They started Wednesday in the shadow of the Petenwell dam, then with favorable winds and conditions, canoed an amazing 78 miles down the Wisconsin River.

Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger, now on the final third of their 436-mile journey canoeing the length of the Wisconsin River, set a personal record for the most miles they ever paddled in one day on the river. They were at Merrimac on the shore of Lake Wisconsin for the night.

“We put on a lot of miles today,” Thurston said. “We’re almost through Lake Wisconsin now. We have just one portage left at Prairie du Sac. We’re thinking with good weather, we could finish at around noon on Friday or before.”

The pair have about 100 miles to go before they reach the Mississippi River. The National Weather Service is calling for chances for thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday, but no more than a 30 percent chance of rain. Also, the wind speed is to be about 13 miles per hour at its strongest, the NWS said.

Thurston said he was overwhelmed when he and Kinziger came into Portage and found there were a number of supporters at the boat landing.

“They were holding up signs for us, my old high school classmates from Pardeeville,” Jay said. “It brought tears to my eyes to see them there.”

The Wisconsin Dells Events Newspaper and Portage Register were interested in Thurston and Kinziger’s story and they were interviewed briefly before heading back out on the water.

Thurston said he and Kinziger were feeling fine and looking to get a good start on Thursday morning.

The Broadcaster plans to have its next web update at about 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. We also hope to have two other updates on Thursday. Website updates will be available subject to cell phone reception and the support needs of Thurston and Kinziger as they head downstream. Jay Thurston, 75, of Viroqua and Mike Kinziger, 60, of Moscow, Idaho, are attempting to paddle the length of the Wisconsin River. Their main goal is to finish the trip, but they would also like to eclipse the record they set in 1983 when they canoed the Wisconsin in just over eight days. Jay and Mike appreciate the support they’ve received from family and friends through the internet posts on this chain of stories.