Post #44: Pines Recreational Area Friday, June 13

Speed: 2 mph

Miles: 18

Time: 7:07 am to 2 pm

Campsite location:  https://www.google.com/maps/place/47%C2%B049'21.4%22N+106%C2%B036'43.9%22W/@47.82261,-106.61218,12z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en

John is almost done with Fort Peck Lake. He expects to reach the Fort Peck Marina tomorrow. His current location is http://fms.ws/HNanU/47.82261N/106.61218W. He saw some cabins in the area and a cell phone tower, so he thought he'd try his phone. He had one bar, so he was able to call me and fill me in. The river is running high, so he didn't have any problems with choosing the right channel and running into mud. There was no current, so the days were long and the paddling tough. He will have five days of rest before I get there!

His current location is Pines. It is 18 lake miles and five wide bays from Fort Peck Marina. The largest bay is ahead of him.

The evening light filled Fort Peck Lake with color.

The kayak is on the shore and the tent is set up

 near a much-needed table, his first since James Kipp.

Ellen

The day started well with an early start in more SE wind. As the day progressed, the wind became less, yet not absence.  I felt fresh from the long day of rest.  About midday the direction of the wind changed and was now pushing me. The sail was pulled from under my deck bag and released to the winds. My speed jumped to between 5-10 mph for about an hour and a half. The practice sessions I had at home on windy Rattlesnake Lake paid off. My technique of holding the sail and paddle with the hands and using the elbow to dip the blade in the water to steer the kayak worked. I zipped by a boat of three fishermen and heard one of them say "That guy is really moving". I was. Needless to say it was an easy day of paddling to Pines even with the five bay crossings. I had Pines to myself even though it is only 18 miles from the dam. The summer homes in the area and cell phone tower told me I was no longer on my own. Once I had camp set up I called Ellen and we were able to catch up. I told her tomorrow would be my last day on the lake if all goes well with the weather. A storm moved in later and thunder shook the ground. I ate dinner, munched on treats, hydrated, walked the road for miles, and fell asleep reading from my Kindle.