On our last trip, we saw enough eagles to be encouraged — perhaps a dozen or so. During this journey, bald eagles of all ages became such a common sight that they rarely commanded our attention near trip’s end.

The fishing, well-kept secret that it is, has always been good on the Minnesota River. Nowadays, it is even better. We were told that kids in the Henderson area are having a grand time catching sturgeon and white bass.

And this past winter, anglers trying their luck at the Wilmarth power plant near Mankato reportedly were catching and releasing the curiously prehistoric paddlefish.

Experienced anglers swear that sometime in the near future, the Minnesota River likely will produce the next state record walleye.

Floating the length of the Minnesota River a second time proved to be as enjoyable as the first time we dipped our paddles into its cloudy waters.

We’d be liars if we didn’t admit that on several occasions tired muscles and pesky deer flies didn’t have us second-guessing ourselves. We are, after all, 10 years older than we were during our first river journey.

But on those toughest days, after partaking of the hospitality of river enthusiasts such as Del Wehrspann of Montevideo, Scott and Angie Kudelka of New Ulm, Joe Michel of Mankato, or the River Dogs of Le Sueur, we came away with renewed energy.

And it was impossible not to catch the enthusiasm of folks such as Tom Kalahar of the Soil and Water Conservation District in Olivia, Lawrence Muetzel of Renville County, Patrick Moore of CURE, Granite Falls Mayor Dave Smiglewski, and Scott Sparlin of the Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River feel for the river.

In the end, we came away with a deep appreciation for the wonderful resource the Minnesota River is for all Minnesotans.

It’s nearly impossible to come in contact with the Minnesota River and not get muddy. Wearing smears of the rich, sticky mud is the mark of a real river rat.

Our mud from the Minnesota River mud washed away easily.

Our memories of the Minnesota River will not.