Black River canoe trip

On Saturday Bonnie and I went canoeing and camping at River's Edge, north of La Crosse, WI. The canoe trip was on the Black River, and it was quite the experience. We figured it was a 3-4 hour trip, typical of most tubing or canoe spots we've been to in the past. We were surprised to hear from the van driver it might take 5-6 hours to complete. Even he was low in his estimate, as it took almost 8 hours to get done, and we found out we canoed approximately 10 miles, wow! The water was very low, which made the current weak, and lots of paddling necessary. What made it worse was just not knowing where the end is. Every turn you felt like you'd see the landing spot, only to see more trees and river ahead. There are no distance markings anywhere along the route, so you are at the mercy of hope that the end will soon be near. Warning to others: if you are asked to come to a fun day of canoeing on the Black River in Holmen, WI, be prepared for a long day with plenty of sunscreen, food, water, butt padding, and stamina!