Summer is ending and I am heading back to the Mississippi River and try and finish the trip. I ended last year in Alton, Illinois just upriver from St. Louis. Heading back there tomorrow and plan to be back on the river on Monday, September 9.

In the meantime I’ve been taking Little joy out on the Schuylkill River four or five time a week. Rowing up and down a few miles between Manayunk and Conshohocken.

A bald Eagle circled around above the boat a few days ago. A Bald Eagle right there on the edge of Philly! It was a surprising and great sight to see. A symbol of the United tates and a great success story of the Endangered Species Act. During the same week the current administration in Washington was rolling back standards that would purposely diminish the Endangered Species Act. Sigh.

I going with a stripped down version of Little Joy. No sail, mast, dagger board or Rudder. Should save me 50 lbs or more.

I lost a little weight (almost 30 lbs) and I’ve been doing lots of stretches in hopes my back will hold this time. The reduced load should help make better time and less strain on my back. We’ll see.

Wish me luck.