Days 24 & 25:
Date: August 1-2, 2022
URM 847 → URM 847
Distance today: 0 Miles
River Time: 0 hrs
Shower, eat, sleep, reorganize, eat, eat, eat, sleep, shower, eat, resupply, eat, sleep, final pack.
It’s been a good two days.
The River Ahead
From a paddler’s point of view, the complexion of the River changes drastically in Minneapolis. No longer will I have to empty, portage, and reload my canoe. I have entered the “navigable” portion of the Mississippi River, where locks are available to me.
Minneapolis sits at around Upper River Mile (URM) 855, and St. Louis sits at URM 195. In those intervening 660 miles, the Mississippi River is delimited by 27 locks and dams. I have already passed through the first.
When “locking through,” I have lowest priority. First priority goes to government vessels, second priority goes to commercial vessels (i.e., barges), and third priority goes to pleasure vessels, like motor boats and canoes. I may radio a lock and learn that the wait time will be over 4 hours until they can lock through pleasure craft. Oh well, c’est la vie on this section of the Mississippi.
It will be a more industrial experience going forward, and I will be sharing the road with many behemoth barges and other vessels. I am excited to grow with the River and continue my journey downstream!