EXIT STRATEGY

Well, we have made over three hundred miles of this big river. We had a lot to learn and we have learned a good bit of it I think. We are now into our third week and have passed through 14 locks and one of them we went through 3 times. We are tired. This is more work than I had expected. After all, we were just floating down a river. But, there are more ways to get yourself killed on this river than I had ever thought. Both of us have to be vigilent at all times, watching the bouys, the depth gauge, avoiding stump fields, avoiding wing dams which are all along the river, and negotiating around tug boats usually pushing 15 barges. And now we are facing five days of rain.
It has been an amazing experience. Our experiences have far exceeded our expectations. The people we have met have really blessed our life. They have given us valuable tips and information and been exceeedingly generous. One man offered to drive our truck from Hastings, MN down to where we wanted to get out. Yesterday, I was talking to some people on a pontoon boat at a gas dock where we were staying. He lives here and asked how we were getting around and I told him we were walking. He showed me where his truck was parked and said the keys were under a mat and he was happy for us to use it this weekend to go where ever we needed. The boat attracts considerable interest which is understandable. It is fairly unique. In marinas we sometimes dock next to 50 ft houseboats and the people want to know how we built our rig and what facilities we have on board. We have only encountered two sets of people going a distance down the river. One was a young couple in a canoe waiting to lock through and the other was two couples on two pontoon boats that told me they were going to Florida.
We hope to reach the Quad cities in a day or two and will probably try to take out there.
As I told Russ yesterday, I am extremely happy we have had this experience, it will truly be unforgetable, but may be even more happy that I don't have to do it again.