12APRIL2012 @ Ft Thompson, SD - Weather.com says that starting tomorrow the wind will shift from out of the southeast to from the NE. Furthermore it is expected to stay like that for maybe 6 days. Today I will get underway after noon and proceed as far as sensible. Against a headwind that may be only two miles. The further I go, of course, shortens my distance into Chamberlain tomorrow. Showers are predicted today and tonight so I may arrive in Chamberlain damp ... and the fewer damp miles one does the better.
At 1230 Jim Huntley drove me to the ramp, helped me retrieve the canoe, took a photograph and continued to exchange pleasantries. He left for his afternoon's work and I finished readying the canoe ... and then I waited. The headwind was very strong, so I waited. After maybe two hours Michael Red Bear and two friends came by to fish. I discussed various things with them for a while until finally I concluded it was sensible to at least struggle around the first point of land. That would allow me to camp in a wilderness scene rather than near a boat ramp where folks could drive in at any time. Around the point the wind was coming at full force and I could go nowhere. I pulled over, set up camp and recorded one mile travelled today. I am at mile 986. Today I saw several whitetail deer and several geese. It is now raining and I am dry, stretched out, in bed and all is good. Good Night.