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A decision had to be made as I paddled the 12 miles to Bellevue, IA. I had two options, either of which could spell disaster. Only one thing was certain. A big storm would soon pass overhead. Should I charge on to seek refuge in Bellevue, or wait out the storm somewhere on the shore line? With predicted 50 knot winds and some estimates even higher, staying in the boat was not an option. People were yelling from their shoreline homes to “get off the water!” Clouds were intensifying quickly. One lady even came running to the shoreline to show me the radar image. She predicted I had about 45 minutes to get off the water. I opted to go for the lock. Hope she joins Facebook so I can thank her.
It must have been the fastest lock passage ever. I pulled the cable for lockage and could immediately hear the gates start moving. In just a few short minutes, I was through lock #12 and behind the downstream wall. After grabbing the cell phone and empty solar battery, I started running. The brunt of the storm hit just seconds before I reached the security of a storefront in downtown Bellevue. Spent the morning at a restaurant, enjoying a hearty breakfast. I also had lunch there while waiting for the other paddlers to arrive. Sorry that I was unable to make any photos or videos of this exciting last 24 hours. Every battery I had was empty by this time. The upstream weather conditions had taken their toll. With no place to stay in Bellevue, the team decided to press on. Unfortunately, the only downtown hotel was closed on Mondays. With the help of a local police officer, we found a park we could camp at just two miles downstream. Please read tomorrow's blog for more. Reflecting back on this day, one thing was clear - I made the right decision to leave our island campsite and press on to safety, where there was electricity to charge my devices. I am thankful for all the blessings of this day. Ironically, the town where I received so much care and River Angel support is named Bellevue, the same name as my church in Memphis Tennessee. Is there a message to behold here?
3 Comments
Jayne Schroeder
6/23/2015 02:08:12 pm
So nice to meet you in Bellevue on Monday at Carousel Corner. May your journey down the mighty Mississippi be safe and hopefully the weather will cooperate! I am excited to keep track of your travels.
Joseph Ringling
6/23/2015 02:37:45 pm
Glad to hear luck was on your side Dale! I tell you what though. I love big storms on the river...from a distance of course. Amazing scenery and usually a rainbow or two afterwards.
Susan Christian
8/8/2021 09:54:46 am
Hello to everyone out here, I am here to share the unexpected miracle that happened to me … My name is Susan Christian , I live in London, UK. we got married for more than 9 years and have gotten two kids. thing were going well with us and we are always happy. until one day my husband started to behave in a way i could not understand, i was very confused by the way he treat me and the kids. later that month he did not come home again and he called me that he want a divorce, i asked him what have i done wrong to deserve this from him, all he was saying is that he want a divorce that he hate me and do not want to see me again in his life, i was mad and also frustrated do not know what to do, i was sick for more than 2 weeks because of the divorce. i love him so much he was everything to me without him my life is incomplete. i told my sister and she told me to contact a spell caster, i never believe in all this spell casting of a thing. i just want to try if something will come out of it. i contacted Dr Emu for the return of my husband to me, they told me that my husband have been taken by another woman, that she cast a spell on him that is why he hate me and also want us to divorce. then they told me that they have to cast a spell on him that will make him return to me and the kids, they casted the spell and after 24 hours my husband called me and he told me that i should forgive him, he started to apologize on phone and said that he still love me that he did not know what happen to him that he left me. it was the spell that Dr Emu casted on him that make him come back to me today, me and my family are now happy again today. thank you Dr Emu for what you have done for me i would have been nothing today if not for your great spell. i want you my friends who are passing through all this kind of love problem of getting back their husband, wife , or ex boyfriend and girlfriend to contact Dr Emu , if you need his help you can contact him through his private mail: emutemple@gmail.com or you can contact him through his website https://emutemple.wordpress.com/ fb page Https://web.facebook.com/Emu-Temple-104891335203341 and you will see that your problem will be solved without any delay. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI'm the Grey Beard Adventurer. But you can call me Dale Sanders, and these are my stories. Categories
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