The Great Mississippi River Adventure

Day 52 or bonus day 7

Stats

63.8 miles traveled in 10:47 hours

River mile start:167

River mile end: 100

River mile today 67

River mile total:2195

% complete: 95.1

Miles to go: 100+12=112

Average 6.0 mph (breaks, lunch)

Burned 2562 calories

Kayak: Y&H Quest 

Temp at launch 80 degree, at pick up 85

The number of barges in this area is incredible. All day long I was avoiding barges and sea going ships. Tow boats were reporting my position to each other in order to be on the look out for me. I  appreciated that. I purposely stayed out of the main channel so as not be a nuisance. Sadly a couple of malcontents made statements like "he must be suicidal " or "he's just a jackass".  I understand some people are just negative about anything not in their universe and as such they have no bearing on anything I do. I hate the negativity they spread via the radio. Several boat captains and crew cheered me on as I paddled by. I  know I was not a burden on the boat traffic, so any issues were created by the few.

I did avoid a few major storms. I could see lightning and rain ahead of me, and when I checked behind me, quite frequently, I could see a major rain storm behind me. At one point there was a storm to my right with lightning hitting the left bank. I made sure I  was close to the anchored barges to the right. Of course that's when I got drizzled on.

My planning google earth had the wrong river mile for the Patterson rd boat ramp. Denean was able to. Measure and suggest an alternate location. The Fly park would have been good if it wasn't for the current flood stage. Fortunately, just upstream, was a park that had a small beach. The Batture.

I saw my first alligator today. I  took a picture but it wasn't very visible.  So 0 poisonous snakes, 1 alligator, 0 sharks.

112 miles to go...I hope it goes well!

Good night all!