17MAY2012 near Wainwright, MO - Last night was so strange that I slept poorly and got up late, not emerging from the tent until a minute or so before sunrise.  I gathered my gear and launched it off the top of the steep bank down to the canoe level.  After the gymnastics of getting down to the canoe I loaded things very haphazardly ... and only tied down the computer and money items.  Then I noticed my eyeglasses missing.  Oh-h-h-h what to do?  I massaged the tent bundle but felt nothing.  I shook both sleeping bags but nothing fell out.  I looked all over the ground near the bottom of the bank - nothing.  Evidently it was still up at the tent site, "up" being the operative word.  So of course I made my way back up the hill, retracing my steps through the woods, retracing my steps through the waist high grass and gingerly stepping around the matted grass of my tent site.  Last night I had simply set my glasses aside rather than place them in the tent's valuables pouch ... so now I need to examine matted grass ... and there they are, covered with dew but not smashed ... HOORAY!!  Glasses in my pocket I gymnasticized down the bank one last time and pushed away as quickly as possible.  I pushed away onto a glistening calm river shrouded with wispy fog rising several feet off the water.  Looking toward the sun the fog totally masked the river/air interface.  This magical scene remained for another twenty minutes until the rising sun caused it to disipate. 
Paddling on I made my way down the green corridor once again.  Whitetail Deer - 5 total - appeared at three different places, blue herons gracefully lifted off the bank and just as gracefully settled down on the opposite shore.  Eight geese honked the silence away leaving about 12 little chicks scurrying on the shore.  One of the two bigger chicks took to the water half flying and half flopping and then, maybe half way across, took to flight.  It barely stayed above the water as it made it to the opposite shore; I think I witnessed it's first successful flying effort. 
The Osage River joins the Missouri at a beautiful setting.  Both rivers flow along a high limestone bluff covered with sycamore, boxelder, oak and grapevines.  Along the shore large cottonwoods predominate.  A large sandbar marks the point of joining ... locals say it has always been there and is a wonderful camping place.  Obviously it is what could have been last night had I not gone ashore when and where I did. 
At the Mokane boat ramp I took my gear out, repacked it and pushed away again.  A facewind materialized at about this time and my progress slowed.  I came ashore again only 6 miles farther downriver at the Chamois boat ramp.  Tent camping here is only $5 and I am tired.  Though only 1130, I've travelled 18 miles already and staying here looks good.  A short walk into town is appealing also ... and at the store Doug Schwartze sealed it - I am staying tonight in Chamois in the vacant apartment above Doug's store.  Here there is internet, showers, food, bed and clothes washing is only a block away.  By 1430 my clothes are cleaned.  By 1800 they are dry.
Today I paddled from river mile 136 to river mile 118, a distance of 18 river miles.  Done by noon ... how nice!!