14May2010 near Charlson, ND - Strange that I slept poorly last night. The result was that as soon as the eastern sky showed some approaching day I was up and packing. On the water while still dark I had paddled about a mile before the sunburst occurred. I paddled from then until 1:45PM, not leaving the canoe in that entire time. At 1:45 I pulled in at the Four Bears Casino and at 2PM was at the lunch buffet. Good timing as it shuts down at 2PM. Right now I am waiting until 6:30PM so as to be in line to rent a room for which the reserved person was too late. I realized while shuttling the canoe from the river side to the bay side just how tired I am. I need a room and some complete relaxation.
Today there was absolute calm the entire 22 miles. I paddled very slowly, just enjoying the scenery and the exquisite calm. Also it was about 70 degrees ... wonderful. The trees are still showing big buds yet some still look like winter. Others have abundant white flowers while yet another - almost Kelly Green - is all leafed out. Wildlife seen today were Geese, Ducks and Pelicans as well as Beaver and Whitetail Deer. The area is getting more peopled; I saw more All-American dogs than Whitetail Deer.
Once away from my campsite all signs of oil and gas exploration/development disappeared. The river bank for the whole 22 mile was ascending grass slope interspersed by rocks, sliced on occasion by bays and gulches and topped by an horizon ridge alternately bare and pine topped. As I rounded the last bend I saw two automobiles that had evidently been discarded down the side of a steep hill and left wrecked in two separate ravines viewable only to folks on the river,.
The completed highway 200 bridge looks gorgeous. Felomina and I saw it several years ago while under construction. Not only is it completed and gorgeous, it is adorned with tribal paintings. The drivers drive quite slowly across it ... not sure if that is per signage or a sense of reverence.
At 6:30PM I was given a room and at the reduced senior rate. I took a hot bath and removed three ticks while doing so. Disgusting as it sounds I have devised my own style of tick removal. With tweezers I squash/pop the tick. After leaving it in place for a few more minutes, I remove the tick. I have learned that a dead tick takes far less skin with him as he is removed than does a live, fighting-for-every-morsel tick. I told you it was disgusting. Clean me then walked back to the canoe and retrieved my pack of clothes and, with some weekend partiers assembled nearby, discussed my canoe and the less valuable possessions left there. They assured me that they would protect my noodles and rice from any snoopers - if they saw any - and we had an enjoyable conversation. They recorded my blogspot address and I got a ride back to the casino where I took a second hot bath and went to bed.
The Four Bears Casino gets it's name from a chief who lived in the area long ago.