![]() As I left he called the group to an island bank and began a speech on the hundreds of Pelicans nearby (he was leading a local "bird paddle" where folks take out boats, paddle around the back channels of the Miss look for the abundant bird populations). He informed me that Winnona was in fact just around the corner, and to make it to the festival I just needed to follow the stock dam to shore on river right. A pair in a green Wenonah canoe pointed me to the group leader and local Ranger. Worn out and a bit unsure of my exact location I paddled near the group and asked how far to Winnona. Paddling the back channels of the river for some time I spotted a group of canoe and kayakers out for what looked like a leisurely stroll. Loving both boats and bluegrass, it was an obvious stopping point.Īfter a tough full days paddle I neared Winona around sunset. Jeff from Toronto, a fellow through paddler whom I had run into early in the trip near Bemidji, MN had tipped me off that the annual bluegrass festival "Boats & Bluegrass" was happening this weekend. My only stipulation was that he and Finn would have to go out on at least one overnight trip in it within a year from today.īoats, bluegrass, friends and a great time.Īfter stopping 20 miles short of Winona, MN the night before I woke up with the goal of taking a load off in the Minnesota river town for the weekend. Figuring that it made sense to get the new Wennonah, especially considering the way it came about, I told Marty that he could have the Old Town on a long term loan. ![]() I also planned to leave my old canoe with Marty and Finn. In the end, I left an old guitar, picks and strings, a book "Entrepreneur Life", and some fire tending gloves I had yet to use. ![]() I intended to leave a few items with him that I seldom used and had been weighing me down thus far on the journey. With Marty off to work I began organizing my gear. He mentioned that he got a kick out of hosting me, and I certainly got a kick out of hanging around for the weekend! Shorty after I gave my many thanks to Marty for hosting me, showing me Winnona, feeding me, and so much more. As Marty gathered his things Finn and I quietly watched TV.Īt 7:00am I said goodbye to Finn, and he walked out the front door to catch his bus at 7:15. ![]() Read MoreĪfter another solid nights sleep at Marty's I woke up early to see Marty and Finn off to work and school. And I'm damn thankful to have been able to experience it in its truest form- via canoe on the Mighty Mississippi. The past 36 days have proved to me that Minnesota Nice is more than a saying or a slogan. On a few occasions I heard folks toss around the phrase "Minnesota Nice", which is what I've come to realize as the norther equivalent of "Souther Hospitality". Paul, the towering bluffs of the driftless, hundreds if not thousands of bald eagles, deer, beaver, and of course the amazing people. From the trickling headwaters at Lake Itasca, filled with swampland and waterfowl, to the swimming black bear near Grand Rapids, the turning tree tops of Brainerd, the city skyline of Minneapolis and St. With the Iowa/Minnesota border a mile or so down river I was soaking up my last breaths of Minnesota air. Knowing that the mid morning sun would eventually burn off the haze, I enjoyed a slow AM that gave way to reading, knocking out a few posts, and a few cups of Joe. Thick fog had socked in camp, and hung around so low and dense that seeing the opposite shore wasn't an option, let alone around the next bend. I popped my head out of the tent first thing in the morning to find a cloud engulfing the river.
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