Mike Kinziger and Jay Thurston pushed their canoe into the water at about 5 a.m. this morning intent on crossing Lake DuBay, south of Mosinee.

The partners were entering their fourth day of a six-plus day, 436-mile trip down the Wisconsin River.

Diana Thurston, Jay’s wife, said Kinziger and Thurston were aided by the wind for the first time on their trip, Monday morning, as it was coming from the north. Strong southwesterly winds had put the pair about four hours behind schedule over the weekend.

“For once they actually have help from the wind,” Diana said. “They saw the wind was in their favor this morning and didn’t say much, just wanting to get out and across Lake DuBay.”

The pair were to be joined by Dave Carlson of Northland Adventures today. Thurston said they could be entering Stevens Point between 11 a.m. and noon. If they stay on schedule, they could be approaching Wisconsin Rapids at about 5 p.m.

The Broadcaster hopes to have one more update today at about 5 p.m. 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 itinerary calls for them to finish in six days and 10 hours, which would set a new speed record for canoeing the river. Jay and Mike appreciate the support they’ve received from family and friends through the internet posts they’ve received on this chain of stories.