The logistics of this trip were bad. I just could not figure a better way to do it. After a couple of days in New Orleans, Lijun flew home and I flew to St Louis via Dallas. I picked up my truck and trailer that I left in storage by the airport and headed south. …
Month: October 2019
New Orleans recovery
I awoke in a comfortable bed in New Orleans but felt like I never really slept. We ate at the Ruby Slipper, a place famous for brunch. Though it had a full bar for those not recovered from the previous night's fun or those wishing to start the party early, I skipped that and just …
I’m not going to make it
Lijun flew in to New Orleans the night before and was planning to meet me in Venice. I have to finish today. Forty miles. It was pitch black as I stared out at the river, debating whether to go or not. Why wait? I stayed near the bank looking ahead more than usual since I …
81 miles (actually 71)
Eighty one miles to the official end of the Mississippi River. In Mark Twain's time I would be in the Gulf of Mexico. However, now, the river is artificially maintained with a 45 foot deep shipping channel by levees and jetties far out into the gulf. I can go all the way to the end …
New Orleans fly by
I am up and ready in the dark. An occasional barge passes as they did all night. I wait and eat pop tarts until sunrise, to give me a little better chance to see and be seen. The sun is out as I pass under the Hale Boggs bridge. There is no stopping today. I …
Maybe this was a mistake
I am dwarfed by everything around be. Big things. Moving and not moving everywhere on the river at the same time. I was anxious from the time I put in until the time I mercifully stopped after 50 miles. I was just plain afraid the rest of the time. I think I will let the …
Suicide Alley
A few miles below Natchez is the mouth to the Atchafalaya River. It runs parallel to the Mississippi to the gulf and has no commercial traffic. I've heard kayakers and canoeists use it as an alternative rather than trying to get by Baton Rouge and New Orleans in a tiny boat. I passed it two …
Baton Rouge
Passing under a bridge I see Baton Rouge on the other side of the river. I have to get over there now but a barge is coming up river. I stop and wait to cross 75 yards in front of a barge anchored in the river. A deckhand comes walking the length of the barge …
It’s October Louisiana didn’t get the memo
It's October 1st and 92 degrees by mid afternoon. Apparently Mississippi and Louisiana are unaware it's been Fall now for 10 days now. I made 50 miles for the day and I'm just 50 miles from Baton Rouge. 50 miles seems to be my makeable milage per day without completely exhausting myself. I'm thinking of …
Down the Mississippi Backwards 