N 38.52614
W87.41154
It felt good to sleep in a real bed last night and then to get up and have a hot shower made it better. The Holiday Inn Express free breakfast was not bad and the coffee was great especially as I did not have to light a fire to brew it. The ride solution arrived a few minutes late just after 6:40 when she was expected at 6: 25. The driver was upset with her passenger who was late getting out to the car.
So were off down the river in a little rain at 7:15 AM. Then it started to rain seriously so we put on our new rain coats. Dave would be proud on the red one I have as the water just beaded up on it and I was dry.
Around 11:00 we were passing under Hwy 57 and decided to take a break. Some fishermen there suggested going across to their camp on the other side of the river as it would more comfortable. Once there we bought gasoline I forgot in Washington and watched these guys work. They are netting catfish on the haul today they brought in 184 lb of channel cat fish and an additional 38 lb flat head catfish. Bill told us how the traps worked and the licensing for them worked as well. Bill then explained how to properly clean a channel cat. It took him less time to clean one than explain it. He took a filet off the fish in about 15 seconds and the second filet off in around the same time. Then cleaned off all the red meat and was left with a pure white boneless piece of meat. I can see way people lineup at his place to buy some of his fresh fish. We then talked about the Asian Carp in the area, the DNR now are calling them yellow bass, (Bill did not approve). We they pickup the tag for the nets the DNR gives out 3 cooking instructions for the fish and are encouraging people to eat them. Some of them weight up to 70 lbs now and can be dangerous as they they have a habit of just jumping into the boat as it goes by. Bill claimed some boat damage because of them and that some people have been hurt by them.
So much for fish stories. We covered a total of 26 miles today and stopped on a small island in the bend of the White River. As the West Fork and the East Fork of the White joined up today the river is becoming big and do mean Big. We saw white caps on part of it today too. Pasted a huge power plant with three stacks that we saw 2 days ago and expected to be in Washington but it was really in Petersburg.
Well better save the battery. PS the Absorbent Junior we bought has worked at keeping bugs down.
Count
210 lbs of Fish
16 john boats working the river
31 fish net buoys
2 power plants with 5 smoke stacks
0 people out pole fishing
4 nice guys at Bill fish camp
Lots of rain drops
6 islands
Love and Kisses to all and to all a good night.
Allan
Day 12
Position (for those that care)
N38.48725
W87.58277
Woke to thunder this morning and it meant sleeping in for a extra 45 minutes while the storm passed over. Then out of the tent and work fast to pack up while stuff was dry. Getting the fire going was a bear as the wind kept blowing the kindling out heat away from the pot I was trying to get to boil.
After breakfast we were still dry and fiinished packing up the site quickly and off down the White River we went. About 10 we hit with another thunderstorm and poured down hard. We used our new rain jackets again and they work really well. So all in all we just did not care about the rain all that much.
About lunch time the small town of Hazelton was just in front of us and there was suppose to be cafe one block for the public access. So we stopped for lunch. The cafe was washed out during the floods this year but we told that there was tavern about ½ mile in town so we stopped in there. I had a beer and the tenderloin sandwich and they both great. One patron arrived and sat down and without asking the bar keep had his beer open and waiting for him. So anyone passing though Hazelton IN stop in at the Hilltop Tavern and fish and steak night on Friday and singing on Saturday.
We stopped about 3.5 miles further on down and looked at an island campsite and shore side was better so are camped on a sandbar again tonight. It is not I do not like sand I just do not like sitting on it, tracking it into the tent, sleeping on it and then eating it in everything. It just gets old but is comfortable to be on, just gritty.
To cap the day off a thunderstorm rolled over while I was cooking dinner the tarp did a good job keeping us dry.
Count
1 deer by river side (big one too)
1 good tavern and cold beer
3 moving john boats
many gnats
5 blue herrons
1 turtle
19 net buoys
1 great bar keep (lot of information for example the flood here was 29.5 feet this year)
1 trailer completely flattened by the flood
3 thunderstorms
Good night to all and all love and Kisses (especially you ladies following me).
Allan
Day 13
Economy Inn Mt Carmel
Quite day on the river today. Up early and off to good start. The river was quite all the way down to the confluence of the Wabash and White River then we saw a ton of John Boats and fishermen all 3 of the them. One of them stopped and asked us, “Big storms Last yesterday ah”. Just like Canada except with a southern accent. Watched on boat pull in the nets and throw out some turtles and keep some catfish that looked pretty big to me but they did seem to think much of the catch.
Then when we reached the confluence we paddled across the Wabash river to a restaurant. I pulled up to to the bank where Dianne tried to get out. She took a bid step and went right up to her knees. I thought for sure she would lose her shoes but she managed to keep them on. We then paddled down the river to ramp and had listen to Di tell me all the way what a stupid idea getting out there was. I hope I do not make that kind of suggestion often because I know Di could kill me and if looked could have killed I know when she took that step I would not be typing now.
We then packed the gear up the hill a little ways and started the walk into town and a woman stopped and gave us a lift. Thanks a lots Donna just like my sister's name it was greatly appreciated. The hotel is not something to brag about but it is run by a great staff that seems to work hard and keeps the place as clean as possible.
So that is news today.
Counts
7 blue herrons
5 fishermen
14 fishing nets buoys
1 eagle
6 john boats running
Love to all and to all good night.
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