Camp cruisers
As I was pining for more information on SOS's blog about his custom one off build, I ventured over to the Duckwork's site and looked through the classified ads and came across this beauty. A Core Sound 17 with all the fixings - Now I wont be throwing any coin down anytime soon, but a man can dream can't he?
The Wisconsin River kicking up her heels, giving the group a "how bout an a what fer"; this is an amazing picture by Sandy, I've never seen it this rough on the river before.
The Players: Jack, Paula, Sandy, Koa, Brian, Bob, Michael and Mike
Photo op overlooking the river basin from Wyalusing State Park; now can you guys move back just a little further. Now somewhere below Paula and Sandy are making there way to the Park. They laid over on the Wisconsin waiting for a day like this before turning south on the Mississippi river to the park. Hey hey my my; Keep your paddle in the water - click here
Now this is river country, good living; a far cry from a weeks worth of wave and wind bashing; to the victors go the spoils.
Lazy day on the river watching the barges pass by; good time to study charts in the afternoon glow.
Mississippi Channel Marker in the fore ground bluffs in the back; you don't want to be caught on the outside of this marker when a barge slips through.
Good time to be on shore (when one of those pesky barges comes by) they can take you out quicker then a 57 chevy run-a-muck in a homecoming parade.
By God we have a toes up situation; now this is life on the Mississippi; half wondering if Mike is smoking a corncob pipe. No banjo music until you get South of St. Louis.
This is what Wisconsin looks like from Iowa looking over the Mississippi river, Sea Wind Canoe optional.
For all you would be river pilots, this is what a dashboard looks like in a Sea Wind; weathered and tattered, lots of bumps and scratches, each one tells a story.
Just kick'n around the backwaters today, made their way to the boat ramp at Wyalusing State Park. I assume the boys are stealth camping cause they are not in the campground; Sandy and Paula are still on the Wisconsin section as far as I know. Today should be a great day on the river, what a great way to end the trip.
Working their way up to Praire du Chien (upper Mississippi river valley, nothing like it) I left them a message that there were a couple of neat pubs to stop at for lunch river right.
The girls lounge around camp as the boys paddle down to the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers; hard to pass up a good campfire hot coffee and great conversation; at least the boys could have done is leave you the tarp!
Notice Bob at the ready, multiple paddles with in reach; ah ha, BUSTED!! Bob puts on some pants...finally; hey I don't even want to know what is in the 5 gallon bucket!
3:26 PM CDT WED OCT 19 2011
TONIGHT - Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. North winds 15 to 20 mph. Gusts around 30 mph after midnight.
THURSDAY - Mostly cloudy. Breezy. Highs in the upper 40s. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts around 30 mph.
THURSDAY NIGHT - Mostly clear. Areas of frost through the night. Lows around 30. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
FRIDAY - Sunny. Widespread frost in the morning. Highs in the mid 50s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
FRIDAY NIGHT - Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.
SATURDAY - Mostly sunny. Highs around 60.
Wyalusing State Park about 15 miles out; a 1.5 mile hike up hill to the campground where hot showers await ~ what ever will they do. They could make landfall tomorrow, cash it all in and move to the city or spend another night out on the river; any takers?
We haven't seen pictures of Jack or Michael in a while; I hope they haven't resorted to cannibalism? What's cook'n shortbread?
Well the beer ran out, so nothing but the "Pickled Bologna" and brine water to guide them, the boys are all in for two more days on the river. I hope that's not a glass jar!!
Sandy and Paula aren't buying it; hats jackets and long pants. It is blowing 35 mph out of the North, 40 degrees and that's being generous. Hang on to your muffin!
No surrender! Bob refuses to give way to autumn; clinging to the last rays of hope keeps his shorts on!! 
It will be interesting to see if they lay over at this camp site, being in striking distance of Wyalusing and the weather being iffy. Looks like they stopped relatively early yesterday and set up a solid camp with a lot of options. Tentative pick-up is Saturday at 11:00am ( or when I mosey on over there) Here is the play by play:
Oh yea, the tribe settles in for a late afternoon fire; Now as the story was told to me, Bob took over fire starting honors, leaving Mike S. to dream of fires past.
Thank Godness we have a supervisor for this government firewood project! "By God we'll put people to work in America"
Right out of the book Tom Sawyer, instead of painting the fence they got poor Jack humping firewood.
Frost on the tent
Here is an overview of the wind and velocity for today; almost in the thick of it, keep it moving if you can!
Cold air dropping in, gonna be in the 40's today; brisk to say the least when it has been in the high 50's.
Then the rain comes, just to add a little heartache to the drama of wind and cold; I still want to be out there. If it gets really crappy they may lay over in Muscuda with all the amenities a Wisconsin town can bring.
click to enlarge
Sandy sent a pic of the sunrise over the Wisconsin river; a true O dark 30 moment for sure; almost like your there, almost.
All Smiles on the Wisconsin River; Jack doing his impression of Eminem out of 9 mile with his hoody up.
BFF
It appears Bob didn't get the memo that it is October in Wisconsin; Dawning shorts and water shoes Bob prepares for the Wisconsin River.
"Sandy Paula depart - Koa wants to go too"
Received a call from Sandy, appears the group got separated in the high winds and waves; After a quick check of the SPOT, I acertained that they were on opposite ends of the same island. Bob and Mike D in (Red) and Jack, Mike S, Paula and Sandy in (Blue).
