Sailing Oahe

**Catch up post from 9/7-9/8**

Today, with some trepidation, I loaded up and headed out to try to sail. The winds are 15-20 out of the NW, which is doable. The problem is the gusts up to 30 mph and the fact that this lake is more narrow.

The waves seem like they bounce off one shore and come back the other way giving the effect of being in a washing machine. It's exhausting just trying to ride the waves correctly not to capsize. Working the sail requires all effort and focus.

Made it 22 miles in that in 5 hours, then turned the horseshoe bend at the hwy 212 bridge and came to a dead stop. It's now a head wind and the waves are huge. I made it thankfully under the bridge to shore and got the canoe and gear out of the water. We weren't going anywhere.

Woke up pleasantly surprised to find the wind died down. It blew all night. Headed out around 7:30 am excited for a mild paddle around the point. Realizing I'm out of sunscreen, it became more critical that I reach the next goal where they might have some at one of the lodges.

The wind blew up out of the west a bit, but we made it around the point. Everything was smooth sailing from there. Wind WNW at 10-15 mph and my heading primarily south. It's still a long day sailing/paddling 26 miles with no current. We stopped once for a late lunch, but maybe only 20 min.

Made it to the goal, Bush's landing was a perfect stop. After a mile walk to Sunset Lodge (fingers crossed it was still open), Char helped provide some sunscreen, snacks and two of the best chili dogs I've had. Then, Steve was kind enough to offer a ride back down to the ramp and my camp to crack a beer and see the best sunset of the whole trip yet.