Tadaa

Sorry for the lack of updates lately.  I've gone through some amazing country lately that is also fairly remote.  I shot the Winnipeg River in roughly a week.  I cleard Lake of the Woods today and now I'm on the Rainy River in a town called Rainy River.  A nice guy by the name of Bob let me set up a tent in his yard and use his washroom..  Feel almost civilized.

Once again I am very sorry for not finishing what I set out to do.  As of now my route is this:  follow the border to Lake superior, take the shore to duluth.  From there I will try to find a way to the St. CroixRiver and meet back up with the Mississippi and paddle back up to the Crow and finish in Hutchinson.  A gigantic dirty loop around the state.

I'm certain I'll havve enough time to make Dulouth, but after that it is a little close to call.  I've been paddlin some long days lately to make up for the slow weather.  So much of my speed is based on the weather.  I've had to sit out some storms lately that really take a chunk out of thet day.

My sperits are still pretty high.  I've been met with astounding kindness from Canadians.  I can't count how many times I've asked for directions and ended up getting a cold beer and hot supper.  I dig it.  

The country did a dramatic shift from prairie to coniferous forest when I got off Lake Winnipeg.  Nice to hear loons and smell pines.

However, I can feel my sanity slowly creeping away.  I think I'm going to experience some wicked culture shock in August.  I've found myself having some fairrly serious conversations with trees lately...  Nothingn to worry about, I'm sure it's all part of the adventure.

HOpe to update more often.

Rudy

Huge change of plans

Hello friends

First of all, I sincerely appreciate all the good vibes. I was bummin pretty hard for a while there about not going to York Factory. It's good to know I haven't been shunned. I can't completely shake this feeling of letting people down.

Ok, now this is exciting. I had a light bulb moment the instant I got off the Red onto Lake Winnipeg. I got a new route in mind that gives me the smiles just thinking about it. I'm not going to reveal what I have in store until I'm a little more certain of things.

Sorry for being so vague.

Rudy

It's not meant to be...

Well, I have spent nearly a week in Winnipeg. I exhausted all my options as far as a return trip from York Factory. I just can't get things to work out. I am very confident I can make the paddle to York Factory. There is just no possible way of me getting back. Sadly this means I will have to change my route. Here is a list of all the possibilities I looked into:

Paddle up the Hayes (Current too strong)
Paddle up the Nelson(Dams make current too unpredictable)
Paddle up the Bay to Churchill (illegal and extremely dangerous)
Boat Charter (not in service this year)
Ed Zalinsky's personal boat (not in service this year)
Calm Air (too expensive)
Venture Air (too expensive)
Gillam Air (too expensive)
A pilot I met in Grand Forks (border patrol won't let him cross)
Hike Back (can only carry about 2 weeks worth of food)

Additionally my friends in Winnipeg asked around their friends and family in Northern Manitoba, to no avail.

I don't know of any other way to return from York Factory. However, I am nowhere near ready to be done paddling for the summer. It's been such a blast so far, I want to keep doing it until I have to be in Kansas. So, I have formulated a much more flexible plan:

Paddle up to Norway House on the north end of the lake

From there I can either:
A)hitch a ride to the train, take the train to Churchill, return to Norway House, and paddle back to the south end of the lake B)paddle to Thicket Portage, take the train to churchill, return and paddle back to the south end of the lake, or C) simply paddle back to the south end of the lake

From the South end of Lake Winnipeg, depending on how much time is left in the summer I will either:
A)call it quits B) hang out in Winnipeg again C)paddle the Winnipeg River to Lake of the Woods.

I'm disappointed that I won't finish what I set out to do, but I have experienced so much on this trip already it's impossible to consider it a failure. For my next adventure I will simply have to sell more t-shirts.

I hope to continue updating as my plans become more concrete, but the northern half of Lake Winnipeg is sparsely populated.

Rudy

Winnipeg

I made Winnipeg now and have to spend a few days here. Wonderful city. Smiling friendly faces everywhere.

After the border the river current really picked up and I could manage about 70 miles a day no sweat. That was a blast, hard to imagine I was working my tail off on the Minnesota and only making about 2 miles an hour. Seems like a long time ago.

Have to be brief as my internet time is nearly up.

Rudy