7JUNE2011 @ Pierre, SD - At 0900 I was pulling the canoe east through Pierre, easily making my way over concrete parking lots and sidewalks. The Highway is US14 and it is lined steadlily with car dealerships, car rental agencies, pizza bakeries, liquor stores, convenient marts, car washes, railroad depot, beauty parlors and at least one lawyer's office. Grenerally folks are very personable and have special comments when I pass by. A notable exception was a car wash where two employees in the "Detailing" booth literally pointed and laughed. One even ended with his hands on his knees ... reminded me of the crows singing to Dumbo ... "I bleeve I dun seen evuhthing when I see a canoe on wheels." Eventually US14 intersectioned north and a bike/running path appeared and I proceeded on east much easier. The businesses were gone now and eventually I pulled in at the Hillcrest Golf Course where I was graciously afforded space for the night in the cart shed. The golf course has only six greens out of the flood water ... guests gathered on the porch just looking ... perhaps it will be a summer of driving range and putting green activities.
Just after noon Dusty, from Pike Haven, showed up and drove me to my truck. Diana, a guest at the shelter, arranged the ride ... turns out that her classmate is the Pike Haven owner. By 1330 I was back in Pierre getting groceries and planning my departure for tomorrow. In the evening I visited Bob the angel then took a seat as Pierre hosted Watertown in baseball. This diamond is probably only 500 feet from the capitol rotunda ... closer than the impromptu diamond near the Smitsonian is to the Washington, DC rotunda. Sitting nearby was Gerry Burnell of Fergus Falls and possibly soon to be a resident of Helena. Gerry is a Christian electrician who has served in Haiti among other distinctions. As he is a positive force for our world I am sure he would be a positive force for Helena.
Today I portaged from river mile 1064 to 1061, a total of three miles.