Afterglow RFT VI: Styx - Mississippi River Canoeing

Mike and Katie read books to their children before bedtime. I wanted a taste of what it was like to be a parent, so I offered to read "Millions of Cats" to Reese and Mason. I'm not going to beat around the bush here - this book is really messed up. It was first published in 1928 and is about a lonely elderly couple who bring home some cats. But not just one, but millions and billions and trillions of cats. Eventually the felines get into some giant cat fight and **SPOILER ALERT** end up eating each other. For serious. What kind of f#$&ed up children's book has cats resort to cannibalism? I got in too deep before I realized this, so I had to finish the story. If you don't believe me, watch this guy read it.

The Mississippi River emptied into Lake Irving. We floated for a minute as Mike called Katie and informed her of our progress. Since we left the car back back where we started, we were going to have her and the kids meet us at Paul Bunyan Park on the shores of Lake Bemidji. That way we didn't have to canoe back up the river from whence we came. I don't think I've ever been canoeing on a lake of this size, so it was kind of daunting to go across this body of water. But since I knew that our destination was getting real close, I summoned up what little strength I had left to push towards the finish line. I was willing to give it my all just to get out of this god damned canoe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was so good to be back on dry land. Of course for me, that was the only dry part about it as I was soaked from before and had trouble getting out on the beach (resulting in my stepping in the water once again). The weather was decent for November, but it was still a little cold out. But I didn't care as I took off my socks and shoes, laid them on a picnic table and let them dry out. Mike didn't have the same problems like me. He's good at things and doesn't completely fall apart when put into nature situations. Must be nice.

Despite being soaking wet, my legs cramping up, my arms hurting from paddling, my back hurting from sitting like this and my attitude taking a turn for the worse, I promise you that I was still having a good time. It's just that I don't do stuff like this. If someone were to ask me, "what would you like to do on a Tuesday in early  November?" This would have never been my answer. I'm just not about that life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When all was said and done, I was glad that I went on this adventure. I know that things didn't work out as planned, but then again, do they ever? I got some really good pictures and we hung out on the shores of Lake Bemidji as the sun was setting. This created colors that can only be seen at this time of day. And today I was in the place at the right time. That's why you always say yes to any potential adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katie came to pick us up and returned us to the scene of the crime. We had to get the other car and pick up my dignity. Oh hell, who am I kidding. It wasn't there. I lost it years ago.

 

 

 

 

We started at the X on the left and ended up on the X on the right. I know that it doesn't look like that long of a journey, but this map isn't to scale. But to me, it was bigger than the adventure of a lifetime.