Day Two on the Sauk:
Today was a truly awesome day. We paddled through rolling hills and vast fields and then into a wild forest, where the banks rose high above the nascent Sauk. We paddled through Willows. We saw a huge snapping turtle on shore when we portaged our canoe around a small pedestrian bridge in the woods. We paddled through dozens of tight corners. And we had rapids! Who knew? The water leading into Guernsey lake was swift. We lifted our canoe over, around and through dozens of downed trees. We paddled under two fences. We saw a yellow-headed blackbird and an Oriole. We got sunburned. We paddled through Guernsey Lake and Little Sauk Lake. Guernsey, in particular, was beautiful, with high hills surrounding it filled with grasses shimmering in the breeze and oaks turning in the wind. We put on the water at about 9am and got done at 7pm. I rode the bike back west to retrieve the mini-van, with a 20 mph breeze at my back pushing me through the fields; I felt like I was flying. This stretch of the Sauk is definitely not for beginners or anyone who doesn't feel comfortable balancing on a submerged log and hauling their canoe or kayak through the deadfalls. But the beauty of the scenery made it very worth while. We made it to within 15 miles of our campsite here in Sauk Centre; tomorrow our goal is to paddle those 15 miles, 10 of which are on Sauk Lake. Tonight in camp Emily came to interview us for the Sauk Centre Herald and we ate beer brats and mac and cheese. We were both very hungry. We will sleep well tonight!
Today was a truly awesome day. We paddled through rolling hills and vast fields and then into a wild forest, where the banks rose high above the nascent Sauk. We paddled through Willows. We saw a huge snapping turtle on shore when we portaged our canoe around a small pedestrian bridge in the woods. We paddled through dozens of tight corners. And we had rapids! Who knew? The water leading into Guernsey lake was swift. We lifted our canoe over, around and through dozens of downed trees. We paddled under two fences. We saw a yellow-headed blackbird and an Oriole. We got sunburned. We paddled through Guernsey Lake and Little Sauk Lake. Guernsey, in particular, was beautiful, with high hills surrounding it filled with grasses shimmering in the breeze and oaks turning in the wind. We put on the water at about 9am and got done at 7pm. I rode the bike back west to retrieve the mini-van, with a 20 mph breeze at my back pushing me through the fields; I felt like I was flying. This stretch of the Sauk is definitely not for beginners or anyone who doesn't feel comfortable balancing on a submerged log and hauling their canoe or kayak through the deadfalls. But the beauty of the scenery made it very worth while. We made it to within 15 miles of our campsite here in Sauk Centre; tomorrow our goal is to paddle those 15 miles, 10 of which are on Sauk Lake. Tonight in camp Emily came to interview us for the Sauk Centre Herald and we ate beer brats and mac and cheese. We were both very hungry. We will sleep well tonight!