16May2010 near Sanish, ND - Today was the globular rock day. Early on I saw a big rock that looked like my older brother's midsection, complete with navel ... seeing is believing. During the rest of the day I saw no more navels but many, many combinations of globular rocks. Coal seams are also very noticeable. In several places the coal has streaked down the slopes and is in the water, getting eroded away just like the other rocks. For wildlife today I saw the basic three birds - Geese, Pelicans and Ducks.
Before sunrise I was packed and on my way across the lake. Though wind had begun there were no whitecaps and the diagonal crossing was uneventful. All morning I proceeded into the wind slowly adding a few miles. At Skunk Creek Bay I crossed against whitecaps causing me to wonder what I may encounter at Independence Point. I was so concerned that I stopped, cooked some noodles and ate a peanut butter sandwich so that I would not give out if the going around Independence Point was rough. But upon rounding the point, a steady breeze greeted me and I proceeded southeast into the breeze with no problem. I completed 21 river miles today and stopped early due to ominous dark clouds in both the west and north. The canoe was inverted, the groundcloth was taped up inside and I went to sleep prepared for rain.
It is only 56 miles to the dam.