29APRIL2012 near Elk Point, SD - What a difference a night makes.  The sun set on a bright, cloudless sky and this morning is a 100% overcast day.  It also is offering a facebreeze and high humidity; it's a biting, raw day.  So a long-sleeve Clemson T-shirt (thanks Walt), Rugby shirt, sweater and windbreaker go on and I get in, grab my paddle and get underway.  Even with all those layers I still feel it ... but this is merely a chill and very bearable.  This is mild compared with guard duty at Camp LeJeune, where one wears only the requisite attire and the hawk is biting.  Oh-h-h  yes-s-s this is much much easier to take. 
A bald eagle is flying about and emitting a noise/cry.  No, it is not an eagle "scream", it is different.  I am not able to describe it, but it is clear and has great resonance.  Very impressive and far more impressive that gobble-gobble-gobble for our nation's symbol.  It is actually the first time I ever heard a bald eagle, normally a silent creature.  
For over 5 miles I paddle right around the Elk Point Bend.  There is a lot of sand banks and cottonwoods to see.  Sometimes the bank looks far far away, but in time the riverbank hills of the Ponca State Park come into view.  I looked forward to getting out here to stretch and also to pay my respects to a 400 year old tree.  Alas the boat ramp is difficult to get at (the way in is shallow and riddled with cottonwoods) and not one person/boat/RV was visible, therefore I floated on by.  At the Ponca SP the wild section of the Missouri River ends, and now I know what that means.  The river almost immediately becomes rip rapped and jettied.  Sand bars also essentially disappear.  It is very different.  While not nearly as pretty, it certainly is easier to paddle along, there being decent water depth almost everywhere.  I'm beginning to see how getting to St. Louis may be simple ... just adhere to meaningful hours on the water.
At river mile 750 I see a "750" sign.  It is blue with white numbers easily readable even from the oppposite bank.  Before I stop I read 747, 743, 740, and 733.  If this continues all the way to St. Louis, knowing my distance travelled each day will be overly easy ... no more studying my map to ascertain my location.     
As I approach Sioux City I almost immediately see a boat ramp.  No more than 200 yards farther downstream is a marina.  Marina owner Jesse Miller allowed me to tie up at the marina for a night and I walk over (1/4 mile) to the Rodeway Inn and check in.  This is almost too convenient.  So, why the Rodeway Inn?  Rain is not expected ... whazzuhwidat (what's up with that).  Well, for six winters Felomina and I have been piling up "free night" points and have never used any ... so several days back it hit me ... whenever I see an applicable hotel I will pull in and use a free night.  Sure enough, while on the river I saw the Rodeway Inn sign ... close enough to see is close ... and it proved to be very convenient.   
Earlier I stopped at the Dakota Dunes subdivision and talked flooding with Todd.  Todd is well underway with his new house, having demolished what was left of the previous one.  The adjacent  house - to the west - displays a mud line about five feet up and zero activity ... one wonders how long it will remain looking as sad as it does.  The other adjacent house has had all the wood removed so that only the concrete block full basement can be seen.  Todd says these folks will possibly extend the block wall above the flood height - and then fill in the basement with sand.  It is a requirement that the lowest occupied level of any building be above the flood elevation.  The other option, to demolish and do as Todd, is also being considered.  So how bad was the flood?  Today's edition of "The flood was so bad that" finishes with "I saw a jetty that has now become an island".   
Bald eagles, geese and beaver (lodges and tree chewings) were seen today.  Not seen and not seen for many miles are pheasants.  Pheasants are the South Dakota state bird ... from my observations that is a "north of interstate 90" reality.  Today I travelled from river mile 761 to river mile 733, a distance of 28 miles.  I am bedding down in Iowa.