9APRIL2012 @ Pierre, SD - At 0730 it is 32 degrees and at 0800 it is 35 degrees, the minimum temperature to mix and apply epoxy. The epoxy was done by 1030 and Bob and I went to a China buffet for an early lunch. I've tasted a lot of Chinese food - this is the best I have tasted since 1975 when I lived in Billings. Located in an alley on Billing's south side was a take-out place called the Chinese Kitchen. Having been only three years removed from Okinawa at that time, I knew - and missed - real Chinese food. The Chinese Kitchen provided that perfectly and this establishment in Pierre will see me again.
Back at the Joe Creek boat ramp at 1300 I said goodbye to Bob and slowly stuffed my gear into dry bags, pushing off at about 1400. The wind was with me for about six miles until I rounded the duck's beak. Then it was from my left for about three miles and for the final five miles I paddled as directly into the wind as I could. The final three miles were into a diminishing wind and gathering darkness as I crossed diagonally to the right bank. I do not wish to attempt a lake crossing late in the day when I am tired and I especially dislike diagonal crossings, yet do both I did. Why? Well, two reasons ... I really wanted to be on the right bank starting tomorrow and weather.com had assured me that the NW wind would diminish after sunset and even shift to a NE breeze. As I passed the Bowers mint farm I took a stroll and Isaac examined weather.com with me. My wind shift information was therefore only three hours old when I began the diagonal crossing. Arriving in total darkness I was able to find a pile of large trees, over which I tossed my tarp and among which I bedded down. It was wonderful to get my wet feet out of wet shoes and into dry bedding. It was wonderful that indeed the wind had died and I need not tie down the tarp.
Today I paddled from river mile 1025 to 1011, a distance of 14 miles. As I bed down it is totally dark and I can not avoid noticing a slight smell of rotting fish. I fear it is my plastic ground cover which was not aired out and dried last summer. The thought of putting up with that smell until I get to a hardware store disturbs me. Tired me, though, goes off to sleep.