The Great Mississippi River Adventure

Day 47 or bonus day 2

Stats

60.9 miles traveled in 9:26 hours

River mile start:427

River mile end: 363

River mile today: 54

River mile total:1932

% complete: 83.3

Miles to go: 363+12=375

Average 6.5 mph (breaks, lunch)

Burned 1927 calories

Kayak: Y&H Quest 

Temp at launch 79 degree, at pull out 93

This morning began with a race with a barge. He took the lead but I caught and passed him at the second turn. That's where the race ended as a father/son and fathers friend out fishing stopped me to talk about my trip. They seemed impressed with my Adventure.  Dad offered me water and beer, I should have taken the beer.

By this time I had an inch of water in the kayak. It seems that there are hydraulic phenomenon going on. When there is a turn or a pool in the river the water flow slows down. The feeding side is still traveling at the higher current speed. When the two meet, water cannot be compressed. So the result is a vertical escape. When you're in a Kayak with the cockpit 3 to 4 inches from the water line, said upheaval has a tendency to moisten the lucky kayaker. 

This reminds me of the phenomenon on the boat when someone at the front of the line pushed backwards. People behind him pushed back getting more sailors involved. Eventually the movement nudged a half asleep me. So I executed a Mongol move from Blazing Saddles and co.pressed the entire line by 10 to 15 feet. The last 5 feet I was using the stantions as horizontal foot holds. Eventually so.e seaman in the middle started rising towards the overhead. That's when LT Gordon came around the corner. He ordered me to stop and go to the end of the line. So I stopped and went to the front end. Submarines are a mensa club for delinquents.

In honor of my nuke friends here is some eye candy. Grand Gulf.

The rest of the day I spent fighting the wind and dodging barges.

Natches has a lot of beautiful homes overlooking the river but I couldn't get any pictures as I was fighting the wind. I want to go back to Natchez. 

Getting close to the end my friends. 

Good night everybody!