22 July: Day-44, Total-46; Miles-34, Total-1584 – Chuck

No wolf sighting last night. This morning, we had a leisurely meal and decided we would leave after doing a few camp chores. I washed clothes in a plastic bucket with clear mountain stream water that was in the solar shower bag. Then I took what has become my standard bath; wade out in the river, wash all except head & neck then use the clear solar heated water to do head and hair. It works well and is a good refreshing feeling when finished.

We paddled off at about 2:30pm, it was calm, smooth and overcast. Several times in the late afternoon and evening we had a light drizzle for a half-hour or so. We paddled until about 11:30pm and found a low sand island a mile or two short of Holy Cross. There was a very strong eddy to cross to get to the sand island. The eddy circulates upstream and it was unusual to have to paddle hard to go downstream. For awhile it seemed Bill might not be able to get his more sluggish canoe across the eddy. But 20 minutes and a lot of sweat & swearing got him through. We pitched our tents on the highest part of the island just as another shower caught up with us. After getting camp established, Bill took a mid-night bath in the river.

Q: This is a follow on to a previous question from E.J. O’Brien in Korea: How do you guys manage going two or three months without beer?
A: First, Bill seldom has a drink and when he does, it is not beer. Second, I have found only one bar since leaving Dawson City in Canada, it was in Galena, AK. Also, I found two places that sold beer by the 12-pack; Circle and Tanana. I packed away a "Twelve" each place and have a beer every two or three days when relaxing after a good day's paddle. This search for quality refreshment, remains a quest at each stop; "hope springs eternal".