4MAY2011 at Washburn, ND - Feeling less sick - though not well - I checked out from the Scotwood and was on the water at about 1000. There was no hint of any foul play - the sherriff's call was clearly precautionary. On the water I barely paddled all day ... Lake Oahe and 230 miles of slack water will be with me soon enough ... moving without paddling is to be savored. I stopped for a sit-down lunch at the Sanger boat ramp then drifted on, stopping at river mile 1331 having travelled 24 river miles. I stopped at a good place and time, but my stopping was hurried by dark clouds gathering. While looking for a farm building onto which I could tape my tarp, I pulled in at an easy "dock" site and found an unlocked log cabin. Moreover the cabin has a sign stating that it had been renovated by the family and friends of Ray Simon ... use it but don't abuse it. Happily I did, even using electricity ... wonderful.
Not only was the current (river current) substantial, the wind was generally behind me, helping make the progress easy. Enjoying the trip with me were geese, ducks, beaver and one muskrat. The river bottom is sandy and I dragged bottom about three times. As the sun got low, wind gusted fairly fast - it is good to be inside.
My writing reads as if I am struggling - perhaps I will get more and more recovered in the coming days.