28APRIL2012 near Vermillion, SD - It rained and rained and rained some more last night.  The streets and whole Vermillion world is super clean.  Weather is predicted to slowly improve through the day, so I will delay my return to the river until about 1000. 
Geraldine deposited me at the river and I found the canoe with 6 inches of rainwater holding it down.  In short order I was at the Mulberry Bend boat ramp getting the rest of my gear, then I was onto the river.  The current is significant and raises my confidence that the trip to St. Louis will be swift.  As I pass each river, Big Sioux and Platte being two, the river flow will simply increase.  Despite a mild winter, it IS spring and the spring "floods" will flow together into the Missouri and insure a speedy trip. 
At 1600 I pulled in at a fishing cabin.  It sports a newish white sheet-metal roof and can be seen for miles.  It also has a convenient docking area protected by a sand bar on the river side and high bank on the farming side.  It  being in a process of improvement, the door was unlocked.  Paint and/or wallpaper work is now being done; evidence of electrical improvements also is noticeable.  Never mind the inside, I just want the 8X24 porch.  Facing west it provides perfect shelter from the east wind and a relaxing sunset view.  I do not smoke, but a cigar would be appreciated right now.  I hope you have figured out that, yes, I chose to paddle only 16 miles today and enjoy this porch.
Last year's flood carried RVs, logs, vehicles and mobile homes down the river.  Many trees and RVs piled up against and were cleared away from the Gavin's Point dam.  Today near river mile 764 I saw a late model AWD partly in the river and a group of three vehicles jammed together on a tree.
Geese, ducks, bald eagles were seen today as well as evidence of beavers. 
Today I paddled from river mile 777 to river mile 761, a distance of 16 miles.