3MAY2010 near Frazer - Today I paddled 34 miles in almost total calm. What breeze that came along was almost always a tailwind. At 4PM I was seated for a late lunch at Harry's Nite Club SE of Wolf Point. My hamburger was so good that later I went over for another - this one I call supper.
The river below Fort Peck is different. No longer confined by badlands or mountains, each section has a steep bank on one side opposite a gentle slope on the other. This pattern alternates every half mile or so, or more specifically every left/right turn. The banks are mostly sand and fine sediment, so they exhibit collapse on regular occasion.
The flora has not changed yet the advent of spring is delayed from what was observed above Fort Peck. The Cottonwoods here are still not quite to the fuzzy yellow/green look that was so evident 200 miles upstream. Cottonwood forests are deep and evergreens have disappeared.
Today I shot another meaningful rapid. Though having no special feature like the wrap-around aspect seen yesterday, this one should be a higher rated rapid. I was right on top of some pretty sharp, severe rocks before I was able to see them. Fortunately I had opted for the heavier water section of the rapid and these menacing rocks passed by on my left ... no scraping. According to a Wolf Point store owner this rapid is a place where Buffalo regularly crossed the river 125 years back and - of course - farther back. He says the general area around there is still a place where Buffalo skulls are found.
Wildlife seen today were Whitetail Deer, Bald Eagles, Muskrat, Ducks, Geese and Pelicans. As yet no Goslings have been seen. I expect that some of the nests have a few ... I note an increasing number of the mom's lying low (they layed a while back) wihile the gander honks and flies.
As I return from my Harry's supper it is raining. God Bless Wendy and Boone DeWitt for letting me stay out of the weather in their parked camper trailer. Oh my! Now it is pouring and the wind is rocking the trailer. It would be 100% terrible outside under the canoe. I am rocked to sleep.