10May2010 near Bainville, MT - Amazingly enough I went 55 river miles today and found myself camping at the loud (highway and trains) highway 85 bridge near Williston, ND. This distance happened because of an early start, a late finish, fast river flow, minimal wind, some shortcuts and that at least one oxbow had been isolated by the dynamic river. You see, a rampaging river can cut through an oxbow and leave the oxbow as a lake. The river-mile-map was made when the oxbow was part of the river ... now the river is several miles shorter, yet the river miles remain as they were. So I did not acutually PADDLE 55 miles ... I FINISHED 55 RIVER miles. If you consider that valuable, let me utter a "Big Whoop" ... I went far today.
Wildlife seen today were Cranes, Geese, Ducks, Pelicans, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer, Paddlefish and Coyote. This Coyote was curious and came back fioor a second look, and from only about 100 feet away. The Paddlefish was a four-foot specimen landed near the Yellowstone/Missouri confluence by the school superintendent form Page, ND. It is the largest Paddlefish that I have ever seen. From the Montana border to Williston I saw over 100 people fishing for Paddlefish. Amazing that after miles and miles seeing very few people I cross into North Dakota and the banks are lined with fishermen. A family occasion with a guy yanking his line while his wife and child watched/played was a common sight. All in all I conclude that a lot that is right is happening in North Dakota.
As I set out this morning I paddled about twelve miles in a thick fog. I kept the right bank in sight and rarely saw antyhing else other than floating bark, logs, cottonwood snags and some of the wildlife listed above. With the fog I was able to get close to the animals before they were aware of me.
Through the fog this morning came drumbeats. I passed very close to the drummer who was only the left (far) bank. He (women won't do this will they?) drummed for hours; I still heard him as I neared the Snowden railroad bridge, five miles below his location.
In the evening two guys were walking dogs near my campsite. We struck up a conversation and they provided a ride into a Subway Sandwich Shop in Williston and back to the river. Ahh, what a taste. I slept well between two picnic tables under a pavillion ... and no rain.