Day 12 - 15 miles

I woke up at mile marker 18 on a nice little sandbar island. 2 days ago my alarm shot craps and my phone was dead this morning. So I woke up before dark knowing my ride would be ready for me 15 miles upstream at 11 am. I got everything packed up and got on the water right as the sun came up. 

As I was paddling, I saw 3 raccoons right at the river's edge. It took a minute for them to notice me, then they scrambled back into the trees. About a mile upstream from my camp, I saw a Colorado couple that I've been leapfrogging with for the last few days camped on a sandbar. They finished their canoe trip today - Missouri headwaters in Montana clear to STL. 

Around 11 am, my friend Joan picked me up Columbia bottoms, 3 miles short of the Mississippi. I had a great trip but I'm excited to get home and sleep in my own bed tonight. 

--Ted

Day 10 - My Birthday

This morning I left Herman Missouri (a little hungover) with the thought of only paddling 16 miles to New Haven. I got to New Haven today around noon and immediately checked out the local Brewery and Winery. After having a few celebratory birthday drinks and exploring the little town, I decided to head down the river. Once I arrived it Washington, it seemed like the perfect place to spend the night. Im sure to have a fun night here. 

Day 9 -

I left Portland this morning and headed for another one of my favorite towns on the river. After getting some miles in I arrived in Hermann. It was Friday night and this town was busy. I stopped in at a few of my favorite business and made sure to get drinks at the local breweries. 

Day 8 -

This morning I left Jeff City with Portland Missouri. I had the biggest smile on my face as I paddled thinking about how much fun that little town is. My original plan was to spend my birthday night in Portland, but I arrived a few days early. 

Once I got into town everyone seemed to remember me from previous trips. I had a great time catching up with everyone. 

Day 7 -

This morning I packed up my camp and did a short paddle into Rocheport. I tied up my boat and climbed up the river back onto the Katy trail. I walked a few hundred feet down the trail before coming up to a coffee shop. I sat down at a table sipped my coffee and wrote some postcards to family and friends. I then paddle on into Jefferson City to eat and run a few errands before setting up camp for the night.

Day 6 - 38 miles

This morning I woke up in Glasgow. Don, a guy I met yesterday came down to the river on his 4 wheeler. He had a cage on the back of that thing with a raccoon on it! He told me he catches them and releases them on the other side of the river. So I watched him ride across the Highway bridge going about 40 mph to go drop off the coon. After that I took him to breakfast and we had a nice chat before I got back on the river.

It sure was windy today. I wanted to get into a rhythm paddling but that wind was always changing my pace. I stopped in Boonville to get some food at a cafe and walk around the downtown area before getting back on the windy river. 

I made it almost to Rocheport. This area of the river always has the best sandbars. The sand is like flour and the one I'm staying tonight is the size of a city block. I can already tell I'm going to sleep good tonight. 

Day 5 -

Today was a shorter day again, I kayaked over to Glasgow Missouri. A great little town. There, I met a guy named don who is an outdoor nut. He took me around town to run all my errands.

The best part of my day was taking a hot shower. Felt amazing to have a reset after a hot day of paddling. 

Day 3 -

Took a shorter day today with some stops to see friends. Started the day in Napoleon then paddled over to Lexington where I met a friend before paddling on to Waverly for the evening. 

Day 2 - 48 miles

I paddled through downtown Kansas City today and made a stop at BarK on the river and chatted with some people there.

As I was leaving and walking back to my boat, I saw a man floating on something in the river. I could look down and see him but he couldn't see me. I was worried he might mess with my kayak but he floated right on by it. Once I got back in my boat I started paddling and quickly caught up with him. I realized he was floating on a log. I said, "where'd you put that log in at?" He told me he started floating at 3rd and grand. That's right in downtown KC. I then said, "Well where you heading?" He said "the casino." 

I got a good laugh thinking about him floating all the way to the casino and then getting there soaking wet. I guess the river is a floating highway...

Overall it was another long, fun day on the river ending in Napoleon Missouri. 

Day of departure - 46 miles - September 15th 2022

Today is the day I've looked forward to since my last trip in 2020. I cannot wait to get out on the river today. I kept telling myself that I wasn't going to do this trip again. However recently I read a book titled "Paddle to the Pacific" about a woman who kayaked the Columbia River in Oregon and it reinspired me to get out on the river. 

Recently I purchased a new to me, Folbot Kayak. This thing is like a Cadillac compared to the boat I've taken in recent years. Has all the bells and whistles. A friend asked me if I broke the kayak in before the trip, and I told him I took it out to the lake and christened it with a bottle of Champagne, and then paddled it for about an hour. So these next few days will be my first real experience using the boat. I still haven't come up with a boat name, but surely something will come to me along the way 

This morning my alarm went off at 5:15 am. My truck was already packed with my kayak and gear. I set off for Atchison at 6 am with my granddaughter Trisha and friend Peter. We went to the Paolucci Restaurant in downtown Atchison for breakfast. It's always a tradition to eat there before my trip. I chat with the ole boys that drink coffee there each morning and say hi to the waitress Alex each year. They know me as soon as I walk in every time. 

At 8 am we headed down to the boat ramp and unloaded everything out of my truck. It was a breeze packing up my kayak as the skin of the boat unzips for easy storage access. I said my goodbyes and was off paddling by 8:15 am. There's no joy like being out there on the muddy mo and being completely self-sufficient. I'm looking forward to all the people, sights, and experiences to come this time around. 

Throughout the day I saw a few fishing boats and even a jet ski loaded down with camping gear. I took a break in Leavenworth for a hamburger before returning to my boat and paddling to Parkville Missouri for the night. My paddle length came to 46 miles for the day. I decided to camp right at the boat ramp tonight. As many times as I’ve done this trip, I got my camp set up quick. I’m ready for a good night sleep and then I’ll be heading through Kansas City in the morning.

I'll be posting daily updates for you all each day, thanks for following along on my adventure! -Ted