Today’s word: NOSTALGIA. I know it’s only been 4 weeks, and I’ve been in cars and restaurants and bars several times in that span, but these normalities do feel a little more strange with each passing day. As Christin and I have wondered, how do military personnel leave their families for months of deployment? I suppose it’s all a mindset, but I really didn’t prepare myself in advance to think about how I would feel on these brief family reunions. They’ve been great, but also terribly hard knowing they’re brief. Before we were married, Christin was in grad school in southwest Missouri while I was in Chicago then Salt Lake City; we used to meet for the occasional weekend, which was great then terribly hard. But, I’ve chosen this experience and I intend to see it through, and I’ll enjoy today like every other.

I awoke in our room at the Holiday Inn Express, overlooking the river. Yep, it’s still there, and nobody stole the big blue and yellow beasts off the top of the car. Sorry Mississippi, but I won’t be joining you today.

Last night we talked a little about my replanning, which is going to mean skipping a big chunk of Iowa. I know I’m missing some beautiful scenery, I was curious how the Quad Cities and Muscatine would look from the river, and I’m sure I’ll miss out on making a new friend in that stretch. But, getting to Hannibal on time without completely exhausting myself, and catching up on the blog are my primary objectives. I skipped a couple stretches in Minnesota already. I’m sure some purists will scoff at my journey as not having done the whole river, but that’s okay with me. I don’t want to take 100 days, and I want to try to keep my date commitments to those along the way. So today while Christin drives, I need to figure out my new plan and try to complete a post or two.

Also, thanks to everyone who’s commenting on the site. I do read these, though sometimes it takes a few days for me to get to them. And sorry I don’t have time to respond, paddling and all.

On this day off, we spent about 6 hours in the car. First, we took Caroline back north to Cedar Falls, then we turned south to deliver a kayak to Steve Mudd in Hannibal. Christin did most of the driving. In Cedar Falls I got to see Caroline’s apartment for her sophomore year at UNI. It’s great to see where your kids exist in their day to day, and Caroline’s room seems cheerful and clean, and I was grateful for this brief glimpse to tide me over to November.

In Hannibal we met Steve and Kathie Mudd at a Main Street bar just before they closed. The Mudds moved from Batavia Illinois to Monroe City (close to Hannibal) about the same day I left for the headwaters; it seemed strange for all of us then with this meeting location. We had a beer and talked a little about the river, while the Packers started to beat the Bears on the television in behind me. (Note: I’m not a big Packers fan, but my future son-in-law was born and raised in the Packers, and I offered my support if they ever have a QB that’s not a complete knucklehead.)

We walked around Hannibal very briefly, but really just to have a look at the marina. I’m not quite sure what to do with my kayak when I arrive later this week, and I’m hopeful locking it up at the marina is a viable option.

Afterwards, we dropped Ol’ Yeller at Steve’s friends house in Hannibal, then we headed to Monroe City for dinner at the local Mexican restaurant. When we got to the Mudds new home, we unloaded the car full of river gear into their garage, and chose to relax with a few beers on their deck overlooking the lake. Alas, I was too tired or out of my element to get photos of any of this. You’ll have to imagine some tasty enchiladas with a pitcher of margaritas, then me with a tired, slightly haggard, but relaxed expression looking over the calm lake.

We chatted about the river some more, and about their new home. Sometimes Mudd is one of those guys that if you ask the time, he will tell you about the husband of the daughter of the owner of the store where he bought his watch. So, when I asked how many homes were on the lake, I found out about the various lots (mostly vacant), which have access to county roads, which are on the other side of the levee, which are in the area but don’t have lake access, which seem an awful long run to get utilities… followed by, “What was your question?” Kathie simply said “Seven.” We had fun catching up and were in bed before 10.

I woke up around 2:30 in the morning when a light metal clang noise rang out next to me. I looked out to determine I was asleep in my kayak perched atop some sort of cliff. Somehow the Mississippi had receded several feet and left me dry on a lofty perch in absolute darkness. How far did that metal thing fall? Did it sound like 10’? 20’? 50? It was certainly too far to simply step out of the kayak. But how stable is my perch? Will I tip sideways if I risk a better glance down below? And what was that metal thing that fell from the kayak? Was it important? Should I go after it quickly before the river erases all trace of it? Then, Christin got up and turned on the bedroom light. It took me a few moments to return to reality.

A full day out of blue plastic but it’s haunting my dreams. In contrast, I don’t dream much at night on the river. I routinely have vivid and extraordinary dreams, but for the past month I really can’t recall a single one. I’m not yet sure what to think about that.

I suppose there’s lots of road trip songs I could choose for a day spent mostly on asphalt. For today’s music I’m going back to my birth year with this classic by Canned Heat: On the Road Again