21MAY2012 near Florissant, MO - Today is the day!  Today is the day I complete the Missouri River and do as much on the Mississippi as possible.  As Meriweather Lewis wrote at the western end of their journey "Oh the joy!" 
From Florissant I paddled a mile north into the wind then began a turn east that resulted in a full day without contrary wind.  I did the 17 miles to the confluence quickly and with a bit of chagrin; I saw lots of good safe camping spots.  If one were concerned about staying on a secluded sandbar, then pick an island.  I could have easily paddled on to the confluence yesterday.  But back to today, as I neared the confluence I was seeing it but not knowing it.  It blends in so well with the opposite shore backgtround that it was not until a motorboat passed me, entered the Mississippi and turned upstream that I was able to discern the point of confluence.  Tieing up at the confluence was wonderful in a satisfying sort of way.  I got out and stood on a concrete octogonal platform that has been set in the waters of both rivers apparently as a photograph platform.  It was a moment of solitary congratulations since not even a stranger was on hand.  After 15 minutes or so I slid the caboe into the froth created by the two waters joining and slowly drifted south. eventually picking up the paddle and making for the main channel island.  Off to the left is the entrance to a shipping canal that gets all/any boat around the Chain of Rocks dam.  Chain of Rocks is now an exploded dam of concrete chunks and protruding steel.  Supposedly expert canoeists can and do run it ... but not me.  I approached on the left as advised, tied up and shagged my gear to the lower side, about 50 yards away.  In about three trips that was completed and I went back for the canoe.  Doubling the painter I walked the canoe past the dam.  It was remarkably easy to do and I broke out into only a fast walk at the swiftest part.  On the lower side I combined all my gear with the canoe and sat down for a lunch of fried chicken, grape juice, observation and reflection.  I talked with several fishermen, had my picture taken by folks from Maryville, TN and pushed away for the shport trip to the gateway arch.   
After leaving Chain of Rocks I drifted west and in doing was able to see the gateway arch through an opening in the woods.  Easily ten miles off it stands above all else and is set aside by itself ... magnificent.  Stainless steel, it  shines. The Cahokia mound, once he world's largest man-made construction, could not be seen.  Drifting on, the woods obscured the view for another mile and then it all came into view, the entire St. Louis skyline.  It seemed like so far away, yet the river speed was significant - the distance closed fast.  Meanwhile dealing with the barges was like being inside a video game.  Scrap steel is being dropped here, a tug is positioning there, gravel is being off loaded here, a tour boat is puttering by there, a new bridge is being built there, helecopters are taking off there, river speed is changing everywhere, barges are stacked as deep as 11 wide on the Missouri side, way off a new barge group is arriving, and this goes on for about twelve miles.  Only when the final interstate bridge is approached does the traffic and bustle die down ... it even dies away.  In the midst of all that activity I was honored to here the "Miss Sheila" ask "Are Y'all heading for Louisiana?"  Getting recognition from the big boats in any setting is treasured; in such bustle ... well, let us say I was touched.
Mike and Mike Perneau met me at the Crystal City ramp.  The carried me to the grocery store for supper, showed me Bill Bradley's house, his elementary school, his church, his high school, the land he now owns and where Bill's basketball goal was.  Regarding this last item, the new owners of the house took the backyard goal down and a hot tub now rests there.  I can see Niedermeyer spitting it out now ... "A HOT TUB!!  A HOT TUB!! YOU PUT A HOT TUB ON BILL BRADLEY'S BASKETBALL GOAL?  WHAT KIND OF FRATERNITY WOULD PLEDGE YOU?"  Well, hopefully the goal was saved and we will see it on EBay someday.  And oh yes ... Mike Perneau and Bill Bradley were classmates; he has stories.  Back to the river trip, they allowed me to sleep at the Boat Club behind a locked gate ... wonderful folks.  Sleep was good despite mosquitoes.
Today I paddled from river mile 17 to river mile 0, a distance of 17 miles.  On the Mississippi River I travelled from river mile 195 to 149, a distance of 46 miles for a total daily mileage of 63 miles.  I saw one bald eagle tody ... on the Mississippi immediately after leaving the Missouri.  It looked regal; I think it was a spirit sent by the great mystery ... God's way of tipping his hat my way.