Page 178 - "Mississippi in the 1st Person" - Michael James Stone (Demo/Free)

Coming up on Bear’s Den Landing late in the day and having paddled along at quite an easy
day I almost passed by it and kept going.

The ‘bridge/dock/ planking though’ made me stop and want to explore. Once I got up out of

my kayak and almost collapsed on the shore, I knew I was done for the day.

It was a good day. It had been a good trip. I was feeling that “afterglow” you get from paddling
a distance you had not paddled before.

Part of me felt like a sell out in some ways as I was now considering distance over depth of ex-

perience but at the same time so much seemed to be repeat marsh lands. It could get boring.

I knew that soon it would all change and be different but when that would happen I wasn’t
sure. I simply knew today had been a good day and felt like I had enjoyed myself and all I real-

ly had done was paddle.

Paddle the Mississippi River.