Day 24 on the Mississippi River

September 14, 2021

Tuesday

Scott’s Rapid Campground

RM 1101.5

240 miles completed

Verdon campsite was the most difficult landing we have encountered on the river campsites. Unloading and reloading was extremely frustrating. We were both covered in mud when we unloaded and again when we re-loaded. Terry slipped and sat down in the mud.

Then there was the rain. We had to pack up wet tents and wet clothes.

It did not rain on us after we got up in the morning, and in the afternoon the sun came out.

We encountered several low water rapids with large rocks. They are class 1 and are not really dangerous. I was just really worried about the bottom of my fiberglass kayak. I managed to get through a few of the rapids without hitting rocks, but several times I scraped over big rocks. A couple of times I made direct hits and stopped on top of a big rock and got stuck.

When we stopped for the day and unloaded I checked the bottom and there doesn’t seem to be any serious damage…just a few gouges. I am really glad now that I put an extra layer of fiberglass on the center line before I left home.

We paddled 20 miles today. That’s two twenty mile days in a row.

Tomorrow we plan to paddle 15 miles to Palisades where we will get showers, laundry, and re-supply.

Scott’s Rapid is a nice campsite with easy access.

No rain in the forecast for tonight. The temperature is supposed to be in the mid forty’s.

Our tents and equipment are dry.