31May2011 at Mobridge, SD (me) and near Mission Ridge, SD (canoe) - Upon arising I stepped out into a strong west wind and crossed the highway for some convenient store coffee. Joining about 8 cattle ranchers who had been driven in by the wind, correctly priced coffee and companionship I had an enjoyable hour. All agreed that a canoe run with this wind could possibly be accomplished for about three miles, or down to the Bridge City Marina, but that would be about all. "Could" and "would" being very different, all agreed that not one person would get out on Oahe today. Making my way back across the highway, with my coffee about 1.5 inches below the rim, the wind generated enough wave turbulence that my hands got coffeed ... both hands as one hand would not have possibly been stabilizing enough. Interesting? Well, try this one on ... at lunch I crossed again with chili to the rim. It blew out also ... chili ... thick stuff ... all over my hands ... very strong wind.
During the day I made several arrangements to occupy the two days before Felomina arrives. Early Wednesday I will bus to Fort Yates and work with the flood sandbagging efforts there and Thursday engage in the same effort at Bismarck. Friday I plan to ride the bus to Dickinson with Felomina, share breakfast and then I will probably get to Halliday and down to Charging Eagle Bay and my truck. I am uncertain how much farther I will paddle this year, but having my truck at Pike's Haven sounds pleasant for now.
Huge whitecaps have been surging by all day. The surge looks amazingly small, maybe only two or three feet. How can that be with such a strong wind? My guess is the key is the distance from surge crest to surge crest - it is very long, easily as long as the entire canoe, about twice what I have experienced thus far this year. It is a frothy spectacle, one to stay away from, yet not as severe looking as I expected.
Sleep tight.