Nearly 2 years ago my friend Greg Latza and I briefly discussed the exceptional coolness of cruising down the Missouri River in kayaks. This is my 3rd summer of yaking around the Southeast part of SD. Greg found his addiction quickly after we took a quick trip together one April morning. Anyway, we finally found the weekend (which is a Thur. and Fri. for us...beauty of being your own boss..."sure take off, have fun, and don't die"....well the real bosses let us get out out there anyway, thanks wives) to make it happen.
Mother nature however had some other thoughts, high winds and high water deflected our trip down the lower Missouri to the White River in western SD. The White flows into the Missouri south of Chamberlain so we still got to fulfill our desire to time travel and paddle w/ the fur traders and explores of the Frontier days. I should mention here that we owe a debt of gratitude to some paddling friends via their experience and wisdom. Jarett Bies, Donna Juffer, and Caleb Gilkerson out of Steamboat in Pierre all helped us to make the safest and most educated decision on where to go. Huge Thank You to all of them.
So our journey began on the White River at county rd 319 and was a planned 2 day trip exiting the mouth of the White and an approximate 1/2 to 3/4 mile finish on the Missouri to our take out.
I grew up roaming the prairie of South Dakota with my Dad. We hunted and fished everywhere we could. We camped, we took trips just to take trips like getting out to see the spring migration of waterfowl. I learned at an early age how incredibly beautiful this state is, especially if you get off the road. I have to say that this trip ranks right up there with some of the best. The visual painting laid out before us was ever changing and couldn't be done justice with words in my opinion. I thought often of my father who unexpectedly passed away 3 years ago. I realized that I wouldn't have the ability to comprehend or appreciate anything that I saw, smelled, or heard out there had it not been for those many outdoor adventures he proudly brought me on. He would've loved that trip, and am sure was right there with us throughout a majority of it.
My paddling companion on this trip of course was Greg Latza. Greg has the talent and ability to capture some of the most beautiful images of our State that I have ever seen. I feel fortunate and lucky to be able to just be around, and hope that osmosis somehow trickles a bit of that ability through my shutter. Now enough of the sappy kiss ass sounding stuff, Greg is a great guy to have on a journey like this cause you get the appreciation for what's there and the smart ass attitude that needs to be present as well. My only worry was that he'd be crying like my 1 1/2 year old when we got out in the middle of nowhere.
All that said, I had a great trip and I would like to think that I learned a lot. Mostly maybe though I reconnected, not only with Momma Nature but somewhere within myself as well. I find that I need that cleansing via the wide open Prairie, probably something to do with My bud, My Dad, who showed me the way so early and often in my life. This time around it was good to travel with someone that he called a friend as well.
Oh, That top shot is by none other than Greg Latza....gorgeous shot buddy!
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