We got up, broke camp, and loaded the canoe just as a barge started pulling up to the lock. :( We knew that the process would probably be another two hours, so with no camp, we just hung out and killed time. When we saw the tug finally get into the lock, we paddled around and pulled the signal cord. It was a slightly premature decision as we then had to try and keep our canoe in one place with the winds rising.
When it was finally our turn, we paddled hard to get into the lock but it still took us forever. Exiting the other side was even worse. With thirty plus mile per hour winds howling into our teeth, we slowly made it past the dams guide wall. With a slight cross angle added to the wind it was all we could do to keep the canoe from running ashore. Alas, it did run ashore a couple of times before we decides that we just weren't going to go anywhere that day.
Since we heard the weather was only going to get worse, we made a strong camp a hundred yards inland. I even made a pretty snazzy, wig wam, canopy, shelter by bending over and twisting saplings together. This would give us a protected place to sit and enjoy a fire despite the elements.
Sadly, we didn't use it or the stack of firewood I collected very much. We hung out until about 4:00 and then went to bed way early.
One lock, and one mile forced our shortest day so far and hopefully for the trip.
No comments:
Post a Comment