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| Storms are part of spring! |
| More pictures below |
This update comes from the Demopolis yacht basin April 29, 2006.
It felt good to paddle into Demopolis today right on schedule. The trip was supposed to start April, 20 and all I did was
arrive at the river and paddled a quarter mile and camped out on a sand bar. It felt weird to paddle even the short quarter
mile after being off the river for a few months. Friday morning I was excited to start paddling. Even though the weather
forecast called for storms and rain later in the day my sprits were high. Early afternoon gave a strong feeling that severe
storms were going to strike somewhere. A short time later that annoying noise came from my radio that is usually followed by
“this is a test of the emergency broadcast system… However this time the voice issued a severe thunderstorm warning for
Washington county, Alabama. By them I was pretty much in central Washington county.
I decided to ride this storm out in my canoe in the shallow water. It seemed like the safest place because if push came to
shove I could always jump in the water to avoid the furry of the storm. After riding Katrina out in the woods with trees
snapping and crashing to the ground, I said never again would I put myself in that situation again where my very life depended
on if this tree or that branch falls on me. This storm turned out to be more bark then bite. It rained hard and put out a couple of
good wind gusts but that was about it. Friday night after I was all tucked into my canoe and sleeping it rained again for the
most part I stayed dry.
Saturday the sun was out in full force and it was high 80s. I decided early afternoon to take a little nap. A couple of guys
driving a multipurpose vehicle woke me up when they stopped to investigate my canoe and gear. They thought someone had
left the stuff because they did not see me inside. I paddled deep into the night taking advantage of the cooler temps and of
course no hot sun.
Monday I locked through the Coffeeville lock. I had to climb the ladder and go knock on the lockmasters office door. They
usually have chain to pull, but the chain had been ripped down by high water. After locking through I stopped at Bobby’s fish
camp and bought a pack of plastic forks which saved me from having to eat with my hands. Bobby also signed my guest
book. I had forgot to get silverware, zip lock bags, and a sponge before starting back up. It was another hot day. To avoid the
hot sun most of my paddling was done hugging the shore that gave me the best shade. Of course at high noon there is no safe
place to go from the sun. When the sun dips lower in the sky shade becomes available. The current slowed after locking up
through the lock which was a pleasant surprise. Toward evening while paddling near shore I hear a voice from the shore but
can’t see anyone. Turns out the voice belongs to a man named Eddie Pittman. Eddie was soon joined by Joe and Lynne Errest
and last but not least their daughter Chynna. Of course they had some questions and I talked with them for short time and they
signed my witness book. Lynne told me she was going to contact the local paper and give them my info in hopes they might do
a story.
Tuesday started out bad. I awoke during the night with a watery eye and had trouble going back to sleep. I salvaged out about
5 miles and decided to set up camp and go back to sleep. I just felt so tired and run down. Part of it was lack of sleep and
also my body was getting used to living outside again.
Wednesday I felt much better after the much needed sleep. It was dreary and looked like rain all day. The cloudy sky was
welcome sight after so much sun. It did actually rain and felt very good. The river was starting to rise and the current was
getting a bit faster. As darkness fell I continued to paddle and did not set up camp until the sun rose Thursday morning and
after traveling 33 miles. That same effort should of yielded 50 miles.
Thursday I tried to sleep and did a great job until the sun found an angle to heat up my tent to the point I awoke so hot I
opened the tent and sort of rolled into the water for a few minutes and them it was back to sleep. My water supply was very
low (less than 12 oz). I began paddling around sunset and did come across water at a boat ramp/ park. After sleeping all day
I planned to paddle deep into the night. The temp dropped fast after sunset and soon it was in the 50s. Fog was beginning to
set in and I really did not feel all that great and only paddled a few miles and decided to stop for the night.
Friday started out 43 miles from Demopolis and as the sun was starting to set I realized Demopolis was now 27 miles way. I
padded into the night and got a few hours sleep and landed in Demopolis 2:30p.m right on schedule just ahead of the rain that
never really came. A few miles before Demopolis I seen what looked liked a set of antlers attached to a skull. Sure enough it
was a deer skull and 12 point non- typical rack. You just never know what you will find on the river. After arriving in
Demopolis I got to see my friend Dan Sweeney. He still has can not go back to Mississippi because Katrina left nothing to go
back too. Dan is going to take me to restock supplies on Sunday and it will be back on the water. My next stop is scheduled to
for next Saturday (may 6).
Here are some pictures from the past week a barge tooling down the river, letting things dry out after a rain, a little buddy
following me, a few million dollars heading upstream, paddling into the sunset, 12 point buck on the river, berries
yummy!,
It felt good to paddle into Demopolis today right on schedule. The trip was supposed to start April, 20 and all I did was
arrive at the river and paddled a quarter mile and camped out on a sand bar. It felt weird to paddle even the short quarter
mile after being off the river for a few months. Friday morning I was excited to start paddling. Even though the weather
forecast called for storms and rain later in the day my sprits were high. Early afternoon gave a strong feeling that severe
storms were going to strike somewhere. A short time later that annoying noise came from my radio that is usually followed by
“this is a test of the emergency broadcast system… However this time the voice issued a severe thunderstorm warning for
Washington county, Alabama. By them I was pretty much in central Washington county.
I decided to ride this storm out in my canoe in the shallow water. It seemed like the safest place because if push came to
shove I could always jump in the water to avoid the furry of the storm. After riding Katrina out in the woods with trees
snapping and crashing to the ground, I said never again would I put myself in that situation again where my very life depended
on if this tree or that branch falls on me. This storm turned out to be more bark then bite. It rained hard and put out a couple of
good wind gusts but that was about it. Friday night after I was all tucked into my canoe and sleeping it rained again for the
most part I stayed dry.
Saturday the sun was out in full force and it was high 80s. I decided early afternoon to take a little nap. A couple of guys
driving a multipurpose vehicle woke me up when they stopped to investigate my canoe and gear. They thought someone had
left the stuff because they did not see me inside. I paddled deep into the night taking advantage of the cooler temps and of
course no hot sun.
Monday I locked through the Coffeeville lock. I had to climb the ladder and go knock on the lockmasters office door. They
usually have chain to pull, but the chain had been ripped down by high water. After locking through I stopped at Bobby’s fish
camp and bought a pack of plastic forks which saved me from having to eat with my hands. Bobby also signed my guest
book. I had forgot to get silverware, zip lock bags, and a sponge before starting back up. It was another hot day. To avoid the
hot sun most of my paddling was done hugging the shore that gave me the best shade. Of course at high noon there is no safe
place to go from the sun. When the sun dips lower in the sky shade becomes available. The current slowed after locking up
through the lock which was a pleasant surprise. Toward evening while paddling near shore I hear a voice from the shore but
can’t see anyone. Turns out the voice belongs to a man named Eddie Pittman. Eddie was soon joined by Joe and Lynne Errest
and last but not least their daughter Chynna. Of course they had some questions and I talked with them for short time and they
signed my witness book. Lynne told me she was going to contact the local paper and give them my info in hopes they might do
a story.
Tuesday started out bad. I awoke during the night with a watery eye and had trouble going back to sleep. I salvaged out about
5 miles and decided to set up camp and go back to sleep. I just felt so tired and run down. Part of it was lack of sleep and
also my body was getting used to living outside again.
Wednesday I felt much better after the much needed sleep. It was dreary and looked like rain all day. The cloudy sky was
welcome sight after so much sun. It did actually rain and felt very good. The river was starting to rise and the current was
getting a bit faster. As darkness fell I continued to paddle and did not set up camp until the sun rose Thursday morning and
after traveling 33 miles. That same effort should of yielded 50 miles.
Thursday I tried to sleep and did a great job until the sun found an angle to heat up my tent to the point I awoke so hot I
opened the tent and sort of rolled into the water for a few minutes and them it was back to sleep. My water supply was very
low (less than 12 oz). I began paddling around sunset and did come across water at a boat ramp/ park. After sleeping all day
I planned to paddle deep into the night. The temp dropped fast after sunset and soon it was in the 50s. Fog was beginning to
set in and I really did not feel all that great and only paddled a few miles and decided to stop for the night.
Friday started out 43 miles from Demopolis and as the sun was starting to set I realized Demopolis was now 27 miles way. I
padded into the night and got a few hours sleep and landed in Demopolis 2:30p.m right on schedule just ahead of the rain that
never really came. A few miles before Demopolis I seen what looked liked a set of antlers attached to a skull. Sure enough it
was a deer skull and 12 point non- typical rack. You just never know what you will find on the river. After arriving in
Demopolis I got to see my friend Dan Sweeney. He still has can not go back to Mississippi because Katrina left nothing to go
back too. Dan is going to take me to restock supplies on Sunday and it will be back on the water. My next stop is scheduled to
for next Saturday (may 6).
Here are some pictures from the past week a barge tooling down the river, letting things dry out after a rain, a little buddy
following me, a few million dollars heading upstream, paddling into the sunset, 12 point buck on the river, berries
yummy!,
