, under and through 5 miles of woody obstruction. It was an unexpected exhausting hoot. Yesterday I was wishing for a machete, today that chainsaw that from my mom and her husband Jim would’ve been worth the extra weight.
Some of the woody obstacles were relatively fresh:
I lost count of the obstacles after a while, but we had to disembark numerous times and made very slow progress. Nearly 4 hours later, we finished the 8 mile journey to a break at the Hampton Inn. It was amazing how nice a warm shower felt after two relatively short, wet days, which reminds me that mental fortitude will be the most important strength to draw on in the coming days.
Last night after sunset we experienced some rather impassioned coyote opera; tonight it’s just the hum of the AC:
I thought about a few offerings for today’s playlist addition: Leon Russell’s “Out in the Woods” and “I Nearly Lost You” by the Screaming Trees came to mind, but I’m honor of Bemidji feeling like a 70’s throwback, I’m going with Eddie Floyd Knock on Wood from the seemingly simpler roller rink era. I’ll have this running through my brain as I hope for less lumber tomorrow.
Matt’s Mississippi Manifest 
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