Position
N 31.25800
W 91.63734
Here are pictures of the Under the hill Saloon where we stayed and the Casino boat and bridge in Natchez.
Started the day a little last as the alarm I set did not go off. So we got up and were the first into shared bathroom had a shower, packed up and went out in search of breakfast. The casino did not serve until lunch time and they suggest the DQ. So hopped onto the shuttle to Casino Hotel and asked there the front desk gave us tickets to their continental breakfast. Not great, in fact the same stuff we had on the bicylcle trip through Natchez last fall, just cold cereal and Danish pastry and toast. But the Isle of Capri did not have to give us anything so for that we thank you.
Then a walk back and off down the river we went. The first tow we come to is a down stream on moving over to the side. This is tough as have to pass her and do not know which side to do it on. The shore side is normal but there is little room and if the tow really banks we could be in a lot of trouble, the river side is we lock her in as we pass. So Dianne hails her, no answer, Di repeats and still no answer. Now Dianne and I start discussing our options and drift up on the back side of the tow. Then suddenly over the radio we hear, “Calling Mary Kay there is a canoe drifting up behind you that has been trying tor reach you”. That did it the Mary Kay then told us to go on the river side and did. When were far enough down stream he then told us we were clear of their of bow.
The first two corners were easy not barges or tows. The next corner we could see a two way down there so we took a little longer route with out any problems. Then came 7 barges in the next 10 miles one after the other. Weird nothing for 2 hours then all of sudden a flood of tow boats.
When I got the campsite repair city started up. Somehow last night canoe developed a crack that had to be patched, Dianne paddle is looking a weak, and one of the food packs has holes in it. Stuff was a little rearranged but nothing was missing but stuff on arrive at the campsite was found damaged. Maybe some one sat on the canoe and shifted it enough to put pressure or abrade the pack and crack the shell and weaken Dianne Paddles, that all I can think of that could have caused so much damage. Anyway there is new glass on the canoe, Dianne's paddle now like here glasses has duct tape on it, and the pack has a new vinyl patches on it all better.
Well there is thunder out there so we have to cover the tent and turn the canoe over soon.
Count
10 fish buoys
1 power boat
1 ferry (going down steam to who knows where
9 tows
1 barge laying tow
1 barge being unloaded
1 barge being loaded
11 egrets
2 herons
6 green run away buoys
3 red run away buoys
Love and Kisses Allan
Day 49
Position
N30.92017
W 91.63798
Last night's thunder and lighting before going to bed amount to nothing. It caused us to pack the site up tight and put the tarp on the tent that only made the tent warmer during the night. It was just god playing a little trick on us.
This morning the skies were cloudy and dark so packed the canoe for rain, meaning everything is covered. Well it did rain only for a few seconds and then the threatened to rain the rest of the day. This is good new as the temperature was lower than normal so I was not as hot as the last few days. That did stop us from comsuming more than 2 gallons of water over the day.
The paddling in the morning was easy as there was no wind and the barge traffic was light. That made the first channel crossing easy and saved some distance. The next crossing we were held up by a down stream tow that was not moving too fast. That resulted in us having to add about 2 miles into the bend before starting to cut the corner. By lunch we had paddled just under 20 miles. That is where the day fell apart. The wind picked up, of course into our face slowing the pace of the day. Then we saw a ferry this confused the navigator, (not me) and we made the next cut too soon resulting in an added 2 miles. The result of all this is a day where we covered 34 river miles but hoped to reach 39 or 40. Now Dianne wants to try and make up the distance tomorrow so we can get to Baton Rouge the day after tomorrow.
Here are some bluffs on the river (not all that common so we have to add them)
We entered the state of Louisiana today fully, we have now LA on both sides of the river now and less than 200 more to go. I am getting eager to finish I am sore and grumpy so as with all very long trips like this one the end is looked forward to. Some one said the best two days on a trip like this are the first and the last. That maybe all true but it has some truth too it.
Well Dianne wants to beat me at dice again so goodnight.
Count
Not a lot on the river today
6 barges
2 power boats
1 stash of buoys
3 herons
2 runaway red buoys
1 ferry at a new river crossing
11 egrets
Love and Kisses to all (and you know who too)
Allan
Day 50
Position
N 30.66596
W 91.32763
Red Sky in the Morning sailors take warning.
Yep this is a red sunrise we should get wet today.
Long hard day covered more than 40 miles reaching the same spot we camped at in 04. Baton Rouge is now less than 20 miles and we should reach it sometime tomorrow morning or early afternoon. The biggest problem now it the weather has turned from stinking hot to stinking rain. It started to rain this morning and then reconsidered the plan, placing blue skies and light breezes in our path. Then the at a confusing part of the map (new bridge over the river) with a busy facility (power plant), it started tor rain and blow. So we had to crossing the channel with a cross wind, poor visibility a small harbor tow running around and thunder and lightening in the sky. As we had already come 30 plus miles I was grumpy wet and sore not a good combination for conservation with Allan.
A strange thing though we saw 8-9 people just sitting out on the side of the bank watching the rain and enjoying it. I guess it so warm here getting a little wet and cool in the afternoon is not a bad thing.
All the channel crossing were uncontested even the last one although I rushed over as we really could not see far enough to know for sure that we were not interfering with anyone.
As the rain started late that required us to pitch in the rain, another joy for me. I hate pitching tents in the rain. The new tents all have a rian tarp that goes over the bug tent that we sleep in. So when it is raining when you pitch evertyhing inside the tent gets wet. So you have to rush the pitching to attempt at least to keep stuff dry. We did OK and the inside of the tent is dry so I can not complain although I would like to.
Well thunder is all around again and it is spitting a little so I am going inside where it is dry and hopefully not too sandy.
Count
13 egrets
1 coffee cup
4 power boat
11 fishermen
1 run away red
11 barges (8 within the first hour of starting out)
9 blue herons
1 washed out cabin
1 palm tree
1 refrigerator
Love and kisses
Allan
Day 51
Position
Belle of Baton Rouge Casino and Hotel
Woke up early to the sound of the mosquitoes just outside of the tent. As it was early the sun was not up yet and the bugs were really busy. I hopped out of the tent quickly and tried to put on the stocking as fast I could but 10 bugs would just land on the other leg. Compression stocking are so hard to put on it requiring both hand so I had be quick in trying to kill the stupid bugs on the other as soon as I could get one hand free. In addition to all that the little bugs can bite me right though the socks and that is a bite so some of my socks in the laundry have little spots of blood on them.
Right after that is started to drizzle rain a little. I said yesterday nothing is worse worse than setting or taking down a campsite in the rain, except taking it down with rain and bugs too! Really I should not complain too much as the rain stopped and we had a dry a breakfast and the gear was only damp not sopping wet so it was not a wash out like on the Ohio river.
The paddle to reach the Baton Rouge area is not too horrible a total of 27 miles in less than 4 hours so we did pretty good overeating over 6 miles an hour. The traffic during the paddle into town was light only two barges to deal with and they were no where in sight during the channel crossing we had to do.
Now paddling though Baton Rouge area harbor that is a different story. This is the first location where sea going vessels can reach as the river is deep enough for them. So we did see our first really big ship tied to shore unloading (I think) at the Exon dock. It is a little intimidating to paddle beside something that big. The harbor is also very busy. Tows coming this way, moving a barge that way, even a little tug boat running around. At one point a tow was just sitting in place for a long time and then as I approached it started to move out, so I moved closer to shore. Another time an empty tow was racing down the harbor putting out a huge wake then stopped when he saw us, only to race on again after we past. The decks hands on another tow yelled over to us and wished us luck. Not sure what for, maybe now it is a game to see if they can collect us before we reach New Orleans or maybe just luck against what sounds like a lousy forecast for weather. It is forecast to likely rain for the next couple of days with temperatures only in the 80s that is better than high 90s so again I should keep my mouth shut.
Count
2 herons
1 cooler
20 tow (estimated as I was too busy trying to hide from them)
2 casino boats
1 destroyer (Fletcher Class USS Kidd)Here is a picture just to prove I am not seeing things
1 sea going tanker
1 tug boat
5 fishing boats
1 harbor boat racing around
2 guys actually fishing
Way too many barges banked to count
1 bridge
1 observation dock
When I check my emails Dave the guy that tour the Mississippi and around in small outboard motor boat sent this picture of Dianne and I paddling just north of Greenville MS. Thanks Dave
Love and Kisses to all
Allan
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