It's amazing how real food, a shower, and cotton clothes can make you feel completely different. But it definitely was earned the past few days, especially today. I got up and decided to work on a video I had an idea for. When I posted that I had reached the Gulf the outcry of support blew me away. But I think a lot of people think I am done. Far from it. I could have posted and corrected them but that's not my style. I would rather give them something better than just a post. I shot some film and took off. I only had 10 miles to go and 2 liters of water left. The skies were blue with not a chance of rain all day which was amazing. But it also meant that it was hot as anything. I would paddle for about 45 minutes and pull over and get in the water to try and cool my body temperature off. Only problem with that was the water was about as hot as the air. It still did the trick. After repeating that several times I got to the end of Dauphin Island that is civilized. There were beach houses lining the water and no real place to stop and pull over. I definitely was not moving as fast as I would have liked. I had already picked out a restaurant that I was going to stop at but I just couldn't get there. I kept saying I know that it would be worth it once I got there but this was a little ridiculous. I had been through enough just get me there. When I finally rounded the bend and pulled up I felt a lot better. I did feel bad for the waitress who had to keep filling up my water every 2 minutes. I tipped accordingly. After bashing some fish tacos and wings I stopped at the Circle K and got some Power Aid to replenish the electrolytes I so desperately needed. When I got back to my boat a guy and his mother were still pulling up. I asked if they knew if I could camp on the island just out of town. His mother said it had signs saying for wildlife only. The guy said he didn't see why not. I figured I could just not see the signs and camp anyway. After all I have paddled from Ohio so I don't think those rules apply to me. Maybe it's my entitlement issues, something I have been working on. They guy also said I could make it across Mobile Bay today and there was a camp ground on the other side. The water was flat and the wind would be at my back. I kicked around the idea pretty seriously for a while. But I had 2 miles to get to the pass that opened up into the 4 miles crossing and it was about 5 pm. I decided against it and settled for the camp ground in town. As I was paddling and talking to my mom, I saw a guy on his dock with a dog, cleaning some fish. I had a feeling he was going to talk to me. We exchanged hellos and he asked if I caught any fish today. I told him I was just paddling and I started in Ohio. And that's when he started asking questions. I told my mom I had to go and answered away. It was your standard questions about what I eat, are you married, and so forth. But he asked a lot of good questions about my boat and gear. Remind you, he is standing about 10 ft above me on a dock with 2 amazing boats lifted up. He asked if I wanted a beer. When I said no I was good he offered a Gatorade. I said sure and he was off. He came back with 2 Gatorades, a water and a lunchable. With cheese. One of the things I miss most out here. I gave him my card and told him why I was doing what I was doing. He said that I must have gotten the drive out of my system to be able to do something like this. I got a good chuckle and headed on. It's good people like that that I really enjoy out here. I got to the boat ramp and walked across the street to the campground. I paid for a campsite but the way I look at it I was paying for the long shower I was going to be taking. The lady gave me a map and told me the quickest way from the boat ramp to my site. And she showed me a path to the beach and then said "but I bet you are probably tired of the beach, huh?. ". I pulled my boat out of the water and put my wheels on it and started dragging it through the campground. I got quite a few looks but I was just thinking about the shower. I got a shower and put on my town clothes. As I was in my tent, I worked on the video and I got zoned in. For a moment I didn't even realize I was on this crazy adventure.
August 16
Today was the day I have been looking for. I knew at some point I would need to cross over a large portion of open water to get into position to cross Mobile Bay. I could follow the shore of the mainland and get there or I could paddle 10 miles off shore to the barrier islands and follow those. After the past few days I needed to change something up. When I was ready to leave camp the water was calmish and the skywas blue. No rain forecasted. I went back and forth on what to do. Finally I yelled out "YOLO" and went for it. I started paddling out into the great unknown. I couldn't see the islands, I just prayed they were there. I pointed the nose of my boat south east and dug in. As I watched the shore of the island I camped on get smaller I got more worried that I still couldn't see my destination. About 2 miles in I saw a fin pop out of the water. I stopped paddling and froze. Then I saw another and heard a blow hole clear and shoot water up. It was a couple dolphins. I called for them to come over thinking I could hold onto the fin and get a tow to the islands but they must have had somewhere else to be. I kept checking my GPS to make sure I was heading the right direction. I was a little off a straight line which is understandable since I was paddling into wide open space. I corrected and at about 4 miles I thought I saw land and pointed towards it and kept paddling. I then realized it was moving. It was a ship passing in the shipping lane. At 5 miles in I finally saw what looked like land and it wasn't moving. It was a great feeling but also a curse. The miles seemed to get longer when you see the destination. I finally landed on Petit Bois Island. It felt amazing. The island was beautiful. Perfect white sand beaches. Clear water. You could see tons of crabs in the water and on shore. I hopped straight out of the boat, glad to be able to stand up. I plugged my phone in to charge and walked around the point to the front of the island to see what the water was like if I should paddle on the ocean side. When I got to the pass between the islands I saw a massive fish jump out of the water. Shark. No it was just a dolphin feeding as the fish went between the islands. Then I noticed another dolphin. I counted 15 separate ones. They kept jumping and popping out of the water. And I didn't have a camera. I ran back to to the boat and grabbed my phone and GoPro. They were still there when I got back. I started walking out in the water to get closer with the GoPro. Once the water got chest deep I realized I wasn't going to get close enough so I retreated back to the boat. I tried to get some video of the little crabs under water with the camera. They kept scurrying away. While I was chasing one, his buddy pinched my foot. I ran on water to the beach. I got the point they didn't want me there. I felt good so I kept paddling the 6 miles to the other end of the island on the back side. It was easy paddling. When I got to the other side I landed on the beach and decided it was for the birds. No really it had signs saying that the area was closed for bird nesting. I decided to make the next crossing to Dauphin Island. It's only 6 miles, nothing compared to the 10 miles I had just done. Or so I thought. It started off calm but the waves off the ocean had to be about 2 foot rollers. Nothing I couldn't handle but realizing I was so far away from the mainland definitely added a thrill factor. I made the island with no problems and tucked in behind for the calm water. This end of the island is just like the other. Deserted and beautiful. I cruised a few more miles till I found a small spot above the water line to set up my tent. When I got in it looked like a murder scene with the blood stains from all the bugs I killed last night. With no rain forecasted tonight I have the rain fly off. Safe from bugs but staring up at a million stars. I only have 10 miles tomorrow to the other end of the island where there is a village and I plan on camping to try and make the Mobile Bay crossing early Friday morning.
August 15
Another one of those wonderful days on the gulf. I got up at 6 in hopes of getting calm water. I could hear the waves crashing before I even looked out of my tent. They finally calmed down around 11 and I shoved off. Making it about 5 miles I had a decision to make. A: Hug the shore and work my way around to cross the Pascagoula Bay. B: Paddle straight across 7 miles of open water. Or C: Paddle to shore and sit there under my tarp for 3 hours while the storms and seas calmed down. Since C was my only real option that's what I did. I was frustrated with my lack of progression but still in fairly good spirits. I decided to go a little bit farther to a better beach to camp but as I approached it realized it was low tide. There was no way I could make it to the white beach with out sinking in the black mud that stood between it. I continued on shore passing several large houses. It's good for them but not for me trying to find a place to camp. I decided to go back to plan B. It was calm enough and I had enough sunlight to make it. I was able to make it to the point I had hoped to be at yesterday. I celebrated with a taco Tuesday party with PB&J tacos and some mariachi music. As I laid in my tent I kept hearing something in the weeds behind me. I didn’t know if it was the waves or an animal so I got out of my tent to inspect. Worst mistake of my life. I was eaten alive in a matter of seconds by bugs. When I didn't see any animals I dove back in my tent trying not to bring any bugs in with me. I found at least 4 spots where they drew blood. This is war.
After itching and scratching for an hour through miserable pain I had to pee. In the quick in and out some how every bug on the entire coast flew inside my tent. Welcome to the Thunderdome. It was a 30 minute battle of the bugs biting me and me swatting them with my hat. In the end, my hat was covered in blood but I was the only one standing. I wouldn't call it a win, more of a draw...of my blood.
August 14
Deer Island has turned into Devils Island for me. I awoke with no energy. I don't know if it was the lack of sleep from waking up or that every paddle stroke in the Gulf is earned. When I finally got moving I paddled out about 100 yards and realized it wasn't going to happen. Every wave splashed my boat and I took on water. I headed back into shore frustrated. I decided instead of just sitting there to walk. I pulled my boat in the water along the shore. There are times that I feel I could walk faster than I am paddling and now I have my chance to see. It felt like I was walking a dog that didn't want to walk. I was bare foot and every so often I would step on a shell. I put my sandals on but the sand quickly worked it's way between the straps and rubbed my pinky toe raw. I went back to barefoot. My boat got stuck on a sand bar and I had to dig in and pull. Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my foot. I pulled my foot up and shook it. A crab went flying through the air and splashed down into the water. That was it. I sat down on a log and hoped that the waves would die down so I could get off this island. While I was sitting there I saw 2 girls walking towards me. I had no idea how they got there. When they came up they asked if I had seen an injured dolphin. I said no I have been stuck on shore all day. They were from a local rescue and had gotten a call. I took their number and said I would call if I saw anything. They left and I was alone again sitting in the sun helpless. I realized that about 50 yards behind me was a backfill that led out to the East end of the island. I thought it was better than nothing to give it a shot. I unloaded and drug my boat across the island. I thought I was home free, but the water was only a foot deep. I kept getting stuck and the sun beat down more and more. When I got to the end of the island I had to decide if I should stay on the island that had haunted me all day or continue on. The only thing is, it is about a 4 mile open water paddle to land, and 7 mile open water to the next bend where I would have to go eventually. I decided I didn't want to be on that island any longer. At about mile 3 I was joined by some dolphins. Not the injured one. I asked them. At mile 5 the storm that had been chasing me closed in. I peeled of and headed the mile to shore. I barely made it before the storm. I pulled out my tarp and just wrapped it around and sat down. I am starting to think that when I just throw the tarp over my head, it is kind of like when people say you are giving up on life. I am hoping that at some point someone sees me doing this and gets a picture because I'm sure it's funny looking. The storm passed and I set up camp. As frustrating of a day it was today, I know tomorrow is a new one. Now will it be a good one or a bad one?
August 13
If I could have stayed another day I definitely would have, but I must move on. I packed up and grabbed an uber back to the marina. My fear of my boat being filled with water was half true. I climbed down the ladder and got as much water out as I could. I put my gear in the best I could from the ladder and planned on stopping to reorganize. It was clear skies and smooth sailing. I passed a group of wave runners anchored out in the water. The kid who was renting them was amazed with what I was doing. He told me there was a beach with a shower a few miles down. I decided to check it out. It was a 20 ft rain shower that felt amazing after being in the sun all day. While I was taking a break on the beach I got a message from a guy who is waiting to get the official results from the Guinness Book of world records for the longest solo canoe/kayak trip he did last year. He went from Montana to the Atlantic Ocean. Pretty much the route I had originally wanted to do, but definitely similar since I had left the Ohio River and got on the Mississippi. I had sent him some questions a while back and he gave me some good suggestions but was just checking to see how things were going. He said that this section of Mississippi to the Mobile Bay was the hardest part. I would definitely agree. I have been getting advice from people all along the way about what I should and shouldn't do. I take what I want and leave the rest. But when someone who has paddled this section says something I listen. Just like it's easier to listen to another alcoholic or addict, because they have been there and know what it's like. I finally got moving again and it felt good being back on the water making some miles. I should have known better than to think it would last. All the sudden a predictable, unpredictable afternoon shower popped up. It came in fast and hard with lightning a blazing. I pointed for and gave it hell. Since I was about a half mile off shore it was a race to get off the water. I saw a small metal roof on 2 poles on the beach and headed for it. By the time I was a quarter mile out the rain was out of control. It started to hurt it was coming down so hard. I hit the beach and ran for the shelter. It didn't do anything to stop the rain so I grabbed my tarp and threw it over me and sat there. I started thinking that being under the only metal structure on the entire beach might not have been the best idea but I wasn't dare moving. The storm was constant for an hour or so but I didn't even get a chance to look out from under the tarp to see. When it finally let up I pealed off the tarp and could see a small speck of blue skies starting to form. I emptied all the water out of my boat again and started paddling. Then I noticed one of the brightest rainbows I had ever seen appear out of the water. I looked in amazement since my phone was still wet so I couldn't get a picture. Then a second rainbow appeared. I started shouting. "NO, NO, it can't be, it is. it's a double rainbow! Look folks, we got a double rainbow". I was getting a kick out of commentating the whole thing. I think sitting in that rain might have made me crazy. But more, I was just enjoying the moment. I continued paddling as the second rainbow faded away. Then the main one started to erase. It was like a tape measurer recoiling back into the ocean. I passed the large casinos and made my way to Deer Island where I had planned on camping. It's about 5 miles long. The west side is only about 100 yards away from the casino and the East side is completely remote. I was headed for the east side when a storm was threatening so I stopped right when I hit the West Bank and threw my tent up before the storm hit. I will have to continue paddling the rest of the island tomorrow but it shouldn't be too bad, at least I got my tent up dry.
August 12
I woke up face down on the bed, fully clothed at about 3 am not knowing what was going on. I must have been more exhausted than I had thought. I went back to sleep and slept till breakfast. With passing out early, I decided I should probably stay another night to try and catch up on some computer work. I pretty much slept all day. Since my body and mind are the most important pieces of equipment I have, taking care of them is is priority #1.
August 11
Yep, I was right. I didn't get a lot of good sleep last night. And sleeping on a picnic table next to a bait shop, I was up before sun rise. I found that bait shops are just like barber shops. Places for men to go to tell stories and get all the gossip. Just open earlier. I got packed and pulled my boat around to the boat ramp so it was easier to load up. I got talking to a guy on his boat going out fishing, and when I told him what I was doing he said he has a brother they just got into treatment. He said he would take me fishing since he was alone but didn't know what to do with my boat. As I paddled out of the marina I started kicking myself for not taking him up on his offer. Where would I store my boat? Duh we were at a marina. I have been wanting to go deep sea fishing for a long time. Before I would have gone just to get drunk on a boat in the middle of the ocean but now I want to catch some big ole fish. It was easy paddling but I didn't feel like paddling and just took my time. It was nice being on the water and letting it soak in that I paddled here from Ohio. When I finally got to the marina in Gulfport, they pointed me to the harbor master. I paddled over to the dock. Since it was set up for large boats I had to climb a ladder to get out. After asking around they gave me the ok to leave it there. One of the workers helped me unload my gear. I balanced in my boat and lifted it above my head to him. I scheduled an uber and called the hotel to see what the earliest I could get into my room. She said noon. I said I was on my way to wait in the lobby. I figured once she got a whiff of me she would get the room ready right away but when I got there it was ready. After an hour shower I walked to Walmart to resupply. When I came out to a downpour I decided to get an uber instead of getting soaked. After all the rain I have dealt with the past few weeks when I have the option not to get wet, I'm gonna take it. Somewhere around 7:30 I laid down on the bed for a quick second and that was it.
August 10
It was nice to wake up to a level area but having to take my kayak back across the street made sure I was drenched in sweat from the start. My goal is to get close to Gulfport, MS today to camp, then go into town early tomorrow to maximize getting a hotel for a night. It wasn't a bad paddle. About half way I came to a marina. I decided to stop and use a seated facility. Getting into the harbor was no easy task. When the waves are stopped by a sea wall, there is no consistent flow to them. They were coming from all directions. They would literally lift my boat up then fall out from underneath me, dropping my boat a foot or two. I powered through it and made it safely into the harbor. Tied up and went searching for a bathroom. After walking all around I found a gas station at the entrance of the marina and got some snacks. When I returned to my boat I could tell a big storm was coming and I shouldn't risk it. I hung out under the harbor master’s tower as the storm rolled in. When I asked the harbor master if it was cool that I waited underneath there they said yeah but told me I would get wet and to wait in the laundry room till it passed. As I sat in the laundry room, a small room with no windows, I heard the storm just dumping down. It felt like I was in a locker room waiting for a rain delay to pass. There was nothing to do but sit there and bounce my leg. When it finally passed I pumped all the water out of my boat and made a go. Once I got past the sea wall it was smooth paddling. There was another marina 6 miles away and I figured if I made it there I could hopefully talk them into letting me camp for the night. The sun fell fast as I got closer to the marina and was all but down when I finally arrived. I wasn't sure if I would find anyone to get permission from. I beached my boat and walked up to the yacht club to ask. When I walked in soaking wet, with my life jacket still on, I saw hundreds of pictures of members in suit jackets on the walls. To say I felt out of place was an understatement. I asked the bartender where someone in charge was and she pointed me across the marina to the harbor master’s tower. When I climbed to the top it was pitch dark. As I started giving up hope I saw 2 guys sitting in the dark in the office. I told them what I was doing and if they minded if I camped. I said I didn't care if it was in the parking lot or by a dumpster. They told me I could sleep on a picnic table underneath the tower. The only problem is that the lights would be on all night. That was fine with me. It was a flat dry space, basically a Marriott. I unloaded and even got a shower. Since I knew I wasn't gonna get a lot of sleep that night I decided to walk down he street to Waffle House around 11:30. I always thought you had to be drunk or hungover to eat Waffle House but I have found I actually enjoy it no matter when. When I returned I had thought I would just sleep under the picnic table to try and block the light but I had seen several large roach looking bugs running around. So with the combination of the bugs and the light I knew my sleep wouldn't be the best. I zipped up in my sleeping bag and put my shemagh (a scarf that is worn in the Middle East) over my face. No solid sleep was going to be had but at least I am dry and only have about 3 miles to town and a hotel.
August 9
When I woke this morning I realized I wasn't alone on this campsite. I found a small crab in my boat. I'm sure it was comical watching me try to get it out without getting pinched. I fought through the marsh and started paddling. I was taking a tangled highway of winding channels through the bayou. My only map was satellite images and I hoped they had water in them. There was something peaceful about paddling through this area. When I got to the point that I rounded the last bend, I could see it. The Gulf of Mexico. A dream of mine for a long time now. I had finally made it. I paddled out of the bayou into the open waters. I looked around for the crowds of people and news crews but no one was there. Only a flock of pelicans who instead of cheering and taking pictures took off as soon as they saw me. But that was ok with me. I'm not doing this for anyone other than myself. Just like when you are trying to get clean and sober, if you do it for someone else other than your self, it probably won't wok. I wish I could say it was this amazing feeling with warm fuzzies going off in my body but it wasn't. I paddled out into the ocean and threw my hands up. Added a few fist pumps and claps in, and let out a few yells. But then it was back to paddling. I took a left and headed down the coast. There was still no dry land around. The entire environment had changed. Nothing stood in the way of what you were looking at. A large hotel stands where the first dry land is. I can see it and it doesn't look so far when in fact it's 4 miles away. Normally I could get there in an hour. But the ocean is completely different than a river or bayou. The water was calm for the gulf. But I still felt like a barge had just passed by and I was going over the wake. It's just the wake never stopped. Moving about 2 mph I finally made it to the hotel, which is connected to a casino. I decided to try my luck and sure enough I hit the jackpot! It was half price time for the buffet! Normally I would have treated myself to a steak for completing another section of this journey, but for $12, a casino buffet was a sure bet. I ordered the largest water possible. That's when my fear that I have been having for a while came true. If you drink water, then you know that not all water tastes the same. And water in coastal areas has a higher content of sulfur. If I wasn't so dehydrated I would have passed on it. But it wasn't a problem because no one refilled my water till I flagged them down after plate # 5. I got my money's worth on food and should have gotten an award for being the youngest person in the entire restaurant. I continued on down the Gulf for a few miles to find a place to camp. The beach is right next to a road with no trees for cover. Some places it's just a wall and the road. I came to a small peninsula of sand that looked like it would do. Across the street was a state park that had camping right there. I walked over to check it out and found a worker. He said I could camp there, for 35 dollars. I try not to pay for campsites if at all possible. I looked at the maps and didn't have many other options so I loaded up my boat and pulled it across the road and paid the man. I figured that it was a good thing to have a nice spot to over haul my gear and get it ready for ocean travel. As I was getting ready for the nightly storm one of the guys in a camper came over and struck up a conversation. He said I could crash in his camper if the storm gets too bad. The sad/weird/interesting thing is that I feel at home and safer in my tent then I do inside.
August 8
My plan to get out before my new friend was up didn't work. I woke to the promised frozen water bottles outside my tent. While I was finishing packing around 8 he surfaced again. Beer and joint in hand. I’ve got to be honest, the old me would have loved his style. I loved drinking in the morning. Well I loved drinking all the time. It just didn't always love me back. I pushed off and headed back to the canal I had been traveling yesterday. The waters were a nice treat. Besides not having any dryland to camp on, the other challenge is there is no where to pull over and pee. I can make it work and I have several empty water bottles now. But it got me thinking what if nature calls and it's not just a pee break? Good news it didn't come to that. The canal led me to The Gigolets. It's the waterway between the large lakes above New Orleans and the Gulf. When I cleared the marsh I got my first real view of the ocean. I could even see an oil rig off in the distance. I thought about paddling straight for it but decided to crossover it and stay in the back waters. I'm not exactly sure what it will be like paddling this boat in the ocean, but I would like to have some sort of shore line when I find out. While in the back waters I had to cross Little Lake (actual name) to get to Pearl River. It was almost a 2 mile open water crossing with channel markers sticking out of the water for guidance. I could hear thunder off in the distance. It had me concerned because if a storm came I had no where to hide if the waves kicked up. The thunder followed from a distance for the rest of the day. I have been dipping my fingers in the water and licking them to see if I can taste the salt. When I got to where Pearl River dumps out into the Gulf I got my first salty taste. Instead of paddling straight for it, I continued into the bayou. I saw another of what looks like a fishing village 2 miles up with some dry land. As I curved my way through it started drizzling a little bit and the sky was shining. It was a nice feel good moment. I got to the village. The area I saw on the map was not as easily accessible as I would have liked. I paddled into the village. It was more a neighborhood. Except for roads it was water. You can tell this area was destroyed my Katrina and rebuilt with money. A lot of abandoned lots sprinkled in with massive houses built on stilts. Probably 50+ feet in the air. Most of them had elevators. I couldn't find a single person to ask for a spot to camp so I went back and fought through to the marsh to a slice of dry land. As I was walking through the weeds and water I kept thinking it was a good place for some swamp snakes. It was like walking through a mine field. In revisiting the maps, I should get to the Gulf tomorrow but it will be through winding swamp land.
August 7
Back to the river I go. Sorry. Old habit. Let's just say back to the water I go. We drove back to the 9th ward and climbed the levy with all my gear. While pulling my boat up I felt my feet itching. I thought I brushed up against a sticker bush so I kept pulling. Then I looked down when it didn't stop and I was standing in a mound of fire ants. Should have been my first clue that today was going to be rough. I got loaded up and in line to enter the lock that separates the Mississippi from the intracoastal waterway. I surprisingly got in on the first available chance with a tow barge. I kept seeing the workers on the boat talking pictures of me. They must not see many people on the Mississippi, let alone going down the Industrial Canal. The tow took off leaving me in the dust. I heard him radio the upcoming bridge to let them know I was coming but said he didn't know if I could just go under it. I watched as the bridge went up and down. When I got closer I realized I couldn't fit under the bridge. Shocking that someone made a bridge that a kayak can't fit under. I radioed the tower to see what to do. He asked me to wait for the next boat to come instead of stopping New Orleans traffic for me. I agree. As I sat there baking in the sun I wondered if a boat would ever come. After about 45 minutes the bridge was lifted and I was off. The canal I am taking to the gulf is a straight 45 miles. Completely straight, not a single turn or bend. When I look down stream it's like looking out into the ocean. It's mostly surrounded my ocean. I felt a little current and took advantage of it. That didn't last long. The wind picked up and so did my frustration. I was some what mentally preparing for a learning curve but didn't adjust to it very well. I never do. No one likes change. I would point my boat down the canal and it would turn right. I would correct it. And it would turn right. I paddled only on the right side and it would turn slightly right. I would slam my paddle down, yell and it would turn right. It was one of the most frustrating times so far. It wasn't an easy button moment but pretty close. (Easy Button moment is where if you had a button that would let you quit and be teleported back to society, you would push it.). I came to a small channel with a large Coast Guard ship docked. To my left, as I looked over the field behind it I saw a giant building with a logo on it. It was one that I recognized. The logo was an earth and said NASA. I thought I had found a super short cut to Florida but it was a different facility. It is reported that they are building the most powerful rocket the world has ever seen. I was going to pull over to shore and get some pictures and see what was going on, but the "RESTRICTED AREA: US GOVERNMENT NO TRESPASSING" made me think twice. That and my boat kept turning right. I came up with a plan of 5 forward right paddles and one back left. It stopped my momentum but was working some what. I did it for about 3 hours while the thunder clouds kept going off. When I stopped paddling to checked my radar (insert right turn) the storm was less than a mile away over the lakes. So frustrated and surrounded by either restricted or marsh land I had no option to stop and take a break. I saw a white shore in the distance but since the canal is straight it looks closer than it is. I made it there about an hour later. It wasn't a sand beach, it was shells. It was only 6 feet wide and about 50 feet long. I came real close to setting up my tent for the night but started the fight all over again tomorrow. I even leveled the shells for a tent site. The images of what's to come didn't show any dryland for quite some time. One guy I talked with who did a similar trip through this area last year said he had to sleep in his canoe one night. I'm in a kayak, it's a little harder. While looking at the satellite photos, it looked like there was a village 7 miles away. I was full on supplies, but like in the Kevin Costner movie Waterworld, dryland is the most valuable thing. When I made the decision to push on something changed. I checked the radar and the storm stalled. I checked the tide chart and I was going out. I started paddling and my boat went straight. Just like that, things were looking up. I made the 6 miles plus the 1 to the image of the marina I saw on like. It had bar and grill written on the roof so it was visible from space. It must have been an old photo because the restaurant and stores were closed. After walking around for while and only seeing a few cats, I saw a guy across the small harbor. When I approached him about camping he was in the middle of a beer and a smoke. He told me to pull my boat over and I could set up under the tree. I could tell it wasn't his first beer or joint. He told me he was homeless but a friend lets him stay there. I had trouble understanding his blended accent. I am fluent with southern and hammered, but this had Cajun in it and I was lost most the time. He was super nice but all I wanted to do was go to bed. I did notice he kept going inside and getting fresh beers but never offered me one. A move out of my play book to keep them for himself. He finally went inside after rambling for ever and said to pound on his door in the morning and he would give me some frozen water bottles to take with me. It was an nice gesture but I had no plans of seeing him in the morning. The owner came home around midnight and stood outside having a conversation on speakerphone with some girl. They were talking about cheating and how they couldn't believe some one told on them. It was like listening to a soap opera on the radio.
August 6
Taking the day off meant a wonderful home cooked brunch. Then I setoff on foot to Magazine Street to find a coffee shop to try and get some work done. One of the most frustrating things for me is not being able to reply quickly enough to all the people who reach out with support and donations. I know. Tough problem to have, huh?I settled in and started replying. For the first time in a while I wasn't a paddler, I was just a person in the coffee shop. It was an interesting feeling. I spent a few hours sending emails and catching up on phone calls. It felt good talking with friends and hearing about what is going on in the "real world". I also worked up my plan for the next part of my trip. If I stay on the Mississippi it's 93 miles to the end of the river and another 10 to the gulf. From there it's a challenging route to go east, which is what I'm planning. I decided to lock through to the Intracostal Waterway and take the back waters to Mississippi which would be easier and safer, I hope. After getting some tacos, because who doesn't crave tacos, I headed back. We had a nice home cooked dinner with one of there friends. Then my host and I went to the movies. Now I have been to the theater to see thousands of movies. When I first got sober I went to a lot of movies by myself. It was a great way to turn my brain off for 2 hours. Something that was much needed. But this was different. How many times can you say you have watched a movie with someone who has not only been nominated for a couple but won an Emmy?Well now I can. I fired off several hundred questions afterwords as we drove home. We set up a game plan for the next day to get me back on the water. I thought about just paddling through the streets back to the river but the flooding had gone down some.
August 5
This is it. At times, I wasn't sure I would ever get here. New Orleans. Just saying the name sends chills all over me. But saying it and getting there are two completely different things. I got on the river early in good spirits. I was happy to be soaking in the sights instead of rain. The closer I got to New Orleans I started seeing huge Wharfs. A Wharf is basically a large dock where ships load and unload. They have warehouses and yards to store the cargo till it can be moved. These building are huge. As I rounded the bend and was passing one that looked like the others unnoticed the garage door was open. I saw a giant cartoon head of Drew Bres looking at me. I thought the sun might have been getting to me untill I saw a dragon staring at me. Then I saw the sign for Mardi Gras. It was the warehouse that stored all the supplies. It sunk in that I was in New Orleans. The rain started to sprinkle but it was a nice relief from the humid sun. As I took some pictures of the ship yard a double decker bus pulled up. It was a hop on hop off tour. They must have thought I was part of the show because they were taking pictures of me. As I got closer I yelled to them "riverweasel.com". I hope they heard me and send me some of the pictures because all I have is selfies. When I went under the first bridge I saw a cruise ship. I know I have compared the large ships I have been passing to cruise ships but this was an actual Carnival Cruise ship. I once again was the victim of paparazzi from the balconies. The rain started falling harder but I was only a few miles away and had plenty of time from when I told my ride to meet me. I like to get there first so I can have everything ready to just load up and go. A few more sight seeing boats, a few more pictures as I got closer to The Quarter (that's the French Quarter for those non locals I was told.) The river gods must have known I was getting off the water and wanted to let me they were still in charge. They opened up the sky when I was getting to the point to get a picture of the skyline and didn't let up. I tried to paddle through it as I really had no other option. I realized I needed to let my ride know to bring some towels and trash bags so that I didn't destroy his car but I couldn't get my phone unlocked due to the rain. I pulled under a wharf to text him and see how close I was. I was about a half mile away but the river gods wanted to test me more. They let out the hardest rains I have seen the entire trip, if not in my life and didn't quit. I could see the lightning hitting the water between me and the city. The thunder shook everything around me. It was constant for about an hour. I literally paddled in circles and figure 8's around the post under the wharf hoping it would let up. With about 10 minutes till 4 it calmed down and I made a go for it. The place I found on the map to take out looked like the best spot but would still take some work to get over the levy. I hit the bank and unloaded my bags and what I could carry on my back. I clipped a rope on the front of my boat and made the climb to the top. At 4 on the dot, my ride said he was looking for me and over the hill I came and started pulling. I realized that if I wrapped the rope around my waist and walked down the hill it was easier to get my boat up. When I finally got it to the top I threw my gear in and pushed it down the hill like a sled. In the rain, I quickly introduced myself to my dad’s childhood friend whom I hadn't met before. We loaded my gear up in the SUV and boat on top and headed to his house. The area where he had picked me up was a run down part of town. But I didn't realize exactly where I was. The area was the 9th Ward. The neighborhood that was made known during Katrina for the levys breaking and flooding. The Levy I climbed over was the newly constructed one from what broke and destroyed the 9th Ward. I got a quick tour of the neighborhood. There was a mixture of new houses, rundown houses and simply front steps in empty lots. After getting to see the new houses that Brad Pitt and friends built in the neighborhood, we headed to his house. The last few miles were some of the most intense moments of the trip so far. I was glad to be in a car and safe from the weather. Or was I? He had said that some of the roads were flooded when he was on his way to get me. As we headed through down town it got more and more interesting. The city was flooded and going crazy. Cars parked on the side of the street with water up to the doors. People wadded through knee high water. Some people were tip toeing around trying to stay dry while others were just trying to get where they were going. I got scared at one point when a group of kids walked by and jokingly said that's what we need, let's get it. At least I hope they were joking. They were referring to the kayak that was strapped to the top of the car. I got a good laugh that everyone was looking at us and thought we were dooms day preppers. I really wanted to stop and take a picture of me paddling though the streets of The Quarter but we were afraid if we stopped we might not get going again. 3 hours later we made it to his house and unloaded my gear. I finally got out of my wet clothes and got a much needed shower. In think my hands are going to be wrinkled for months to come. My new friend and his wife took me out for a real New Orleans dinner. We kept talking about how crazy the flooding was. I asked if they were here during Katrina. They said that they moved there 5 years after working on a movie with Denzel and fell in love with the city. As in "Denzel Washington". I realized he is on a first name basis with basically everyone in Hollywood. They kept asking questions about my trip but I just wanted to talk about movies he has worked on. Normally I don't mind answering all of the questions about my adventure. But besides outdoor activities, movies are one of my favorite things. We had a great meal and I got the sampler platter of local dishes. When I was laying in bed thinking about how eventful my day was, I was more impressed that I remembered it all. That's more than I can say for the last time I was in New Orleans which was a little foggy.
August 4
My 5:30 alarm came and went with the sound of rain on my tent. I kept periodically waking and checking the radar but I didn't want to pack up in the rain. When I had a break I realized the 45-55 miles probably wasn't happening so I messaged the people who had offered to let me stay that I wasn’t making it today. Also that I would be staying with a family friend more than likely. I got on the water and the heat and humidity were in full force. I was dodging boats all day. I pulled behind some shipping containers that were lining what seems like the entire river for some shade. A tow boat pulled up and asked over the loud speaker if I was ok or wanted water. I refused but did my best to sign back I was ok since I don't have a loud speaker. It was rather comical. The challenge with all the boats in the river is to tell if they are parked or moving. I was paddling past one of the largest ships I have seen so far and they had both cranes in use. Then I heard a voice booming from the heavens shout out. "Hey buddy, keep going, good luck". I gave him a fist in the air and a loud wooooo. As big as the ship was there was no way he heard me but it felt good. A little later I saw the crew of a tow staring and taking pictures of me as I passed. One of the guys reached down and grabbed his private parts and yelled at me. I couldn't hear him but I figured he didn't like the fact I was on his river. I got closer and heard what he said. "Dude, you got big testicals". It wasn't what I expected but flattering, I guess. It was a good ego boost that all the workers who spend months at a time on the river were cheering me on. As much as I wanted to continue my parade of praise I needed to put the paddle in the water and make some distance but of course Mother Nature had a different idea. She decided to rain on my parade. I hid under my tarp again for over an hour as it passed. When it was getting later in the day I knew I needed to find a camping spot. I was looking around when I saw a barge closing in. He was angled towards me. I wanted to get to the other side of the river and slow paddle till he passed. That never happened. He just boxed me in till I just stopped and waited for him to pass then headed across the river. I found a small mound of beach on a bend and set up camp. The past hour was a stand off and I didn't know what had happened from getting boxed in. When the sun set I looked back at where I had come from and saw the coolest site. It looked like the skyline of NYC or Chicago. All these massive factories were lit up. It was probably more interesting since I didn't remember passing any of them. Hopefully the rains hold off for me to make it to New Orleans tomorrow. I am completely over the rain. 123 miles to the gulf.
August 3
Even though I passed out hard, I kept waking up through out the night. I finally decided to just get up and start packing. It's amazing how I can fit so much stuff into a small space. When I got the call that my ride was on his way I just threw all my stuff in my bag and went down to the lobby. He asked if I wanted lunch. It was still raining but about to pass so I decided on it. I could still get on the river by noon and make my 40 miles to get to New Orleanson schedule. When we got back to the "boat ramp" I noticed the guy who I had passed yesterday on the river was camped there. Even though I didn't get much sleep, that spot looked a lot worst. We sloshed through the mud and I was off. As I paddled I noticed the ships were getting bigger and more frequent. Sure enough it started raining again right when I was going under an overpass. The radar said it wasn't lasting long so I waited it out holding on to the pylon.When it started to break I took off and rounded a turn. It was like a pinball machine. Containers lined the entire river for about 3 miles. I hugged the right side. As I passed one of the first tow boats a guy saw me coming and came out with a coke and a yellow Gatorade. It's like he knew me. I paddled over and chatted awhile. He gave me some pointers for the rest of the way. Big boats take the inside but small boats take outside. I was listening but didn't quite understand completely. I thanked him and went on. It wasn't till a few more turns when I realized what he was saying. I crossed the river to take the inside bend because I figured it was faster. It was a 90 degree blind turn and I was right on the bank to play it safe. When I was about 50 yards away a ship came hauling around the corner. Yeah a giant ship that crosses oceans. It literally blocked the sun out. I went numb but decided to take a few strokes backwards. I was a little shaken up but I still needed to get my miles so I pressed on. But sure enough it started raining again. Then pouring. I tried to look up the radar on my phone but it wouldn't let me unlock it because my fingers were so wrinkled. I couldn't even enter my passcode because the screen was wet. After another lightning bolt I pulled over and set up my tarp. It didn't help much but it was better than in the middle of the river. By the time I saw the radar it looked like I was going to be there a while. I started trying to figure out a different campsite for tonight. The campsites on this section are few and far between. I remembered that a few miles away from what I know is one of the only signs that says Paddlers welcome. I texted some people to find out the name and reach out. I don't think they got my message (not sarcastic). All I really wanted was to camp so I could get up early and head to NOLA. When I got to the sign it was knocked over. I'm assuming it was from the storm but they could have been out of town or something. Plus it was really muddy. I continued on and saw a group of people soaking in the river with a 4wheeler in the river and a few more on shore. I paddled closer to see what was going on and if they needed help. Nope they did it on purpose to play the radio. It was a group of high school kids enjoying the dog days of summer. They said I could probably camp over on the shore a little ways down but to watch out for cow pies. That's what they call soft mud spots. I got a good chuckle and went dodging cow pies. I put up my tent and returned a call to a family friend who lives in New Orleans. While we were talking I realized I didn't have my rain fly on so everything in my tent was soaked. A terrible day got worse. I set my alarm for before sunrise to hopefully make up the miles I lost today. 149 miles to the gulf.
August 2
The miles I made yesterday put me in a good position to reach New Orleans Friday. Only 120 miles to go. 40 miles a day. Very doable. I had reached out a while back to the Mississippi River Paddlers Page on Facebook to see if anyone had recommendations of a hotel between 100 miles north of Baton Rouge and New Orleans. I need to get off the river and get a game plan for what's next when the river runs out. A guy in Donaldsonville said there was one close to the river and he could help out. I had to look up where it was and sure enough it was 40 miles away. My contact said the hotel could store my boat and had availability. He even said that he would meet me at the boat ramp with his truck to get my boat to the hotel. With an offer of a place to stay in New Orleans, this was too good to pass so I said let's do it. Now I just had to get there. Easier said than done. The paddling wasn't bad but the increase of ships was getting heavy. Then it started raining. I thought about pulling over but the longer I spent waiting out the storm meant the shorter amount of time in the comfort of a hotel. The sprinkles turned to a complete down pour. I couldn't see 20 feet in front of me. After paddling in the rain for an hour it started to lighten up. I could see clearer skies ahead while the rain started to slow down. I saw a shape in the water that looked like a log. As I kept paddling closer it would move down river but I was closing the gap. Then I noticed green spots alternating sides. Could this be a first?The closer I got I could tell it was another paddler. I kicked it into over drive and closed the gap. When I got close enough I had to figure out how to announce myself as to not scare him to death and cause him to flip. I let out a loud hello. He turned with no flip!He was in a canoe with a bicycle strapped in. He started at the headwaters in Minnesota mid March and was slowly working his way down the river. We paddled and talked for a while. It was great to finally meet someone else paddling as I had started to think that I was the only one stupid enough to be doing this. The storms started picking up again and he said we should pull over. I declined. I was going to town and nothing was going to stop me. I dug in and made the miles. The boat ramp where I was meeting my contact had been destroyed so it was just a dirt beach. Correction a mud beach. The guy had let me know he stoped by earlier and put out a stick with neon ribbon on it so I could find it.I got there right on time when he was pulling up. As I was wading through the mud to get my boat to solid land he said something to me. I didn't understand a single word. I just encountered my first Real Louisiana Cajun. Once I switched my mind to be prepared for that he couldn't be nicer. He tromped right in the mud to help me get the boat to his truck. Covered up to our knees in mud he said that we were going to stop at his Mother in Law’s house to rinse off before going to the hotel, they probably wouldn't appreciate us coming in covered. I got one of the best local tours I have had so far. When we got to the house to rinse off I felt right at home. There were 3 other guys and his niece sitting around having some beers telling stories on the patio. Later his son and his friends stopped by. It was your typical small town America. With a cajun flavor. These guys cracked me up and I couldn't have had a better time.We decided to get going to the hotel so I could settle in and shower.When we got to the hotel they were waiting on me. Even some people walking down the street talked to us. We talked about my plans for tomorrow and my contact said he got off work between 9am and Noon. He could come back and give me a ride with my boat to the river. I wanted to get an early start, but I figured the hotel time would be worth it, so we left my boat in his truck. He said he wanted to take me to dinner if I was up for it. I didn't want to be rude and turn it down so I agreed. I showered and he went and switched trucks and we met back up. He told me to order what ever I wanted it was on him. We went full Cajun with crawfish this and crawfish that. We got talking and he is planning on doing the whole river in a few years when his son leaves the house so he is building up his river karma now. After we left we went down the road to the oldest bar in the town to get the experience of the owner. He doesn't believe in the customer is always right and will tell you so. He was cracking me up. We closed the place down (I think I drank them out of cokes) When the bartender was closing out she put the money bag on the counter with a pistol. I knew I liked this place for some reason. We walked out with the owner and headed back to the hotel laughing the whole way. I thanked him for the experience. I took another shower and started to catch up on the work I had planned on doing but passed out. Between the rain, paddling, and town excitement I was exhausted. Even though I didn't get to do what I had planned, getting to experience small town Louisiana was a great experience. And different experiences are what the river is all about.175 miles to the gulf.
August 1
Times, they are a changing. For today. I was up and on the water by just a little after 7. I was cranking the miles off. It felt good to be getting miles done again. I even found a new fun activity!I learned that when a barge passes and puts off a huge wave train wake for a mile if I time it right I can paddle into it and it's like a rollercoaster. I was rolling over the top of the wave then down into the bottom then back up. Probably a 10 foot drop in between.Quite the rush. But I knew what was waiting for me when I got to Baton Rouge. Everything, everyone I have talked to has told me horror stories about the rest of the river starting in Baton Rouge. Several people paddle the entire Mississippi River from the source in Minnesota and get off and take the Atchafalaya River to the Gulf just to avoid this section. That doesn't make sense to me, but paddle your own paddle, that's what I say. The section between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is known as the Chemical Corridor. Cancer Alley. It is the home to some of the largest oil refineries in the country. Producing over 500,000 barrels a day. Several of the other largest chemical companies in the county have plants on the river as well. Another one of the major challenges is that it is the furthest point that ocean ships can reach. So between the chemical plants and shipping port it gets quite hectic. Apparently the 10 mile stretch through down town is so cluttered it's basically a suicide mission. So of course I was taking that route. As I was about 5 miles out I was heading down a straightaway before I made the 90 degree turn to the gantlet, I was on the left hand side and I needed to be on the right. I was waiting for a barge with no containers to pass to cut over. I heard my marine radio kick on. When I listened I heard a captain talking to another captain. He said "hey just to let you know we got some dumb a** in a kayak out here, I'm not sure where he will be when you get here but I wanted to give you a heads up."I quickly looked around to see where the other kayaker was. I got really excited as I haven't seen a single person paddling the entire river. When I realized that he was talking about me. I thought I would respond. After all it is the polite thing to do. I got on my radio and said "this is the dumb a** in the kayak, I'll be on the downstream right side of the river". I wanted to add a few other things but had to get ready for battle according to the river experts. I strapped my sandals on, put my phone in my life jacket, tied anything loose in my boat to something, and put my tracking device around my neck thinking that I might have to hit the SOS button if things go south. I rounded the turn and headed under the bridge that starts the 10 mile stretch. (Authors note: Jack Kerouac allegedly relieved himself under that bridge as stated in his book On The Road). I could see massive metal structures and had my head on a swivel. I paddled with ease expecting that at any moment a boat would come flying out of nowhere like a medicine ball on a rope trying to knock me off a balance beam. I kept going and saw a work boat approaching me. He didn't see me and was heading right at me. I figured his wake was going to swallow my boat. When he was about a football field away he must have seen me and cut to the middle of the river. As he passed he slowed down, blew his horn and waved. Must have just been a warning. I continued down passing between these massive structures that looked like space stations. The city skyline kept getting bigger and bigger. Closer and closer. Finally I was in the heart of it. My knuckles were white with anticipation of the "big one". Still nothing. When I got to the next bridge I had to make a decision. I could go on the east bank and go into Baton Rouge, Go to the West Bank and stop in Port Allen, or just keep going and pray I survive. I passed on leaving my boat under the bridge in downtown Baton Rouge and chose for Port Allen. There was a Walmart close by so I made the call. I paddled through some containers lining the shore and beached my boat. I found a dirt road that led to the main road and it was only a little over a half mile to "The Walmart". Thankfully this dirt road wasn't overgrown. I got some food but they didn't have the one thing I really wanted. A phone USB charger that uses AA batteries. I feel I am running low on extra juice and it's supposed to be cloudy with rain for the next few days so I'm not sure how much power I will have. Of course they didn't have one. I left a little disappointed but saw a Hardee's across the parking lot. When I walked in they had a counter that had plugs. They even had straight USB ones. It was a sign. I dump out my bag and started plugging in everything I could. I thought about sitting there all day but was worried about my boat so I bugged out. As I was walking back I realized that the terror of the Baton Rouge harbor was the most over rated thing since Y2K. I got back on the water and had about 10 more miles to where I wanted to camp. This was a cool paddle. I was weaving through containers and past ships. It is amazing how massive these things are. And just when I thought I was going to get the award for furthest traveled, I see the back of the largest ship and it says Hong Kong. After I paddled out of the harbor I was back in the wilderness. Kind of. I was closing in on 50 miles and started thinking about how great of a day it was. I relaxed and enjoyed the sunset. It was almost completely dark when I got to the sand bar where I was going to camp. The first one was mud so I pushed on to the second and my last chance for several miles. Everything I had read said it was the best spot within 100 miles. I pulled up on it and got out. My feet sank right away. I figured if I walked through it I could get to solid ground. That was not the case. I kept getting deeper and deeper. Calf, knees, thighs then almost to my waist.One thing I know is if you are in quick sand or mud and get in over your waist you are done. For a moment I thought I was almost done. Every time I would pull my foot out I would go deeper. I was back towards my boat and felt my sandal slipping off. That was not an option. I'm not going to lose one of my custom Chaco sandals. I haven't lost one sandal since I quit drinking. I freed my sandals and threw them in the boat and climbed on. It was a struggle. I paddled around the point and found solid ground. All I could think about was the quick sand scene in Blazing Saddles where he says, "damn near lost a $400 dollar push cart.”Well I damn near lost a $100 Chaco Sandal. I got my tent set up but my shorts were still covered in mud. I figured I would just take them off and rinse them in the river. Well wouldn't you know when I was about to drop my drawers 4 barges started Blazing up and down the river past me. I stood there getting eaten alive by mosquitos waiting for them to pass so they didn't spotlight me in my birthday suit. I decided to just take them off and get in my tent and change. I'll have to figure it out in the morning but it's better than getting bug bites in places I don't want them. All in all it was a good day on the river. 215 miles to the gulf.
July 31
I actually woke up to see a beautiful sunrise this morning! Then I went back to sleep. But was on the water just after 8 so that's a win. I'm ready to be done with this river. I passed the 300 miles left mark and for the first time since day 4 when I hit the Ohio River I am in only one state. Louisiana. I think the frustrating thing is that I don't know what to expect down river. I'm falling back into not staying in the moment. I want to get to Baton Rouge. I want to get to New Orleans. I should just enjoy this part of the country that I will probably never see again. A part of the country that a large population of the world will never see. I am also thinking ahead to what my next move will be. I need to get off the river for a night and get a hotel room and figure out the plan. The only problem is where will I leave my 14 ft kayak? I might look kind of odd dragging it through LSU campus or down bourbon street. All of this is running through my head and again I feel like I'm paddling in molasses. With being in my head I got the idea that I should stop in a near by town and grab some food and caffeine. I am running low on food. Well good that I want to eat. It's like when you say we have nothing to eat but have a cupboard full of caned food. I looked at google earth and it showed a dirt road that would lead me into town .3 miles. I chained my boat up upstream, out of site so it doesn't get stolen. I am starting to become paranoid about that. I bushed wicked through stickers afraid that every step was going to be on a bus southern swamp snake. I came to the road and It was obviously an old photo. It was completely overgrown. I realized at this point it wasn't happening and when down to the water to go back to my boat. I figured this would be easier than getting my legs torn up more. Nope. The shoreline was strait mud. I sunk in up to my knees with both feet. I was afraid I want going to get out or lose a sandal. I had to crawl on my hands and knees, distributing the wait to solid ground. When I finally made it back to my boat I unlocked it and got going. I just wanted away from that devil shore. I continued I on making it 47 miles and found the last dry land to camp on. It's 30 miles into Baton Rouge but the miles aren't the hard part. It's the traffic. Those barges that have co tuned to get larger and larger will become tiny. When I work my way through the harbor I will get my first look at a ship. Not a boat, a ship. Like one from China carrying tons and tons across the globe. It should be interesting to say the least.
July 30
A lot of people say that relapse is apart of recovery. But it's not a requirement. Relapse is one of the things that doesn't necessarily scare me, but I am aware of it. And I respect it. From what I have learned is that when people do relapse it actually happens long before they take the first drink or drug. They stop doing what they are suppose to be doing and forget what they have been doing that got them to where they are. And once that sets in it's a battle to get back on track. I had been thinking about that for a while today as I can't seem to get back into paddling since I took time off. I got out of my routine of paddling everyday, and even though I am back to paddling it's taking me a while to get mentally back in it. While I know I can't help having to take days off, I can be aware that it's going to take a little time to get back into it. Even if it wasn't that long of a time I was gone, I stopped what I had been doing everyday and I'm paying for it. And that's why I always try to remember what got me to the point I'm at today in my recovery, so I don't have to pay for it.
July 29
I was hoping to get a break in the storm to pack up and get on the water. That never happened. I kept waiting for better weather but about mid afternoon I decided I would call this home for the day and get back after it tomorrow. It was a good thing since I was surprisingly still exhausted from taking time off. The great thing about life is that tomorrow is always a new day and you can start over.