Many people help us out on a trip like this and deserve more recognition than I can give them. A simple thank you, in a line or two on this website hardly qualifies as a just act of appreciation for what the Jones family in Pierre did for us, they deserve a book. Those experiences over the course of four days will remain locked in memory as a reminder of the kindness in people.
It has been quiet an eventful week. I went spear fishing on Oahe and landed myself two decent size walleye and several bass, attempted wakeboarding, was in a church full of tears and I was a participant last Sunday, had a storm rip the 9” stakes from my tarp out of the ground leaving me with an obnoxious 20’x5’ green tarp flag blowing in the wind for the remainder of it (I always tie it to my tent pole just in case that ever happens), had the Hammel’s in Chamberlain buy us our dinners as well as a campsite fee, and finished and finished a book (The World Without Us by Allen Weisman- I highly recommend it).
I left Pierre a day earlier than Tom. Only paddling about 15 miles the first day and 10 the next, he took the window I left him and decided to catch up on the second night. We paddled to Big Bend the next day and were hoping to find a portage around but a storm came up quicker than we expected. We did not camp together that night as well. I had found a decent camp spot and pitched my tent just above the very obvious water runoff line between the hills…which was a very good thing because a small river had formed during the storm and I could see water flowing inches away from my tent while I laid in there for hours frogleggin the walls, which is where you prop your feet against the walls of the tent to keep it from snapping your poles.
We met a cyclist today named Ryan Prizio ( www.RyanPrizio.com ) who is going from Connecticut to Oregon. We all had breakfast together at Michelle’s American Creek Restaurant here in Chamberlain this morning. Michelle offered to let us camp outside and has been extremely hospitable as well in our stay in this town.
Tom has an infection on one of his toes, it’s the second time this trip. He doesn’t seem to worried about it and we are taking the proper measures to get it to heal quickly.
Bill is doing great, of course. People no longer care about us as much when they see the dog hahaha. He is becoming more and more comfortable with the water (he doesn’t really have a choice thought).
I cannot wait to finish these next two lakes and be on free flowing river for the remainder of this trip, I dream about it. But still, everyday traveling is the best day of my life.
- Charles
I stand (or rather sit in) Chamberlain, SD. We are over a third of the way to the gulf and over halfway to the end of the Missouri River. While this is not proportional to the distance of the river for how much time we’ve spent (Day 70 today) this is okay because of all these lakes. Those who have paddle understand, lakes in comparison to river current are just slow. Winds can pin you to the shore (and they have several times). You need to wake up early and paddle in the heat of the day to make miles. But we see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have finished Oahe and only have Francis Case Lake and Lewis and Clark Lake left. The former is only 107 miles and the latter meerly a pond of 37 miles. We can almost feel the current. But enough of geography.
I would like to thank several people who we have met and who have helped us along our trip. We manually portaged to the top of little bend on Lake Oahe. We stood on that road for half an hour (Me catching my breath and Charles debating how much food he would cook, go figure). A storm was rolling in and the wind was strong enough to keep me from walking straight. After this grueling trip Bryan Peterson was kind enough to take us to the campground on the bottom. He informed us that the wind at where we came up was the strongest in the state and I believe him. As he left us he gave us a gallon of ice. That may not seem like much to most people but, having had only water at river temperature it was treat and a half for us.
After finishing Oahe we met up with Mike Jones. This was complete coincidence but he had also put up Zane Squires last year. He took us to his house and gave us a shower and a hot meal. I don’t know if he knew quite what he was getting himself into because we stayed there for 4-5 days. No where have I spent time that felt so much like home. He took us out to his awesome houseboat as well as spear fishing. I don’t know if I will ever be able to fish now. Snorkeling was a blast. I can hardly imagine what it must be like to Scuba and look forward to getting certified in order to find out. It gives you whole other understanding of the water underneath you as we only paddle on the surface. In trying to explain the Jones’s hospitality I can say only this. It made Oahe worth it. This may seem like very little to some people, but I think the paddlers out there will understand that it is one of the most meaningful expressions I can bestow. He had another guest as well, his minister Dennis. For his hospitality and the connection to Dennis I can only say “Thank you from the bottom of my heart”.
From Pierre we traveled on. I caught up with Charles shortly and within a day was separated again as I approached Big Bend. As I told my dad, “google the river, the giant bend in the water… that’s where I am”.
I must tell one story here. Charles has always been conservative in paddling to avoid putting up wet. I knew why, but now I can empathize. I unknowingly camped a mere 200 yards from his nice dry tent. I scouted the portage and as Joe Forrester and David miller said, it is only passable on foot, not with gear or a kayak. As I began to set up my tent for the impending storm the wind caught it and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to put it up in the impending wind (which reached 60mph). This was actually a good thing. I had started to pitch my tent close to shore. I did not expect the waves to come over 10ft up the shore which they did and more. Long story short I spent 2 hours huddled behind sumac ankle deep in mud to get out of the worst rain. Then still unable to pitch a tent I was forced to stake down a tent and sleep underneath that in a wet sleeping bag. I’ve had better nights… but at least no snakes took shelter with me. I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t stay with Herb and Charmaign Aronsan the night after and gotten my gear dried out. That was great time for a stop and I got lucky.
Tom
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Charles & Tom,
I have enjoyed reading your posts (as always Charles) stay safe and keep enjoying your adventure. You know you are one of mine Charles and I look forward to giving you that nuggie hug when you get back
Deb