Day 39: Sn 10/21- Huge surprise!!

As we broke camp and made breakfast on Sunday our little tug friend came by to pick up some empty barges moored just off shore. We waved as they pulled a couple of the out and watched them worked. Those little tugs can turn those huge barges on a dime and it's pretty neat to watch them work, especially when you're not in a tiny canoe trying to stay out of the way.
We took off after their display, headed for L/D 16, about 12 miles down. The channel switched from the west to the east bank around a few islands and we were making to cross the river and follow the channel when we got a huge surprise. As we began to cross Aaron pointed out a couple of kayakers paddling out from a nearby launch. We haven't seen many other paddlers, so we're always interested in what they're up to when we do. Apparently these two were up to an ambush. As we cruised over to the other side we realized they weren't just out for a leisurely trip, but were heading for us. I began to get a bit nervous about why these two redneck kayak pirates were coming our way so intently. It wasn't until he grabbed the gunnel that I realized the one was my little brother Derek and the other my dad!
We had no idea they were planning this little trip and were completely taken by surprise. Turns out it had been planned out for a while. Derek had just gotten back from a tour in Afghanistan on Friday and I didn't think I'd get to see him until we were done. But, dad had a job in Chicago, so they swung down for the day. It was the coolest feeling when I recognized who they were and was so happy to see them!
We paddled over to the truck to make a game plan and decided to head down to L/D 16 and find a campground after that. Unfortunately, Aaron was not feeling well at all and got sick several times before we made the dam. So, as soon as we were through we stopped at an RV park that looked promising. The owner was just closing up for the season but was very cool and said we could stay for the night at his site. We got some refreshments and a couple of pizzas and hung out around the campfire. Aaron had to go to bed pretty early and was still feeling pretty low by nighttime.
I stayed up chatting with dad and Derek until way past my bedtime. It was so great to talk to them both. I hadn't seen Derek since last winter and had missed him like crazy while he was overseas. He looked great and told me about his plans now that he's home. We finally hit the sack with the threat of thunderstorms for the early morning hanging in the air. Luckily the rain held out until they were leaving. It was a short visit, but such a huge boost! It would be awesome if we could see my mom and Aaron's family too, we can't wait to see everyone again! The day was short, about 14 miles, but totally worth it.