Why are the Barges in the best parts of the River?!
Start: River Mile 52
Finish: River Mile 19
Day Total: 34 Miles
Segment Total: 260 Miles
We started the morning at our B and B, getting all our clean and dry gear ready to go. All our water bottles and bags were also full, which makes you feel very comfortable heading into a stretch of the river where we are several days to the text town.
Our B and B host Rocky was a great guy. Not only did he pick us up from the river landing yesterday, he brought us back to the river this morning. We sure did enjoy his support and hospitality. We launched at 8:45 am into a brisk 10 mph head wind.
Our goal today was simple if not easy. We wanted to get to river mile 20, so that we could get downriver from Cairo, IL before camping. Cairo is were the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi join forces. We were hoping to be able to stop there but to get to Cairo, you have to paddle upstream on the Ohio, not something we are interested in attempting.
The river is now a very winding, with us paddling to every compass point throughout the day. Somehow, no matter the direction, we seemed to always manage to keep our head wind. It was WORK to make the miles we needed. We ate and I our boats to make this best possible time. At times we found our selves cursing the wind and had to be reminded that we volunteered for this!
Jon tried to teach me some old Boy Scout canoeing songs, but I just couldn’t seem to pick them up. We told every stupid story we could think of to keep moving. My sheer force of will we landed at what would become our home for the next 14 hours at 4:30 pm
It was my turn to make dinner so we have butter and herb rice with chicken breast and the last of our warm beer. Since I cooked, it was Jons turn to get the fire ready. He and I have very different approaches to file building. Mine is very methodical, building from small to large with all the pieces of wood carefully placed. My daughter Catie have the same approach. Jon on the other had used what I call a blunt force method, that is 180 degrees different from mine, but is equally It's fun watching him, cause is always turns out perfect!
Quotes of the Day:
“I can’t believe we just got passed by a stick floating down the River!”
“Look we are having a floating picnic!”
Jon and I at the Cape landing
Campfire at River mile 19
Floating Picnic
No comments:
Post a Comment