TripTracker.net - Mississippi River, Day 34 / September 8, 2007

Leaving Home, Count Down - 4 Days to Go Day 1 /August 6th Day 2 August 7th Day 3/ August 8th.Day 4/ August 9, 2007 Day 5 / August 10, 2007 No title No title Day 6 / August 11, 2007 Day 7 / August 12, 2007 Day 8 / August 13, 2007 Day 9, August 14, 2007 Day 10, August 15 Day 11 August 16 Day 12 August 17 Day 13, August 18 Day 14 August 19 Another Bed & Breakfast & Supper An Island Campsite Day 15/ August 20, 2007 Day 16/ August 21,2007 Day 17/ August 22, 2007 Day 18/ August 23, 2007 Day 19/ August 24, 2007 Day 20/ August 24, 2007 Day 21/ August 26, 2007 Day 22/ August 27, 2007 No title Mike Zwonitzer in LaCrosse Day 23/ August 28, 2007 Day 24/ August 29, 2007 Day 25 August 30 Day 26, August 31st Day 27, Sept. 1st Day 28 / September 2, 2007 Day 29 / September 3, 2007 Day 30 / September 4, 2007 Day 31 / September 5, 2007 Day 32/ September 6, 2007 Day 33/ September 7, 2007 Day 34 / September 8, 2007 Day 35 / September 9, 2007 Day 36/ September 10, 2007 Day 37/ September 11, 2007 - 1,000 miles Day 38/ September 12, 2007 Day 39/ September 13, 2007 Day 42/ September 16, 2007. I yam what I yam.Day 40/ September 14, 2007 Day 41/ September 15, 2007 Day 43/ September 17, 2007 Day 44/ September 18, 2007 Day 45/ September 19, 2007 Day 46/ September 20, 2007 Day 47/ September 21, 2007 Day 48/ September 22, 2007 Day49, September 23, 2007 Day 50/ September 24, 2007 Day 51/ September 25, 2007 Day 52/ September 26 Day 53/ September 27, 2007 Day 54/ September 28, 2007 Day 55/ September 29, 2007 Day 56/ September 30, 2007 Day 57/ October 1, 2007 Day 58/ October 2, 2007 Day 59/ October 3, 2007 Day 60/ October 4, 2007 Day 61/ October 5, 2007 Day 62/ October 6, 2007 Day 63/ October 7, 2007 Day 64/ October 8, 2007 Day 65/ October 9, 2007 Day 66/ October 10, 2007 - WE MADE IT, WE MADE IT, WE MADE IT!Day 67/ October 11, 2007 Day 68/ October 12, 2007 Day 69/ October 13, 2007 Note from Dan Zellner

Anne Zellner

Mississippi River

Day 34 / September 8, 2007

Rating:

Sep 10 2007, 05:16 PM

2 comments

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Traveler

Anne Zellner

Journal

Location

Keokuk, United States, Iowa

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Man what a busy night! The band at the bar played until midnight and the with the Porta-Potty right next to our tent, we had many visitors. When the bar crowd finally slowed down, the waterfowl hunters began. Duck season opened in Iowa and goose season opened in Illinois this weekend. They all launched their boats at the marina, ... and I was wrong - there were 3 railroad tracks in back of the dumpster, not two! Besides the constant noise, Joe developed a leak in his air mattress that required reinflation at regular intervals during the night. It was good to get on the river again in the morning. We traveled to Dam and Lock #19 in Keokuk, Iowa. This lock is unique because it has an electrical generation plant. This huge lock has a guillotine type entry gate, not the typical swing type gate. The lock is 1200 feet long and can hold an entire raft of 15 barges plus tow in one pass. There is a 35' water drop so the turbulence inside the lock can be severe. Inside the lock, we held onto floats on the walls that rise and fall with the water level. After clearing the lock we docked at the tiny South Shore Boat Club and had a cold pop and a lively discussion with the patrons. People here really love the river. We ended our day on a sandbar about 7 miles from Keokuk. After traveling a hot 28 miles, we were looking forward to a nice moonlit skinny dip in the river. Swarms of mosquitos decided to join us. Kind of takes the fun out of it! We've noticed that the night time barge traffic has increased quite a lot and other than the racoons having a violent fight outside our tent, had a good night. ... by dz

Comments

keep paddling!

Written by Rhonda 54 months ago

Wow, wild parties by the Porta-Potty, trains, and fighting racoons! A whole different kind of wildlife along the MIssissippi! It is kind of sad to hear how industrialized the river is, not what a person imagines at all. I'll bet you'll really appreciate paddling the North Shore when you get back. It sounds like you are having fun though on this adventure. I love the rainbow picture - keep in mind what you wrote that day "Good things can happen even when it rains." That's a good life motto! Still missing you at the Pumphouse! take care now, Rhonda

Keokuk - nice to meet you

Written by Schwanee 54 months ago

Hello - hope the trip is still going well for you. I'm Sean...you met my Father Ed(the fellow with the camera and radio) and son in Keokuk at the Southside . My father certainly enjoyed meeting you and I'm sending him a link to this website so he can watch your progress. Just thought I'd pass along something about the jumping carp you've experienced. I've heard they're related to an Asian variety that was "introduced" to the river some time ago. Just a little tidbit of info. Good luck with your trip...hope the current runs well and carries you all the way!

	77. Note from Dan Zellner Oct 14 2007, 12:05 PMNatchez, United States, Mississippi1 comment As some of you know, I have been updating Joe and Anne's log for them. I have been the words of Anne. I likely have made many errors and misstatements. One thing I know I have not misstated is the tremendous gratitude and love they have for all of you who have followed, prayed for, and rooted...

	76. Day 69/ October 13, 2007 Oct 14 2007, 11:23 AMNatchez, United States, Mississippi Today is the day for the Phat Water Kayak Challenge. We arose at 4:00 AM and boarded a school bus an hour later for the ride to Port Gibson. The bus, jammed with nervous participants and their gear, arrived about one hour later at the put-in point in Port Gibson. The town had mowed the shoreline...

	75. Day 68/ October 12, 2007 Oct 14 2007, 11:12 AMNatchez, United States, Mississippi We spent the day helping Keith and the committee with race preparations. I helped with registration and Joe with equipment repair. Last year there were about 50 participants, this year it nearly doubled to 89 registrants. Gear needed to be shuttled to the starting point in Port Gibson and last...

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