Jeff Wunrow: Day 43 (10/25/20)

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Day 43 (10/25/20)

Ending the day with a Friendly Face

Start: River Mile 90

Finish: Wax Lake Lodging, Patterson, LA

Day Total: 24 Miles

Segment Total: 1,061

We left our Cajun camp this morning glad to be getting back on the water. Since we are in the Bayou, it was as mosquito infested as you would imagine such a place to be. We were very grateful to our Cajun hosts for letting us use there hunting camp.

Our last morning of paddling the Atchafalaya was so beautiful. With temps in the high 60s, a gentle breeze at our backs and a foggy mist rising from the water it was really a dream like first 5 miles. At 13 miles in, we left the Atchafalaya behind and headed down Wax Lake, a 10 mile long body of water that runs north/south. Knowing we are nearing the end, the lake felt 100 miles long. We are used to our scenery changing every mile or so. Staring at that same distant shore for almost 3 hours was a killer.

At 3:00 pm we pulled into Wax Lake Lodge, just up river from the highway 90 bridge. My good friend Shawn Pye has driven over from Austin Texas to be there for us at the end so he was already in the area. We booked at room at the same hotel he is staying at in Morgan City so we had a chance to shower and do laundry one last time.

Words cannot express my appreciation for the sacrifice Shawn made to be here for us. Taking off work and driving 7 hours to Morgan City. He will then meet us at Burns Point Park tomorrow for our official Gulf of Mexico arrival. Shawn is really more like family than a friend. He and I worked together at Quad for 12 years and together were a sales tandem that enjoyed tons of success. As a result we have be to over 30 states together, and spent more days on the road that I have even my own family. Thank you Shawn for being here to share this moment with me.

Well, time to head out to dinner, then early to bed and early to rise. We want to be on the water tomorrow at first light so we can reach the Gulf by early afternoon if conditions cooperate. More tomorrow from the Gulf!!