Day 14 - Keep your Friends Close and your Maps Closer

Kiwanis Park / Quality Inn

River Mile - 1002.5

Days Milage - 29 miles

Total miles -  340.9 miles

Had a great time at The Bridge Tavern last night. Thanks to the owners for their hospitality in allowing us to camp in there back yard. 

Packing up was a breeze, and we were on the river by 7:25 am. A mile down river went to put my sunglasses on, reaching for the top of my hat and....No Sunglasses! I was positive I had put them in my boat somewhere. However, the more I searched the more I came to the realization that I must have left at camp. I always do one final check before I leave, but I must have left them there.

Our goal for today was Kiwanis Park in Brainerd. The options for camping today where not great. The collective thinking was get to Kiwanis as early as possible and then figure it out from there. Today was another big milage day, which was made more challenging by a nagging 5-10 mph headwind. It felt like a mid 30 mile day. 

We had one portage just outside of Brainerd. At the end, just as I was getting in my boat, something caught my eye. On the front of my boat, nestled between my spare paddle shafts were... My Sunglasses!!! I wasn’t a total loser after all.

Jon and I arrived first, around 4:00 pm. Over the course of the day, we had decided that if at all possible we would get a hotel room. The challenge was getting all of you gear including boats to whatever hotel we could get. We had been in contact with a River Angel Vicky and were hopeful that she could help us with the logistics. First, we found a room and the Quality Inn, they had two suites left. So one for Jon and I and one for Bill. 

The next puzzle piece was figuring out how to get the three of us, all our gear and our boats to the hotel. Our Angel was trying to get hold of her husband Jon so we were waiting to hear back from her. While we where waiting for Vicky, Jon had the idea to call a Lyft ride share to take him and as much of our gear as would fit, to the hotel so he could check us in and get our gear delivered. That worked flawlessly. 

Next Vicky’s husband Jon arrived and was able to fit two of our boats in his truck. I rode with him and the boats to our hotel and Bill stayed back with the final boat and the rest of his gear.

Once all the boats and gear arrived, we were able to lean the boats right outside our rooms and lock them all together. Boat security, handled. Now, we all our soaking wet tents from this morning so. Our rooms became drying racks to dry out our gear. We also showered and did laundry.

Lots of wet gear

Tent drying out

Today’s Learnings

If you are going to have spare sunglasses, don’t have them stored in the bow hatch so you can’t get at them.