Mississippi River Challenge

The last weekend in July we paddled a 40 mile stretch of the Mississippi River to raise funds for an organization called The Friends of the Mississippi. Orrin's cousin was nice enough to watch the two boys for us- my first overnight away from Emmet.
The paddling was less strenuous than I was expecting, though the current was slower. So, that meant constant, if easy, paddling.
The event was really well organized, with lots of volunteers, and safety captains. They even hauled our camping gear for us and provided snacks or meals about every five miles. It was a nice and easy introduction into longer distance canoeing for me. Though I'm still not sure I would want two kids and a dog in a boat with me for that amount of time or distance, it definitely increased my confidence in my canoeing ability.
It was also very interesting and special to see the river from that vantage point. Although we live within walking distance of the river I've only ever driven across it, or seen it from the park. It really is an amazing natural resource and was truly beautiful along some stretches.
A few of our photos from the journey:

Going through the lock at Upper St. Anthony falls. You drop about 50 feet! You can see the lighter colored part of the wall at the top? That's where we started.

We camped Saturday night at Fort Snelling.

Sunday morning paddling past Harriet Island (I think).

A rocky overhang in one of the quieter areas of the river. We only passed one moving barge, though lots lined the river in places. We saw lots of herons, egrets and other water birds and one bald eagle.