26APRIL2012 near Yankton, SD - Up at 0500, Jeff and Judy's nephew had me at the boat ramp by 0620 and by 0700 I was underway.  It was everso pleasant to look back as the last dam of this trip disappeared around the first bend.  The river seems low yet is moving well enough that even against a slight wind I was in Yankton by 0830.  On the way I saw carp ... the black/orange ones we are accustomed to ... and was startled several times as they scattered when I got close.  I will need to get to where I expect that over the next 1000 miles.  As the day went on I came ashore at one spot when I saw some shore fishermen.  During our discussions a fish explosion occurred about 60 feet out; one of the gentlemen stated that they must be the asian carp.  The type display as seen is new to this area ... possibly the asian carp indeed. 
Travelling down from Yankton I was struck by how important the sand is.  The rivert seems to have adequate flow, but it is still important to be in the right place or the bottom will drag.  In this reach one generally stays right, though twice left is where you need to be.  I drug several times today; only once, though did I come to a stop.  All in all I consider that I did well, considering how little such water reading skills have been needed so far on this trip.  The locals call this stretch a river that looks like Lewis and Clark saw it.  As I paddle it I conclude that they must mean the river and near-water banks only, for at the top of many banks are homes ... structures at least.  Some are surely hunting or fishing or weekend getaway type places and Lewis and Clark never saw anything like that.  Coming ashore at a boat ramp I read about Private Shannon, part of the Corps of Discovery.  On the trip upriver Private Shannon went out to round up some stray horses and did not return.  Upon finally getting back to the river - and not where he had walked away from - he concluded that he had been left behind.  Not knowing that the expedition was behind him, he began a rapid march upriver, walking ovber 100 miles in a futile attempt to catch what was not there.  Finally hje sat on the bank exhausted and was rescued after being 16 days lost.  the reunion occiurred near the Dock 44 site about 45 miles downstream from Chamberlain.  Though he had a rifle he had no bullets when rescued ... and therefore almost starved in the land of plenty.  It would be easy to gety l.ost in this area.  There are few landmarks and dense riparian growth.  Furthermore, footprints could disappear quickly in the sand.  Where he was rescued, on the other hand, are several high points where he could look out over a long expanse of river, especially looking downstream. 
As I approached the Clay County Ramp I was aware that more progress could be made.  I held up, though, because I was in a position to go a few miles tomorrow and still be able to repair to Vermillion thus avoid being out in the rough Friday night weather.  A gorgeous grove of Cottonwoods made the public campground there and also shielded it from thge blats of wind that were beginning to be noticeable.  A few drops drove me into my tent and sleep.      
Today I travelled from river mile 810 to mile 780, a distance of 30 miles.