After packing up and listening to thunder, I made the decision to wait till the first part of the storm cell passed before taking off. Thank goodness I did as the storm was pretty gnarly. As I sat under my tarp, I was getting small windows of service and was reading a post from a team of 4 guys who were trying to break the speed record of the Mississippi River. They just called it quits after 15 days and the record is 18. Pretty impressive. But as I was looking at their tracker, it looks completely different than mine. Besides the speed, when they go around a bend, they take the outside. I always take the inside. My logic is it's the shortest distance. Their logic is they are in the current. Now I'm not sure if it's easier so they can go long distances or if it's faster. But I thought I would give it a try. I'm still not 100% sure if it's faster, but I'm going to keep trying to figure it out. What else do I have to do besides go down stream?
July 4
I get asked all the time if I'm a veteran because people see my American flag. I kindly say "no, I'm just an American". I usually follow it up with if it wasn't for our soldiers that provide us a type of freedom like nowhere else in the world, I couldn't be doing a trip like this. I can only imagine what it must be like not being able to roam so freely. To live in constant fear. My only fear out here is getting a bad sun burn or going for a swim. Not a fear of going outside and being killed. Although it does feel that way when I get out of my tent to pee and get attacked my mosquitos. I'm just thankful for our soldiers and the families of those who serve to be able to take this grand adventure. I won't bore you with the rest of my day. Several mental breakdowns, whirlpools, sun, and bug bites that have almost brought me to tears. Instead I will just say, God Bless America.
July 3
I was right, today was a new day. No blistering sun. No burning eyes from sweat. No flies in my boat. Instead, it rained all day. After about an hour of paddling the storm picked up. So did the thunder and lightning. Not knowing how the Mississippi handles storms I decided to pull over. I crashed the shore and took refuge under some trees. Still not getting much help from the trees, I strung up my tarp and hunkered down. When the lightning stopped I pressed on. It continued to drizzle throughout the day but it felt good after yesterday. At one point the clouds broke and the only light that was shining was like a halo around an island. I thought it was some kind of sign. Then it kept raining so I figured it wasn't. I stopped earlier than normal when I saw a sandy landings on an island. I went inland and set up my tarp to try and start drying out. Interestingly enough, the island was already inhabited. By about a million mosquitos. We shared the island and became blood brothers all night long.
July 2
Surprisingly one of the most frustrating days so far when you would think it would be one of the most exciting was reaching the Mississippi. I think the excitement and anticipation of the milestone was a major factor. I felt like I was barely moving. And on top of that, it was hot as (insert what you would like) out today. There is no hiding from the sun on the open river. I started sweating right away. And not just clammy, salty rain. I was sweating so bad that my sunglasses were soaked after seconds. So, no glasses + burning eyes = severe headache. A few times I found a small branch leaning over the water to seek refuge from the sun. I finally reached Cairo. I have been excited to reach Cairo since before I left except for the past few days. Everyone I have talked to said to just skip it. I was so drained that I needed to stop. It is surrounded by a flood wall and when I finally found a boat ramp and a break in the wall I took it. The ramp was covered in driftwood, trash and dead fish. I almost gagged walking up to the town. I could hear the flies buzzing the entire walk. When I cleared the gate it was a weird feeling. It was almost like a ghost town. It's pretty sad to see a once booming town in such disarray. I found a dollar store and went to the cooler to get a Gatorade. Of course the cooler didn't work. I grabbed some cold waters and ran back to my boat. It was only a mile or two to the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio. It was a challenge to get past all the barges parked on shore and in the middle of the river. When I arrived at the point I was slightly disappointed. No band. No cheering section. No news crews. Nothing. But that's not why I am doing this. I did run into a police officer. I asked if they had a bad drug problem. He said "of course". While talking I found out that meth and crack are the major problems locally. I asked about heroine. He said its more of a northern drug but it's on its way. It shows that no matter where you live, people who are addicted will find and abuse what ever they can. I snapped some pictures and continued onto the Mighty Miss. Ol' Man River. The Big Muddy. It's pretty much like the Ohio but a little faster. While I should be excited I couldn't get over the flies that were all over my boat, and me. I almost lost my mind. I can't swat flies and paddle at the same time. I found a sandy beach, cooked dinner and crashed out. But there is a reason they say the Mississippi is the most traveled river in the country. Barges have been going by all night, but tomorrow's a newday on a new river.
July 1
After waking up shivering from the AC it was time to trade the ship in for the kayak and press on. As I dropped my boat off the deck of the barge and loaded it up, the crew gave me some last minute tips about what I should expect for the rest of the Ohio and the Mississippi. They were concerned that I had enough water and kept trying to give me a whole case of bottled water. I'm not sure if they realized that I am the one pushing the boat down the river instead of the 11,000 horse power boat they are used to. After they tried to unload the entire pantry on me I finally told one of them that I saw some cake mix in the kitchen and he should go bake that. I think they would have actually done it if I hadn't called them off. I couldn't be more thankful for the hospitality that was shown by the entire company. But I have 45 miles to the Mississippi so I had to get moving. A few miles down river I started hearing rushing water. It looked like a rapid but I knew better. I decided to head to shore to scout it out. Then I saw a boat flying towards me. It was actually a dam that the water was flowing over and the worker stopped me and said I was about 30 seconds from dying. Since that's not on my bucket list I decided to listen to him and head away from it. He started towing me to safety but was going too fast. I broke free and paddled to the other side of the river that was passable. With a near death experience under my belt I felt like Superman so I did what a super hero would do and stopped in town. But not any town, Metropolis, IL. The home of Superman. I got a few pictures with the giant statue and a few rounds of food. On my way back to my boat I got thinking about how I was almost done with the Ohio river and that I had been paddling for a month. Not knowing if I would have an opportunity like this again I decided to try my luck as a real river traveler. A riverboat gambler that is. I went into the casino for a bit. After all I had escaped death already today so luck had to be on my side. Well let's just say that getting saved at the dam earlier was where my luck had run out. A quick in and out, several dollars were now in the pockets of Harrah’s Casino. I continued on and tried to find a nice camping spot. The only problem was the entire bank was thigh high in mud. Finally as the sun was setting and filling the sky with color I saw a concrete boat ramp in the middle of nowhere. I pulled up and decided it was the spot. I walked down the dirt road and it lead nowhere so I figured it was a good spot. As I was setting up camp I heard a truck approach and saw head lights. I waved and went to talk to them. It was 2 younger guys and I asked if I could park there. They said it was public and shouldn't be a problem. They asked if I smoked weed. I said I wish but no I didn't. When I told them that I didn't drink either I think they thought I had to be lying. They couldn't get over the fact that I am paddling all day everyday and not smoking weed. To be honest, somedays I can't either. Shortly after another one of their friends pulled up, I went on to finish setting up camp and they eventually left. I think I might have delayed their smoke session but I'm sure they found somewhere else. I then realized that it was July 1st, a Saturday, holiday weekend and a public boat ramp might not have been the best spot to camp. Then I heard another truck pull up with a family with kids. They came down to watch the fireworks show that was across the river. I talked with them for a while as 2 more trucks came up to see them. They told me if I was around Monday I could come to their cookout but I will hopefully be a ways down on the Mississippi. Everyone cleared out leaving me to wonder how often and what kind of people will find there way down the mile long dirt road to this spot through out the night.
June 30
The curse of the sleeping in when in my hammock was broken this morning. With 15 miles to Paducah, KY and knowing what was waiting for me, I got moving. The water didn't really want to cooperate with me. It was really choppy but luckily there were enough back channels around islands that I could take to get calm water. As I made my way across the river to where the Tennessee River meets the Ohio, it was like oil and water. You could see where the clear Tennessee meets the muddy Ohio. I called ahead to let them know I was coming and they guided me in. I pulled up to the dock of one of the barge companies and tied off to one of the largest boats that runs the rivers. The crew bent over backwards to help me out. I have never been on a cruise but it's what I would expect the hospitality would be like. We unloaded my boat and they gave me an estate room. I got the cook’s room. Bed, AC, satellite TV and a personal bathroom. After swapping stories with the crew I got a shower and did laundry right on board. Now that I was feeling more human like they gave me a full tour of the entire ship. Starting on the 4th floor in the wheel house (control room) all the way to the belly of the ship. This thing is amazing. After being on the river for 800 miles, it's neat to see how these big boats work. The engineers who gave me the tour were amazing. I got to ask all the questions I had been wondering the entire trip and they had just as many questions about my trip. After switching around my laundry I headed into town. Paducah is a great town. They have done an amazing job revitalizing it. Murals, parks, restaurants, and local shops. I could defiantly live here. I grabbed a good meal and headed for the coffee shop for some wifi and a few cups of joe. I overheard two college kids talking about backpacking and kayaking. I struck up a conversation when they were leaving and found out they were from Ohio as well. The one noticed my Wittenberg hat, the university I attended and graduated from. Yes, I have proof. I actually graduated. Wittenberg is also the reason I got hooked up with the barge company where I am staying tonight. Such a small world! I made my way back to the boat and stopped by the Dollar General to get some more supplies to make the next leg of my journey.
June 29
I have now slept in my hammock twice now. Both times I have slept in longer than I have since I was hungover. I have 40 miles to Paducah, KY where I have my next stop and more importantly a shower. I can smell myself constantly. I'm sure after about another month I might get used to it, but I'm not there yet. I told my host that I would be in Paducah Friday so I was in no rush today, but lounging around till about 3pm wasn't quite the plan. But sometimes it's what you need. I took a quick stop in Golconda, IL. When I pulled up to the boat ramp I saw some guys fishing on the shore. I got a little worried about leaving my boat and gear by the shore to head to the store. I thought about faking taking pictures of the river and snap one of the guys license plate incase my stuff was gone when I got back. I chained my boat up and headed up the hill. I saw the guys in the truck leave and head up the hill towards me. They stopped and asked me how long I had been paddling. We had a great conversation and these guys couldn't be nicer. They said it was a great place to live and everyone was really nice. He said my stuff would be fine down there. They even offered to give me a ride to the gas station. I refused because after sitting in the boat for a while walking feels good. I started feeling like crap for judging these guys right off the bat. It shows that you never know who people are until you get to know them. It's kind of like the way that people are quick to judge an addict without getting to know them. After grabbing a drink and filling up my water bottles I hit the water again. It was nice paddling as the sun was setting. As I approached the Smithland Lock and Dam, I heard over the radio that there was a barge coming up behind me. The tower told him to use the chamber that I usually use. I pulled over and let the barge pass. I radioed the tower but to got no response. After looking up the phone number for the tower I told them I was waiting. After I explained that I was on the shore, he said to fall in behind the barge. By now the sun was down and the daylight was fading fast. The barge took forever to enter the chamber and I knew I was going to be there a while. Thank goodness I had stopped to pee before I pulled up to wait. I sat there tied off to a ladder as the sky faded from dusk to dark. The lights of the lock lit up the sky and made for a really interesting feeling. After about 45 minutes I heard the water filling the chamber back up then the doors opened. I paddled in. I have been through several locks now but never at night. It was an errie feeling. It was so quiet and everything was still in the night. After I tied off I heard the giant steal doors slam behind me. The siren went off that sounded like an air raid horn letting everyone know that water is being released. As I was sitting in this 1,200 foot long by 110 foot wide chamber in my 14 foot long by 1.5 foot wide kayak, noises were going off all around me. First infront, then behind, then right next to me. It was completely quiet for a few seconds, then a creak here and moan there. It was pretty intense. When the doors finally opened I paddled like hell to get out of there. When I got away from the lock lights, it was pitch dark. I had my head lamp on high beam. I completely forgot that bugs are drawn to light. A little bit later I realized that bats are drawn to light as well. They were swooping closer and closer. After one flew about 5 feet infront of me, I decided instead of getting smacked in the face and flipping my boat that I should set up camp. I found a clearing in the trees and crashed the shore. I climbed the bank and found two trees to hang my hammock and climbed in. I just hoped I don't get sucked in till mid afternoon tomorrow.
June 28
Well I found out what the feet prints were. Early in the morning I woke to hearing the sound of mud squishing. It kept getting closer and closer, louder and louder. I could tell it was something big. I figured probably a deer coming down to get some water from the river. I yelled a few times to try and scare it off. It would pause then get closer and closer. I could hear it's heavy breathing. I grabbed my head lamp and knife and climbed out of my hammock to see what it was. And I popped out and stood up, my light was shining about 5 feet from my face I saw eyes reflecting back at me. There were about 10 more sets of eyes in the distance. They were just about the same level as my eyes. Then I saw this huge tongue coming at me. I heard a loud moo in the distance. Needless to say I was on the edge of a cow pasture. I have grown up around cows so I wasn't worried about being eaten alive and went back to bed. When I finally woke up for the day the cows were gone. I thought it was a crazy dream but could see the evidence from the cows being present. i.e. tracks and droppings. I packed up and headed down river a few yards and found my cow friends wading in the water cooling off. All I could do was laugh and say hello as I headed down the river. After a while I came to Cave in the Rock State Park. It's a giant cave in the side of the cliff that was once used by pirates as a hide out. Yes, the Ohio River had pirates. They would rob riverboats of goods coming up and down the river. As I pulled up I met a couple with their grandson. As we got talking the gentleman told me he had been in recovery for a long time. The lady told me that her son had been clean off drugs for 10 days. As we were leaving I let her know how big a deal 10 days was. Whether you have 10 days or 10 years as long as you are trying to do the next right thing and continue to better yourself that's all you can really ask. We agreed and I continued on my way to a riverside restaurant that I was told had Ohio River Catfish. When I pulled up a young guy who worked there came out to help me tie off. He asked if I was hungry. Duh. When I went in he just kept bringing me food. Some I asked for and some I didn't. I stuffed myself beyond comfortable. When I tried to settle up he refused. I threw some money on the counter and left. All of a sudden I saw a guy running towards the river with a bow and arrow pulled back. He shot straight into the water. The arrow had a line attached to it. He reeled it in and had a giant fish on it. Probably one of the coolest things I have seen on this trip. If I was going to fish, that is the way I would do it, well at least try to do it. I haven't shot a bow since summer camp as a kid.
June 27
I didn't wake up wrapped in a spiderweb so that was a good thing. But I also didn't get on the water till almost 3 pm. It just felt so good to sleep. While being in town is supposed to relax me, it does exactly the opposite. I made decent time once I did get moving. I found a nice clearing around sunset. It was the best spot I had seen all day so I picked it. There were some large animal tracks in the mud that were difficult to make out, maybe a horse. Or maybe it's Sasquatch!
June 26
Camping next to a bar at the marina might not have been the best idea. The party was rocking till close. I figured that if it closed at 2am and I got up at 8 that 6 hrs of sleep would be enough. It reminded me of an old drinking story of mine. Living in Ohio I was used to the bars closing at 2am. Factor in that most bar clocks run 10 minutes fast, at 1:45 I would always order a couple beers and shots since it was my last chance. Well I was back home in Tennessee and out with some friends and thought I would take the initiative and do just that. When I brought the drinks back to the table my friends asked what I was doing. I explained the science of bar life to them. That's when they shook their heads at me and told me the bar closed at 3am. Which I proceeded to do the same thing again at 2:45am, in the name of Science, of course. Well that was the case again today when 2amhit, I realized that the bar didn't close till 3am and then some. So I got very little sleep last night but got moving relatively early. The river was moving pretty well and I made good time to Mt Vernon, IN. When I stopped at the boat ramp to refill my water, I pulled up on shore a traveler. When I left I was basically the mayor. One person asked me what I was doing, another over heard, and the next thing you know, what seemed like the whole town was waving to me as I paddled away. It was a great feeling getting to share what and why I am doing what I am doing. I paddled off into the sunset and into the night. I found an island on the map where I planned to camp. It didn't have a name but I named it Spider Island. I counted 20 spiders in the three foot circle of my headlamp light before I climbed into bed. I set up the hammock that I had bought in Evansville to keep me off the ground and away from some spiders. To say the least, I double checked that my bug netting was secure and tried to sleep.
June 25
I had to say goodbye to my hotel and head back to the river. I, of course, got a late checkout, then Ubered back to the marina. The river was still shut down for the air show so I posted up on the hill to watch. I started feeling bad for other countries that mess with the USA. I'm sitting on a hill next to a battleship and these fighter jets fly over. And to think this is our outdated military equipment, I would hate to be on the other side of the new stuff. I decided to stay here for the night. If I was still drinking and there was a place I would want to stay all day, this would be it. Two outdoor bars, one floating on the water. I could have hung out all day drinking and having a good time, making new friends. I started thinking I probably could have dropped the fact that I'm paddling across the country to several different people and not paid for a single drink all day. The sun is shining, the music bumping, good looking girls dancing, everyone making friends with people they have never met. It's situations like this that really make me wish I could just drink and have fun like everyone else. It is Sunday Funday after all, and the DJ keeps reminding everyone of that. But for me, I know where it would lead. I would be in the mix of it all day. When most of the people leave to go home because they have to go to work tomorrow, I would still be drinking. Hopefully I would make it up the dock to my tent and pass out. When I woke up I would probably feel terrible like everyone else. They would get up and go to work and not have another drink till next weekend. Me, probably wait till the bar here opens and get some "hair of the dog" to get me physically able to paddle. Then I would look at my map and see that it's only 10 miles to the next town and research where the closest place to the river is to buy beer. Then I would see that it's only 20 miles to the next town I can buy beer. And so on and so on. Maybe I could find a liquor store that I could get a bottle of whisky which is easier to drink when warm than beer. Not to mention that I would already have googled the alcohol sales laws for Kentucky and Indiana. The hangover I could probably handle for one day of fun. But the mental obsession of where I am going to get that next drink would drive me crazy. And to me it's not worth it anymore.
June 24
The hotel had a free continental breakfast till 10am. It goes with out saying that I did not make it in time. I lounged around all morning. I showered again and took off to hit the town. I had the opportunity to stop by one of the rehab centers and talk with some of the patients. It's always a great reminder of where I was when I walk into one of those facilities. I got to share some of my experience and hear some of there stories. Knowing that people are taking steps to try and change their lives is very uplifting. But for ever person in treatment there are hundreds more struggling each day not wanting or knowing how to get help. I hit a few stores on my way back to the hotel and got some supplies then retreated back to my dry air conditioned room for the night.
June 23
I woke up to my head still spinning about yesterday's events but I had to get focused on today. I had 35 miles to Evansville and it wouldn't be easy. The river seemed to be flowing faster than normal. I set out and was averaging 4.5 mph. After about 10 miles it started drizzling. For some reason the rain doesn't seem to bother me. The heavy thunder and lightning are a different story. The rain would pick up for a little bit through out the day then die off. About halfway through the day I pulled up to the only Lock that stood between me and a hotel room. There were a few barges waiting in line to lock through. I carefully snaked through them to the front of the line to the small boat chamber. The gates were open and the green light was calling me in. I radioed the tower and asked if they could lock me through. He said they were fixing a hydraulic and it would be about 25 minutes but I could paddle in and wait. I went on in and tied off. All off the sudden it started raining harder and harder. There was nothing I could do but sit there and get wet. I had to laugh at myself at that point and keep repeating that in 17 miles it would all be better. While sitting there I scratched my neck and looked at my fingers. There was literally a layer of grim that I scratched off my body. When I pulled out of the chamber the rain stopped almost immediately and held off for the rest of the day. The closer I got to Evansville the worse the river was. With all the rain every stick and log was washed int the river. It was like playing frogged getting through it. Finally I turned the corner to town and saw a battleship. Yes a literal WWII ship. One that landed on Normandy Beach during D Day. It is decommissioned and serves as a memorial now. It was a grand site to symbolize safety for me. I pulled into the harbor and was told it was no problem to leave my boat there for the weekend. The lady who runs the marina was awesome. She told me to make myself at home. She also informed me that the Coast Guard was shutdown the river all weekend due to an Airshow show town. I guess there are 3 things that shutdown a river. Toxic spills, the President, and the Shriners Airshow. I said it was fine I wanted nothing to do with the river for a few days and grabbed an Uber to my hotel. I walked in and started the shower before the door shut. I could literally see the dirt and grim circling the drain. I was eventually rushed out of the shower by the smoke detector going off in my room from the steam of the shower. I checked with the front desk to make sure it wasn't a real fire then returned for round 2 of a hot shower then relaxed the rest of the night.
June 22
The race for the storm is on. I got moving early in hopes to beat the rain. There were 2 bridges one 10 miles and the other 20. I made it to the first one and the storm was close. I posted up under the bridge. I was there for 8 hours just like a stereotypical alcoholic hanging out under a bridge. Just sitting there watching it rain. It's 45 miles to Evansville where I plan being tomorrow. I need to get there mentally I am breaking down and need a recharge. Finally there was a break in the weather so I took off at 6:30pm and headed towards Owensboro 10 miles away. It was nice paddling. The next rain isn't supposed to come till 2 am. The more I paddle tonight the less I have to do tomorrow in the rain. I decided to paddle till midnight. Around sunset I got my headlamp out and it was still dead. I charged it all last night and for a while today. It was not the results I needed at this point. I sat on the Indiana side looking at Owensboro deciding what to do. With out a head lamp I put my phone in my lifejacket front pocket with the flashlight on and it doesn't really do much. I made the decision to paddle the mile across to get a soda pop and camp under the last bridge about a mile back. When I got to the boat ramp I started talking to a young couple. I asked where a gas station was and they said they would give me a ride. I locked up my boat and grabbed my valuables and hopped in the car. They said they had 4 boys and it was the only time they had alone in forever. It was there only date nite and they were carting me around. I grabbed a few snacks and they dropped me back off. I thanked them and went back to my boat. As I was unlocking and packing up I started freaking. I had left my bag in their car. They were long gone before I realized it and they wouldn't notice if for a while in the back seat. I had left my business cards in the boat so they didn't have my info to contact me when they found it. This day just couldn't get any worse. I did have my phone and wallet in my pocket. I tried to think what was in the bag. All I could think of was my speaker, a battery stick, and my headlamp. Which at this point I would have paid them to take my cursed head lamp. I figured I could pick up new ones in Evansville. I paddled back across and found a spot to camp. As I was unpacking the boat it hit me. My camera was in that bag. My heart dropped. I wanted to cry, not just because of the camera but what is on the camera. I had taken a trip to the Tetons and Yellowstone after college and accidentally erased all my photos before and knew how bad it sucked. I needed to find a way to get it back. I decided to try one of my best skills. Facebook stalking. I only had there first name and that they lived in Owensboro. Sure enough I found them. I sent them both messages to see if they had my bag. The wife responded after probably what seemed to me the longest 30 minutes. She told me she would check. Then I saw the typing bubbles. I knew it was there but would they admit it. After all they could just keep it and I couldn't prove anything. She said they had it, and where should they bring it to me. I told them I was on the other side of the river by the bridge or I could paddle back to the boat ramp to meet them. We decided to meet at the ramp. I put a empty beer can I found on a stick to mark my camp, hopped in my empty boat, put my spare flashlight in my mouth. Then headed the mile and a half back across the river. I saw him pull up and wait on me. I thanked him over and over. I gave him my card and some cash. He refused but I insisted. It was the least I could do. I said thank you and he said good luck and I paddled across the river for the 4th time. I made it to camp and felt better. As I was climbing into my tent exhausted I checked my phone and had a message from the guy who gave me my bag back. He said he and his wife had actually gone to the river to try and figure out a way to get money to pay the rest of there gas bill. And with the money I gave him they could pay it. He normally wouldn't take the money but they needed the money. I stood there in shock. My mind was blown. What had just happened.
Why wouldn't my headlamp not charge? Why did I get stuck under that bridge for so long today? Why did I decide to go across the river and land at that particular spot at that time? Why did they offer to help me when they were in such a tough situation? What are the chances I found them on Facebook? Why did they offer to bring my stuff back? So many unanswered questions. The River Gods have a weird way of making things happen that I don't always understand. Was this the reason I was suppose to take this route instead of my original one? To help out these people who went to the river to try and find answers to there problems? It shows when you do the right thing, good things happen. Maybe not always as quickly as today but I truly believe they do. If that is the only reason then I'm perfectly satisfied. I'm sure that there might be more experiences along the way but this one will stick with me forever.
Authors note:
After writing this entry I was messing with my headlamp and found out it was locked. It was 100% charges the whole time. So for some reason I couldn't figure it out and was able to have an amazing experience.
June 21
There's a storm a brewing. Tropical storm Cindy is hitting the gulf right now and headed this way. I got about 100 miles to Evansville, IN. I figure if I can make it there I can make it there I can get a hotel for a night and do some housekeeping. I can smell myself and need to rinse out some gear. I paddled till after dark. Paddling at sunset is probably my favorite. It is so peaceful as the sky is changing colors and the river is switching from day to night. I guess it's the same way in the morning but I don't get up that early so I wouldn't know. I found an island to camp on the map and pushed through the dark to get there. Once the sun had set it got quite scary. Not because of the dark but those dang fish. They would jump randomly and scare me to death. When I reached the island I found a campsite. It was the nicest campsite I have ever seen. A big white sandy beach with a fire circle. A big tree with a tire swing and a sky full is stars. It doesn't get much better than that just wish I had gotten there earlier.
June 20
Y'all might think americas biggest foreign threat is ISIS but for me it's Asian Carp. They have me more paranoid than if I was on drugs. You are just paddling along and all the sudden they just jump about a foot out of the water. I scream like a little girl, then laugh. Well the laughing has stopped. One jumped so close it splashed water on my sunglasses. I started thinking what would happen if it jumped in my boat. Would I jump out? Well sure enough that almost happened. A few minutes later one jumped and landed on the front of my boat. We locked eyes, he winked and he blew me a kiss. Ok well maybe he was gasping for air and blinked but it freaked me out. He slid back in the water and I have been freaked out all day. 2 turtles have swam up to the boat and I shirked at them too. I have been living in constant fear for my life all day. That is no way to live.
June 19
The River Weasel got his groove back. I noticed there was a slight current this morning when I got up. I took advantage of it. I was averaging about 4.5 mph. It felt good. Real good. I made it to Brandonburg and decided to treat myself. I stashed my boat down stream and locked it up the best I could. The only restaurant close to the river was closed on Monday. So I decided to find something else. The next closest place to eat was 2.5 miles away. I didn't realize it till I was on my way but it felt good. I had a delicious meal at the Huddle House and headed back. Luckily my boat and gear was safe. I continued on and still felt good. I had planned on going till after dark but saw a sign that said bait and camping and checked it out. I was greeted by a beagle and an old man who said people making the long haul could camp for free under the pavilion. It had water and electric so it was a no brainer. I set up shop and maxed out the plugs. As I am writing this I heard something behind me. I look back and see a bandit trash panda staring at me. I got out of my tent and threw a rock at it. There is a reason I quit playing baseball after little league. It did scare it off. But I can hear it clumping around back in the woods, so it will probably be a long night.
June 18
Happy Birthday to me! I thought about doing 35 miles, one for each year. That plan lasted about 45 minutes. I paddled and paddled and only made it a mile. The head wind was ridiculous. I checked the radar and two huge cells were coming right for me. I decided that it wasn't I'm the cards for me today. I tried setting up my tent and looked like a guy on the beach fighting an umbrella. I finally got it and hunkered down for the long hall. I napped off and on throughout the day and tried to catch up on emails. It was nice to relax but I'm ready to get back in the groove. Some days just aren't in the cards for you and you have to just get survive the day the day and and realize that tomorrow is another day to keep moving forward.
June 17
I woke up in a slight panic of not knowing where I was. After waking up in my tent every morning it was a little shock to be in a comfy bed. The shock and panic went away quickly. I took full advantage of a bed and real pillow and fell back asleep.
I went to the grocery store and that was quite an experience. I wanted everything. It all looked so good. I passed on the sushi, I figured it wouldn't hold up baking in the sun in my bag. After loading up the car and heading back towards the river I started getting nervous. Would my boat still be there? I have been cautious of where I leave it and even though I had permission and it was locked up, I always get nervous. We loaded the boat and said our goodbyes. It was harder than I thought. These are two people who have been there for me since I was born. They have loved and supported me for who I am. No matter what. Knowing that you have people like that in your life gives you the strength to keep paddling. Well that and the full stomach, clean clothes, and shower. I paddled through downtown Louisville to the lock. And waited. And waited. It was all a miscommunication and a faulty horn. I made it through and got some miles in, with a nice reset physically and mentally!
June 16
I found the perfect place to camp last night. Twelve mile island. It's a large island just outside Louisville with a big grassy spot on top with a pavilion. It was hard to pack up but I knew I had a real bed waiting for me in Louisville so it wasn't that hard. My next challenge was trying to find a place to store my boat overnight. You would think that would be easier than not with all the marinas. Every marina I stopped at did not have a single person working. I was out of water and stopped at a park to fill up. A guy told me to try the "cop shop" down town. It's where they keep the police boats. He said to drop his name. I was concerned that they might arrest me if I did that but thought it was worth a shot. When I got there it was empty. It was also the last option that I had. It was right below a riverside park. I walked along the path to see if I had any other options. I started hearing children playing. When I turned the corner I saw a splash pad. I knew I smelled pretty bad so I just decided to take a quick shower. It was rather refreshing. I went back to my boat thinking it was a complete loss and would have to just paddle through I saw a phone number about overnight boat parking and thought I would give it a shot. Sure enough they took my name and number and said it was fine. I chained up my boat and called my friends. Next thing you know I was in a nice house showering and doing laundry. Then I was treated to a steak dinner which was delicious. But the best part was the fresh corn on the cob. Not only corn but they had those little corn shaped peg holders and stick of butter you can roll directly on. In my opinion that is the only way to eat corn. For a moment I forgot I was on a river journey and thought I was in heaven.