http://www.seasicktours.com Canoeing the Mississippi from September-November, 2008 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:58:25 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Episode Number Eight: From Grand Rapids down to Jacobson Campground. The weather starts to cool down as the river doubles in flow thanks to the Prairie River. I buy a new tent in Grand Rapids due to water leakage issues with my last one. http://www.seasicktours.com/?p=62 Episode Number Seven: Grand Rapids I travel from Schoolcraft state park to the city of Grand Rapids, birthplace of Judy Garland. Minnesota Power and Light provides me with a free portage, while the city treats me to some urban delights and a few days off the river. http://www.seasicktours.com/?p=61 Episode Number Six: Crossing Lake Winnebigoshish I make the long trip around Lake Winnie while discovering that many of the state camp grounds in northern Minnesota have already closed for the season. http://www.seasicktours.com/?p=60 Episode Number Five: Lake Bemidji to Cass Lake I leave the first city on the Mississippi and make my way to Cass Lake. This is the beginning of the lake region where the Mississippi river travels through a series of very large lakes. http://www.seasicktours.com/?p=59 Episode Number Four: Bemidji, the first city on the Mississippi river. I say goodbye to the "wild" portion of the Mississippi river and glide into Bemidji, where kind people, good food, culture and a warm bed await. http://www.seasicktours.com/?p=58 October 13-15, 2008 Reluctantly I leave Crow Wing state park despite my desire to explore it fully.  Although the morning started out really cold, it gradually warms up nicely into the upper forties.  My new gear keeps me plenty warm enough, and at one point I have to take it off ... http://www.seasicktours.com/?p=57 Episode Number Three: Out of the Wetlands, at Long Last! http://www.seasicktours.com/?p=56 October 9-12, 2008 In the week before reaching Brainerd, it was starting to get pretty cold at night.  There's an entry in my journal that reads "That night I pile on the clothes-socks, long underwear, t-shirt, 2 thermal shirts, fleece top and a fleece vest, gloves and a cap.  I stay ... http://www.seasicktours.com/?p=55 My friend Jay brings up a very good point when he asks "what does a portage look like?" This is one of those questions that I wish I would have seen before I decided to stop for the winter, as I don't really know if I got any really good footage ... http://www.seasicktours.com/?p=54 A very difficult decision but one that I feel is the right one to make.  An end to Part One, the first 421 miles of the Mississippi river from Lake Itasca to Saint Cloud, MN.  Part Two will begin next summer. As I write this post from my girlfriend Erin's house ... http://www.seasicktours.com/?p=53