Friday, August 16, 2019

Day 20 - Today is your Birthday, Happy Birthday to You!

River Mile - 830
Today’s distance - 17.5 miles
Total distance - 511.9

Sorry I was unable to blog yesterday. We put in at the U of M boat house grounds. The paddle through urban Minneapolis was beautiful. You would never know you were in a city.  There were families picnicking, dog owners running their dogs and many people fishing. Passing through the hidden falls park area, I couldn’t believe the difference. In May the park was under water. Yesterday the water was down at least 5 feet from then. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=17q8N2PaHI5GzMucoDmh9qkv4TXvhvtK7

We went through our first Lock today, lock and dam #1. It was a very cool experience. I shot a video of it, but I’ll have to share it when I have wi-fi. 

Paddling through St Paul was also a cool experience. Downtown is right on the water. This is where we also encountered our first barge traffic. I’ve never felt so small, sitting in my little kayak next to these giant barges. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=19DyxwIawn2VmySWsJ8egGHIa3CV1-nSd

We passed many different docs where barges were being loaded. Sand, gravel, scrap metal and grain were all being loaded for the trip south. 

We finished the day at River Heights marina in Inver Grove Heights. There for $20 we were able to store our boats and Uber back to Jon’s parents house where we borrowed their car and did a re-supply run. Jon’s Birthday is on 8/15 and his Dad, my Uncles Birthday is on 8/16. Uncle Gary, Aunt Rosanna, Jon, Nik, Christina and I went to Olive Garden for a birthday celebration. 

Christina, Nik and I didn’t get home until 11:00 pm, we’ll past my river bedtime. 

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