INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE WALK EXPEDITION!

When the name of a city is made up of three separate words, a person wonders what they mean:  "Sault" means "waterfall or a rapid in a river:". "Ste." is the abbreviation for "Saint".  The noun "Marie" is a reference to the Virgin Mary, in whose honor the town was named by Jesuit missionary and explorer Father Jacques Marquette, in the 1600's. The city is located on St. Mary's River.  I took the photo of the mural in this photo, because the bridge behind it, was the reason I was visiting Sault Ste. Marie ( www.saultstemarie.com ).   

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Another mural along the same wall, was welcoming me and my friends, to explore their scenic waterways.  I think my interest in walking across significant bridges started when I had the opportunity to walk across the famous bridge over the harbor, in Sydney, Australia, in February, of 2001.  At that time, I was not publishing a blog, but when I put "Bridges" into the search box of my "Expeditions By Tricia" blog archive, there were several stories published,  about bridges I have walked over, since the Sydney, Australia, Bridge:  

• Sundial Bridge in Redding, California: March 13, 2009
• Ruthvin Bridge in Cotter, Arkansas: January 14, 2010
• Lake Siskiyou Bridge in Mt. Shasta, California:  December 2, 2011
• Junction Bridge in Little Rock, Arkansas:  March 8, 2012
• Tridge in Midland, Michigan: August 14, 2012 
• Rainbow Bridge, in Washington State: October 22, 2012
• Big Dam Bridge in North Little Rock, Arkansas:  January 2013
• Walkway over the Hudson River, in upstate New York: July 2, 2015 
• Bridge over I-5 in Mt. Shasta, California: October 1, 2018
• Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California: June 15, 2019 
• "Y" Bridge in Galena, Missouri: Facebook, July 24, 2019 
• Gatlinburg Suspended Bridges at Anakeesta and Skypark:  July 1, 2026

 None of my previous bridge walks had been between two different countries, so I was ready for a new challenge---walking from the USA to Canada, on the International Bridge over the St. Mary's River!

I am very thankful that several of my friends and I were able to participate in the 2026 International Bridge Walk.  It is an annual event, held the last Saturday in June, to celebrate the international friendship between Sault St. Marie, Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie, in Canada.  Notice their logo shows symbols of both the USA and Canadian flags---stars and stripes for the USA and the red maple leaf for Canada.  The International Bridge connects the two cities.  

Our instructions called for meeting at the Arts Center, of Lake Superior State University.  It was an ideal place to meet, because the building was open and had ample clean restrooms, water fountains, trash containers, and indoor seating.  Also, it had large spacious parking lots, where participants could park their cars, and where the buses that brought the walkers back to the USA, could easily unload passengers.  As you can see from the beautiful blue skies in the photo, the weather was ideal, and was an answer to prayers, because in the past the event has had to be cancelled because of dangerous weather conditions.  

When I saw the upward incline the bridge had at its beginning, I had some concerns, because the oldest  member of our group would be making the crossing in a wheel chair, powered by one of us (i.e., not battery-powered).   I mentioned to the others that I probably was not going to be able to push the wheelchair on an upward climb, but could do it on the downward descent----UNTIL they told me it is sometimes takes more strength to control a wheelchair with a person in it, going downhill, rather than uphill!  So that meant my turn to push, would be on the flat stretch!

Before we left Arkansas, we decided to wear our Floatzilla shirts ( www.floatzillaqc.org ) that would make us easy to spot in a crowd.  (See Floatzilla blog dated September 2, 2024 for more info on that event).  The cute girl in the black shirt is another reason for wanting to go to Sault Ste. Marie.  She is a graduate of our local high school, and an Arkansas university, and has a successful career serving in the Coast Guard, currently stationed in Sault Ste Marie.  Her grandmother is the one with gray hair sitting in the front of the photo, and her aunt is the tallest of the group, on back row.  

In the Art Center parking lot, the back platform of a big truck was set up as a makeshift stage, complete with a good sound system.   It was there the ladies pictured below, sang the national anthems, of both Canada and the USA, to get the opening ceremony started.  

 

Notice the platform included both the USA and Canadian flags behind them.  The fact that these flags are hanging "limp" is actually a very good sign, because it meant that high winds were not going to cause a cancellation of the event.  City officials from both sides of the border welcomed the group, as well as the chief executive of the International Bridge Commission.  There is no pre-registration fee for the event, so they have no way of knowing how many will be attending.  Participants were told to bring their passports, and only small bags were allowed,  preferably, clear vinyl.  The instructions also indicated that bags were subject to being searched.  

When the walk began, we had a short distance to travel on city streets leading to the bridge.  The streets had been closed off to vehicle traffic, and were being monitored by traffic officers.

I was glad to see this sign indicating we were making the turn to the Canada Toll Bridge, knowing we would soon be actually on the bridge.  The bridge itself is 2.8 miles, and this being my first time to participate in this event,  I did not know how much additional mileage the walk from the Art Center would add.  However, it was just a few short blocks.  

 

Safety is a concern for a large event like this, and these officers in their bright yellow shirts, and riding bicycles, were ready to tackle any unforeseen circumstances, to be of assistance.

This photo shows Peggy starting the downhill stretch on a city street leading to the bridge.  

As Peggy pushed Helen in the wheelchair, and Diana waved good bye to the toll booth operators, we were getting closer to the bridge!  Notice the LANE CLOSED signs are showing, as we entered the secure area.  As we were driving into Sault Ste. Marie four days before the bridge walk, there were large illuminated signs on the main highways, alerting all drivers that the International Bridge was going to be closed to  vehicle traffic, on Saturday, June 27, starting at 9 am, until 11 am.  

After a while, (young and strong!) Coast Guard officer Tori, had the honor of pushing her grandmother in the wheel chair, as the bridge surface starts to gradually elevate.    

In this photo, Diana is pushing her mom in the wheelchair, while Peggy and Tori take a break.  

 When we got to a flat surface, I took a turn at the handlebars, pushing the "Matriarch" of our group, towards the finish line in Canada.  

The gals from Arkansas were not the only ones wearing matching tee shirts.  Various members of the Rotary Clubs from both Canada and USA, who participated in the event,  were also wearing matching yellow shirts, which made them easy to spot.  The logos on their shirts promoted the Rotary goals--- advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace.    

 

You can find out more about activities of this network of volunteers, by visiting www.rotary.org

Diane took this photo from the hill above the bridge, and shows walkers as far as the eye can see!

 The actual "border line" between Canada and the USA at this location, is in the middle of the river below.  However, this brass sign above the river, let the walkers know when they have "crossed the line".  I wish I could have had a photo with me standing behind the sign, with one foot in Canada and one foot in the USA.  However, there was an 80 foot drop-off on the other side of the sign, so I had to pass on such a pose!

 Fortunately, I got the ladies to  turn around towards my camera phone, to pose for a photo, after we passed the border sign on the bridge.

Being on top of the bridge gave us a "Bird's Eye View" of the construction that is currently taking place at the Soo Locks.  This very important passage way between Lakes Superior and Huron, is being modified, to allow for the increased size of container ships.  

 After we were on level ground, and on the Canada side, Tori took this photo of us, so one can see the Canada Customs Gate in the distance, along with the buses lined up, to take walkers back to the USA.

When I checked with bridge officials before the event, they assured me that if anyone was having difficulties, there would be a motorized vehicle to provide assistance (sometimes called a "Sag Wagon").  As the time to re-open the bridge to vehicle traffic grew closer, I notice a motorized Police vehicle starting to "patrol" the bridge, in case there were any stragglers.  All along the route, there had been uniformed International Bridge personnel with walkie-talkies, that could have alerted the police of the need for assistance.  

I counted five yellow school buses, lined up and waiting to return walkers to the USA.  Of course, none of the buses could start the return trip until the bridge officials had done an inspection to be sure that every single walker was off the bridge.  

For those returning to the USA, being "in a hurry" to get across, just meant you had to stand in line longer, to get on the bus.  This is what the lines look like when we arrived.  The bridge officials had told me in advance that there would be a bus that was equipped to handle wheel chairs, so when I heard a transportation volunteer shout out "WHEEL CHAIRS IN THIS BUS", we hurriedly made our way to the bus she was calling us to.  It was here that we paid another volunteer the cash fee for the bus ride.  The fee was ten dollars per person, or twenty dollars per family.  It was obvious we were all family, helping the lady in the wheel chair, so twenty was our fee.  

For those people who were not returning immediately to the USA,  on the yellow buses, they proceeded to walk up to the Canada customs office, to show their passports.  

I was pleasantly surprised to see a volunteer in Canada, at the end of the bridge, distributing "Certificates of Participation" to all those who had made the walk!

I was also thankful they were distributing "REAL CANADIAN" water to walkers, when they came off the bridge.  (There were no water stations along the length of the bridge walk, so carrying your own water is advised!)

This photo shows Diana rolling her mother's wheel chair up the ramp, that led to the power lift device, to put Helen inside the bus.  

When inside the bus, Peggy and a kind volunteer (notice the necklace volunteer is wearing), made sure the wheel chair was locked in to the restraints, that would keep it from rolling around when the bus started moving.  

After the International Bridge Walk, our group was relaxing in our VRBO, and Tori wanted to show her much older companions, a video on Instagram about ways to reduce the risk of dementia.  So I needed to give her my Instagram name, which has the phrase "First Place" in it.  That gave me an opportunity to explain the name relates to a healthy living program, called First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) that also has activities to reduce the risk of dementia, which includes regularly memorizing a Scripture verse.  One of the gals asked what my Scripture verse was, for this trip, and I told them it was Philippians 4:13, which says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  The verse is printed on an insulated beverage cup, that was a gift from a beloved family member.  Being able to complete one of those prayed-for "all things" was walking across the International Bridge to Canada!   Doing so gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!!   Tricia  

FLOATZILLA 2024 EXPEDITION!

 A few years ago, I saw a friend wearing a tee shirt with this design on it, and not being able to determine what it was, I asked her, and she said, "Can't you see the kayak in the center?"  I had to readjust my eyes, but finally I could see a kayak.  She had just returned from a paddling event called Floatzilla, but still, the design made no sense to me.  It was way back in 2017, when Peggy V. first told a group I was kayaking with, about an event in her former hometown, called Floatzilla. 

The reason I did not connect with the design, is because I had not seen the movie Godzilla, which is about a creature of the deep, who is depicted in photo below (notice the scales around the eye, which are also a part of the tee shirt design).  The word is based on a Japanese word for "ugly monster creature of the sea", which sounds like "godzilla". to an English-speaking person. 

Fast forward to August, 2024, and I find myself in a group of nine ladies, who are headed from Arkansas, with kayaks in tow, to be a part of this event, called Floatzilla.  The name of our group (WHOyakers), is a "combo" name, in the same way that floatzilla is a "combo" name.  The WHO stands for Women Hiking the Ozarks, which is the "origin" story of this group of adventurers.  The group enjoyed being together, and when the Ozarks gets too hot to hike, it is time for the group to get together to kayak the numerous lakes and streams in our area.  On our drive northward, we stopped at Centennial Park in Missouri's Jefferson City capitol, for a picnic, in a scenic spot overlooking the Missouri River.

 

The park had a nice view of the Missouri State Capitol building:

 

The park was situated on a bluff directly above the train tracks that run beside the Missouri River.

Our next stop was The Dutchman's Store (www.DutchmansStore.com), in the small town of Cantril, Iowa.  I was especially looking forward to this stop, because Peggy had told us that they were famous for their inexpensive, soft-serve ice cream, where you can make your ice cream cone as tall as you want!

  On their website, they describe themselves as an old-time general store, bragging that if they do not have it---you do not need it!  Apparently, this is where descendants of Goliath shop (remember the Bible story of the giant David overcame with a slingshot?), because one of the employees was displaying a pair of GIANT denim jeans!

Our next stop was the swinging bridge (also called the Lovers Leap Bridge), located in Columbus Junction, Iowa (Louisa County).  It is a 262 foot cable bridge, with wooden planks, that spans a ravine, 100 feet below you.   One person can get it noticeably swinging, so you can imagine the effect that nine adventurous ladies have on the swinging action!

 

    

It was a few more hours of driving, but we finally made it safely to the rental we had on Campbell's Island, Illinois.  The large, paved driveway had plenty of room for "The Three Yakateers" trucks, and we were able to unload the trucks and store the nine kayaks securely in the garage.  

After a good night's rest, we took an early morning stroll through the neighborhood, down to the park with a huge monument, telling about a historic battle fought here in the War of 1812.  In 1814, a pro-British band of Sauk Indians led by Black Hawk, attacked a force of United States soldiers under Lieutenant John Campbell.  The U.S. soldiers were defeated by Black Hawk and his warriors.  Many locations in the area remember the victor of this battle, because they bear the Black Hawk name.  

This was the first time I had ever seen a Mississippi River Mile Marker.  Now that I have seen it, I am eager to see the beginning of the Mississippi River, which is located at Lake Itaska, in Minnesota.  At that location, one can walk across the Mississippi, on some strategically placed stepping stones. (or so I have been told).  The Mississippi River is the second longest river in North America, flowing 2,350 miles from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.  The closer one gets to the Gulf of Mexico, the smaller the river mile number.  For example, the Interstate 10 Bridge near Baton Rouge, is listed as Mile #229.3.  So based on the system, Campbell Island where we are located, is 490 river miles north of the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Below is a photo I found on the Internet of the stepping stones across the Mississippi River, at its headwaters.  I was able to walk across the headwaters of the Sacramento River in California with my son, and now I have the goal of walking across the headwaters of the Mississippi River, which means a visit to northern Minnesota.  I am assuming this goal will probably need to be met at a time OTHER than during one of Minnesota's legendary winter seasons!

After exploring the Campbell's Island park on the Mississippi River, we headed to another location along the river, which was the home where Christine and her husband lived, before they moved to the Ozarks.  The current owner was incredibly gracious, showing us around the property, and taking our photo. 

We continued on our tour of the Quad Cities area to this location downtown, where a four-story mural honoring Chief Black Hawk is being restored on one of the buildings there.

No visit to the Quad Cities is complete, without a stop in the John Deere Pavilion (www.johndeere.com).  The attraction is free, and I was overwhelmed by all the photo opportunities!  A staff member took the photo below of all nine of our ladies, standing within the prongs of a forty-foot- wide, John Deere combine. ( After this photo, all nine of us tried (unsuccessfully) to fit into the cab of the combine--remembering past fads of trying to see how many people could fit into a volkswagon "bug" car!)  In the photo below, a staff member showed us how to do the "corn pose", which is why we all have one arm lifted, to resemble a corn stalk. 

Besides giant farm equipment, they also had smaller vehicles that were more my style!

All that climbing around on farm equipment worked up an appetite, so we stopped at Lagomarcino's, and Peggy told us she had been in school with some of the Lagomarcino family.  It is a turn of the century ice cream parlor, and confectionery.  On their website (www.Lagomarcino.com) I learned that the family first arrived in Moline, Illinois, in 1908, and used their skills to satisfy the "sweet tooth" of the people of Moline.  I tasted their ice cream, and can assure you they have perfected their product!

Our next stop was to tour the Rock Island Arsenal, where Peggy's father used to work.  In keeping with enhanced security measures of military operations, we each had to complete a questionnaire, show a photo ID, give our SS# so they can do a background check), and be photographed.  This gave each one of us a plastic photo ID badge, that will be good for one year. (you can print out the form ahead of time by going to the website of www.Army.mil/ria to get complete instructions/requirements for a visitor pass).   So next time we want to visit, we can just put our card in the card reader at the gate, and not have to fill out all the paperwork again.  At the visitor center, there is an overlook of Lock #15, which was the lock that the gals would be kayaking through on Saturday.  As luck would have it, two of the park rangers were there, and told us about the work they would be doing at the lock on the day of Floatzilla, to assure safe passage for all of the kayaks.  They are shown in photo below, bookending our group. 

The floor of the visitor center is a satellite view of the Mississippi River area that we were visiting.  We were currently at the location designated as 12 in the green square.  A somewhat unusual aspect of this area is that the Mississippi River runs from the east to the west here.  Normally, one thinks of the Mississippi running north to south.  The city names printed in yellow, comprise what is know as "Quad Cities"--Davenport & Bettendorf in Iowa; Rock Island and Moline in Illinois. 

If one has done much exploring of the Mississippi River, you are probably familiar with the logo shown here, of a  steamboat , surrounded by a captain's steering wheel, proclaiming the Great River Road.  I have visited other Great River Road Interpretive Centers in areas around Memphis, Tennessee, and Vicksburg, Mississippi.  Each one has been a worthwhile stop, and there are many more that you can discover on their website at www.ExperienceMississippiRiver.com.  The Interpretive Center  on Rock Island was fascinating---It had displays showing the past, present, and future aspects of the river, a gift shop, viewing platform, and dioramas depicting areas of interest. 

We also toured the historic Colonel Davenport house (www.davenporthouse.org) while on the grounds of Rock Island Arsenal.  It is a circa 1833 structure and was considered a mansion of it time. 

According to our local guides, a stop at Whitey's Ice cream is a MUST.  (I am easily convinced that any ice cream store is a must see!)  They have more than one location, and you can find out more on their website at www.whiteysicecream.com ; I felt compelled to order the "Mississippi Mud" flavor, and I was NOT disappointed!

In addition to their hand-dipped ice cream, they also operate a soft serve store next door  We enjoyed using the photo prop, the "Country Style Ice Cream" store had, adjacent to their picnic tables. 

Our next stop was to go to Credit Island, to pick up our packets for Floatzilla.  There was a different table, for each of the different launch points along the river (Notice the green "Empire Park" sign, beside the table we were looking for)

Outside the building with the packet pickup info, there was a display of outdoor equipment, including these incredibly beautiful "Touring Canoes", that Canadian waters are famous for.  

Besides receiving a green Floatzilla tee shirt as part of our registration payment, our group was scheduled to serve as volunteers to help at Empire Park, early on the morning of the event; so. we also received a different tee shirt for volunteers.    The volunteers really stood out, wearing their bright red and yellow, tie-dye shirts!

After we all had our packets, tee shirts, whistles, and River Action litter bags, we headed to one of the parks close to the Iowa/Illinois bridge, that would serve as a launching spot the next day.  There happened to be a man there, who agreed to take a photo of our group, with the bridge, a full moon, and the commercial tourist boat, Celebration, in the background.  The low rays of the sun gave a a cheery golden appearance .   I like to say the photo shows the Mississippi River behind us, and the Mississippi mud in front of us. (Flood waters from a while back, had deposited some extra sediment near the riverbank)

While we were out sightseeing, we stopped at a produce stand that Peggy's family had patronized for decades, and bought some of the famous Iowa corn.  Diana and Peggy took it outside at our vrbo, to complete the task of "schucking" away the corn silks. 

 

 

Very early Saturday morning, August 17, 2024, we put on our volunteer shirts and headed out for Empire Park, where we would be assisting with parking, late packet pickup, and boat launching.  Photo below shows our group, along with the man who was the "supervising" volunteer, who had brought the packets not already picked up.  

There were hundreds of canoes and kayaks to assist in launching that day, and it was fun seeing all the different kinds.  This rig especially interested me, because its rack of boats was two deep.  Usually in our area, the trailers carrying kayaks are not this long. 

It was reassuring to see this fire and rescue boat in the launch area, ready to be of assistance if there were any mishaps. 

This photo below shows my WHOyaker friend, Dorothy, assisting drivers in showing where to go to launch their boats, and then where to move their vehicle to, after unloading.  Isn't that a cool shirt design??   Best volunteer tee shirt EVER!!

Parking volunteers were needed because, in addition to Floatzilla, visitors were driving into Empire  Park for a "Shine and Show" vintage car event.

This was also the starting point for a foot race going on that morning, called a color run.  The participants start out with a white tee shirt, then get doused along the way with all kinds of colored powders!

This trip was especially enjoyable for my friend, Diane, and I, because we got to visit once again, with a fellow hiker we had hiked many miles with, during a Road Scholar program (www.roadscholar.org) in Southern Illinois ( see my story about that experience in the Archives, dated October 27, 2013, and entitled "Road Scholar Expedition to Pakentuck!).  In the intervening years since the Road Scholar program, we were friends on Facebook, and I remembered that Clayton had mentioned years ago about participating in a paddling event in the Quad Cities area.  So when I asked him about it, and mentioned I was coming with my friends to Floatzilla 2024 (but did not want to paddle as many miles as they did), he offered to assist me in getting to a launch area with a shorter paddle required.  Photo below shows Clayton, with Diane and me. 

Clayton had arrived, as promised, at Empire Park, with his kayak already loaded on top of his car, and proceeded to load mine on the other rack. 

Clayton wanted to meet the other WHOyakers, and when I introduced him, he was visibly "taken back", by their showing appreciation to him, for transporting me and my kayak, to a less strenuous launch area!

Since Clayton and I had a much shorter paddle, we proceeded to the Dunn Brothers coffee shop (www.DunnBrothers.com), owned by one of the Road Scholar alums from our 2013 hiking group.

Some of the other Road Scholar alums from that trip, who still lived in the area, met us for a "reunion" at the Dunn Brothers coffee shop.  It was fun to get to hear about their lives, since we had all hiked together many years ago!

After leaving the coffee shop, we drove to Credit Island, where we unloaded our kayaks from the top of Clayton's car, and prepared to start our paddle across the Mississippi River!  I have to admit, I was somewhat apprehensive about paddling on such a daunting body of flowing water, and relied on praying God's Word to give me the courage to proceed.  I have this verse laminated, and keep it in my life jacket pocket:  "I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you"  Isaiah 43:2a  I assure you, I did NOT want to be overwhelmed (or overturned!) when I was passing through the Mississippi River!

God answered my prayers, and we made it safely across the Mississippi River!  I can now say I have paddled from Iowa to Illinois!  Photo below shows me giving thanks, after we had come ashore in Illinois.  The gathering place for Clayton, me, and all the other hundreds of paddlers was Lake Potter, a 50-acre protected lake, with an outlet to the Mississippi River.  Floatzilla participants who do not want to do any paddling whatsoever on the Mississippi River, can simply show up at Lake Potter,and be a part of the group photo. 

Floatzilla is marketed as the largest paddle event in the Mississippi River.  This crane is displaying all the flags of the states who have registered participants in Floatzilla, as well as all the states the Mississippi River flows through.   At a designated time, this same crane lifts a metal basket (about the size of a refrigerator) holding a single photographer, who is tasked with taking a photo of all the paddlers that have clustered together in Potter Lake for a photograph.  Originally, the stated intent was to break the Guiness Book of World Records for the most paddlers gathered in a single photograph.  Now, it seems that goal is secondary, and just having an enjoyable time on the water is the main emphasis. 

There were food vendors and live music on the banks of Potter Lake, so Clayton and I enjoyed a delicious taco, while we waited for the rest of the WHOyakers to paddle into Potter Lake. 

When the rest of the WHOyakers arrived, Clayton positioned his kayak so he could get a photo of the nine of us in our kayaks, having survived our Mississippi River paddling adventure!

The photo below shows me and my WHOyaker friend, Dorothy, patiently waiting for the crowd to clear out, after the photographer (suspended above us, dangling from the crane) had signaled to the crowd that he finished his photo assignment.  There was a camera drone flying over us and the rest of the crowd, and we were able to watch the event on YouTube, from the drone footage that was taken. 

There were still volunteer opportunities after the photo was taken, and the photo below shows Peggy, Dorothy, and Christine, hauling out one of the kayaks for a group I called The Sunflower Girls, because of their shirts and the sunsflowers on their kayaks. 

After all nine kayaks were loaded in "The Three Yakateers" trucks, anyone in our group who had the energy went to an area of the Quad Cities, where the Backwater Gamblers Waterski Show is staged.  We had visited the day before, because Christine's husband had been involved with the group, when they lived there.  The ski team leaders told us that on Saturday afternoon, they would be doing an annual event where they provide a waterski experience for special needs individuals, such as folks who are confined to a wheel chair.

There was a vast array of adaptive waterski devices, suitable for a variety of ages.  We talked to one of the individuals in a wheel chair who had just completed her time on the special water ski device, and she said it was one of the highlights of her summer.  Each participant is flanked on either side, by a trained waterskiier who can be of immediate assistance, if needed.  We got to see one of the youngsters give a broad smile, and wave his hands, as he breezed by his parents, who were watching in the bleachers.  The Backwater Gamblers put on a free water-ski show on select Sunday afternoons, and you can learn more about their organization on their Facebook page called, "Backwater Gamblers Water Ski Show Team". 

Our group of weary paddlers left the Quad Cities early Sunday morning, Southbound for the Ozarks.  The highlight of that final day was getting to see "The Finnegan Dinner Show", near St. Louis, at the relative's home of one of our kayakers.  I call it a "dinner show" because toddler Finnegan entertained us, as we ate the dinners we had carried into their house, from the leftovers we had packed in our ice chests, in Illinois.  And the best part, we did not have to buy a ticket to see this show---it was delightful!

This entire Floatzilla trip, with these wonderful ladies, gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!