Day 80 on the Mississippi River

July 12, 2022

Tuesday

URM 17

1315 miles completed

I paddled 36 miles today.

The wind was out of the north, a light breeze. It helped me along except when rhe river turned north late in the day.

I encountered the worst turbulence from a tugboat and barges I have seen. After the barge passed, the  waves were six feet high from trough to peak, and they were breaking over like surf. It was in a bend in the river. I was on the left side of the river descending. The river was turning right. The tugboat was going upstream against a really fast current. And it didn’t quit! It went on and on. I fought those waves for half a mile, taking on water. I didn’t have my spray skirt on because the weather has been so calm. I got out of the waves by turning behind a rock walled area.

It was so late, I decided to stay for the night. I am using my hammock for a second night. This time I am hanging it from some very large driftwood.