The Big Muddy

Willow River Campsite

We got up at the buttcrack of dawn to do our last kayak trip of this vacation. We did a 12.2 mile trip on the Mississippi from Palisade to Waldeck and it took us a mere 4 hours ( with a 1/2 hour lunch break at the Willow River Campsite). Mind you, there is a river race in July that starts at Palisade, but continues another 19 miles that paddlers finish in 4 hours. Maybe they have a little trolling motor attached, yeah that's the secret .

I was a little leery of this trip 'cause our handy guidebook told us to watch for "deadheads" ( mostly submerged logs from the logging days) that easily tip your boat. I don't know about you, but a swim in the brown Big Muddy did not look refreshing to me. Also, I am a big fan of Monsters Inside Us, so I could almost SEE the parasites swimming in the water.



All in all it was a lot like Apple River, an easy paddle downstream. Bill got a leeetle bit wet getting out at the slimy Waldeck landing, so we'll see if he develops any unusual parasitic symptoms.