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MAY 14 SATURDAY DAY 24 ON THE WATER – Jim Wahl picked me up at 8AM and I was down at the boat dock in 10 minutes. What luck I am having getting the help when I need it.

This picture is in front of the motel where I stayed after completely the lake it is Sat morning and I am waiting for Jim Wahl to pick me up.

I had 4 good meals here. Steak, baked potatoes and salad Thursday night. Chicken fried steak, eggs and hash browns for breakfast Friday. Open faced turkey sandwich with gravy, mashed potatoes and corn for lunch. Walleye, French fries and a salad for dinner Friday night.

Also, what a break I got getting the free motel room for 2 nights.

This is at the base of Garrison Dam getting ready to leave.

Once on the water the current was strong and I did a good 30 miles. Wind came up late in day and I had to spend the night in a creek bed which was out of the wind. All in all a good day for getting back on the water.

MAY 15 SUNDAY DAY 25 ON THE WATER – What a fiasco when I made my first trip to the kayak to start to load the kayak. I had left the ice chest, 2 food bags, dry bag with solar charger and cables for phone and camera, lap top in bag on the bank and it was all gone. The water had risen a good 2 feet. They had let water out of the dam for the 1st time last night. Talk about stressed. I hurriedly broke camp got the kayak packed and headed down river hoping to salvage something. Keep in mind I had just stocked up.

I ended up finding a jar of peanut butter and the ice chest thanks to a fisherman who told me where it was. The ice chest was a good 5 miles down the river. Needless to say it was not a pretty picture. I decided to get to Bismarck and once there to resupply and get a notebook from ATT.

I arrived in Bismarck at 4 and called a taxi and was in the ATT store by 4:15. Unbelievable. Then I went to Cash Wise and Big Lots which was in walking distance and bought what I needed. Bought a good hamburger at the deli in Cash Wise and called the taxi and went back to the kayak and got things repacked and organized.

By then I was so tired I went down river not far and slept on the bank under one of the bridges. Or tried to sleep. Trains, motorcycles, traffic and a bar across the river that had karaoke going until 11 made it impossible. Plus, a beaver slapped his tail all night long. Keep in mind I am just 4 feet off of the water.

MAY 16 MONDAY DAY 26 ON THE WATER – I made good time after Bismarck. My next short term goal/distance was Ft Hayes where the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is. It is where Sitting Bull is buried.

One thing that is very noticeable is I have not seen any wildlife. None. No deer or bald eagles, no beaver. There are still geese, ducks and hear a coyote now and then. Some fisherman when there is a boat dock.

I did not make it as far as I wanted to. I ended up once again sleeping on the ground at a boat dock. One thing I have learned is at the boat docks if there is a fish cleaning shed it has power. All the guys use electric filleting knives. Hence one can charge the phone and notebook. This was across the river from Fort Rice.

 

Dave Scott

Author Dave Scott

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