Month: September 2016

9/24/2016 Right now we are sailing towards the Afton Lock and Dam which is our second to last lock, yay! We took a zero day in Grafton, Illinois yesterday and it was an absolutely wonderful impromptu decision. We stopped into Grafton on the 22nd to pick up some packages my parents sent to the post… Continue reading Spectacular Views, Last Lock and Dam, and St. Louis Harbor

9/18/2016 Kyle is on shift behind me. We are sailing in a gentle breeze, but the current is so strong and fast that we are moving along quite well. Snacking on white cheddar crackers and drinking what remains of my now cold coffee, I observe the railroad bridge a couple miles up river. This morning… Continue reading Temporary Art Forms and Sick Days on the Boat

9/15/16 We rowed a few miles into Ft. Madison today in order to resupply, fill up on water, and try to find some wifi. We landed at Riverview Marina and pulled up to a dock labeled courtesy dock. Within minutes it was clear that the marina was a bit abandoned and that despite it being… Continue reading River Magic and Finding a Rhythm

9/13/2016 It’s about 9:30 and we are on day 29 of our venture south. My nose is sniffly from the cold I am fighting and my coffee mug is warm in my hands. On the left side of the river the sky is covered with light clouds and the sun is trying to poke through.… Continue reading Stillness

9/11/2016 Well I guess I spoke too soon yesterday! Right after I finished my journal entry the waves got much larger and we decided to turn back. It is always such a tough decision to turn back and head north, but the waves were just too big and the wind too strong to be comfortable.… Continue reading A Day Full of Kindness

9/7/2016 Raindrops fall heavy and consistent against our rainfly. The wind brings gusts that fill the rainfly and tent, causing it to temporarily cave in a bit on the windward side. I peek through the air vent within the vestibule at Solvi. Her boom tent is experiencing a similar sensation as our rainfly, but no… Continue reading Thunderstorms on Islands and Head Winds

Sunday PM 9/4/2016 Around me I hear a consistent symphony of crickets and sequaidas with a random note thrown in by the splash of a fish or the call of a barn owl. Every once in a while I hear a sound such as a train or a boat passing by that remind me that… Continue reading Slough Exploring, Vivid Colors, and Windy Days

Saturday AM 9/3/2016 As I write I am sitting in my camp chair with my feet in the sand. We are on an island about 23 miles South of Prairie du Chien. We were initially planning on leaving yesterday morning to head south, but after a night full of new friends, laughter, and an awesome… Continue reading Town Days and New Friends

I have mentioned this here and there in various blog posts, but I decided it was time to really delve into it for a moment. Since the day Kyle and I decided to take this journey- to build the boat and take it down the river and beyond- we have received endless support and encouragement.… Continue reading The People Along the Way