11MAY2012 @ Sugar Creek, MO - I'm moving very slowly this morning.  The canoe sits in the back of Forrest Schreier's truck in Brenda Kavanaugh's driveway and I am sitting at her kitchen table drinking their coffee which has been flavored with vanilla ice cream that has been kid-spreckled with marshmallows ... her kids.  It is 0640 and I do not care when the paddling begins or how far I get today.  Forrest says he will get me to the river whenever I wish, so I will attempt to convince him to take me to a hat selling store on the way.  My Duke baseball hat stayed at the casino yesterday and I must be covered ... no choice there.  At 0915 we departed and I bought a black Missouri Tigers hat.  At the boat ramp I said my goodbyes and began loading the canoe.  I loaded two buckets with sand for a home gold-panning lady ... very fancy lady, complete with dinky poodle ... for real.  As I was about to push off I noticed three fishing folk cleaning the beach.  They completely filled a big black garbage bag and started a second one.  I threw in a few items and thanked them for their effort; they will fish on today while esconced on a beautiful beach. 
So at maybe 1030 I was underway, thinking that 15 to 20 miles would be good.  As I paddled on I saw the normal green corridor broken by occasional spots where the 2011 flood broke through and obliterated the bank, the trees and several acres of farm.  At one such spot the yellow equipment was correcting God's mess - again that is normal.  I floated past the reconstructed Fort Osage, a fort that looks to still be difficult to attack, situated as it is on a very steep hill.  The soil has become quite rocky and hills are everywhere; I expect that Fort Osage sits on rock.  About 5 miles later I pulled in at the Napoleon Army Corps of Engineers park for the night.  Upon hearing that it was only 1600 and listening to a train horn us into silence I opted to go farther and in about two hours was pulling alongside the shore near the Lexington Boat Ramp.    
At Lexington I tied my canoe to a downed tree about 100 feet west from the boat ramp.  In doing that and getting to the ramp with overnight gear, mud reached half way between my ankles and knees.  That is about as good a safety factor as the canoe needs; nobody will put themselves through that much mud to bother a canoe.  I got a quick ride up to McDonalds and was pointed toward the motels.  Several blocks and no ride later I asked lawn mower Jim Coonline if I was on the right road.  He stopped his mowing and drove me around.  We rejected both motels because nobody was there to check me in ... and this at 1900 on Friday.  We tried several bed&breakfasts and got in on Main Street.  After supper I strolled Main Street.  Two cadets and I discussed history and their future ... one (King) is headed to the Citadel this fall with a goal of being a Recon Marine and the other (Ortiz) is headed to Franklin Pierce to play football.  Two very impressive cadets.  Why are cadets in Lexington?  The county Courthouse here still holds a cannonball from the Civil War ... a military school began later and still continues.  Back at my room all is well ... I'm not concerned if I sleep soon since tomorrow morning should be stormy and I plan another late departure. 
Today I paddled from river mile 353 to river mile 317, a distance of 36 miles.  Animals seen were herons, ducks, geese, owl and a raccoon.  The raccoon was turning over rocks along the shore.  Upon seeing me he hesitated a bit then made for the poison ivy and grape vines.