STATUS: 10/18: TRIP COMPLETED!!! MORGAN CITY, LA

 

On 10/17 the guys travelled 44 miles down to RM 095 and camped on a sandbar for the last night!! On 10/18 Jim and Dave paddled a rough 25 miles in strong headwinds down to Morgan City, LA to complete their journey (it was a fitting last 25 miles as their good friend Mr. Headwinds return to see them off)!!!!!  They met up with Jim's wife Kay who had their hotel already booked and they got to enjoy a few beers and some great cajun food!!!  On 10/19 they will all travel back to Jackson, MS where Jim and his wife will take a few days at his daughters' house before they start the drive with the canoe back to Knoxville, TN and Dave has a flight booked from Jackson, MS back to Atlanta, GA on 10/20.  Dave sent me a message.... "The trip was amazing.  We saw 10 states, about 30 dams and locks, abundant wildlife, boats and boaters of all descriptions, all types of weather, 2 rivers, towns ranging from tiny to huge, barges ranging from small to scary, campsites ranging from great to awful, a river ranging in size from tiny to amazing, and I'm glad we did it!!!!!!"  

 

Please click on the blog post links to view some final thoughts from Dave and Jim about their trip!!  Thanks so much for all the support the site has gotten over the last few months!  It was a pleasure updating everyone!!!  --Lindsay and Steve 

 

STATUS 10/16: ATCHAFALAYA RIVER (SOMEWHERE)

 

The guys enjoyed a few much needed rest days on 10/11 and 10/12.  The Daniel family (Jims daughter Jordan's family) welcomed the guys with open arms and kept them well fed, showered, and Jordan got the horrible task of doing their laundry!!  Dave said it was appreciated and very much needed!  They said it was a fantastic visit and just what they needed before the final leg of the journey!  On 10/13 they paddled 40 miles down to RM 397 and camped on a sandbar and roasted hotdogs over a campfire.  On 10/14 they paddled 56 miles to RM 341 and again camped on a sandbar.  On 10/15 they left the Mississippi River to start on the Atchafalaya river as planned.  They want to avoid the very hectic and slightly more dangerous final section of the MS River and the Atchafalaya will have them finishing in Morgan City, LA.  On 10/16 they travelled 48 miles down to RM 51 on the Atchafalaya River and are camping on a sandbar.  They only have 69 miles left to travel for completion of their journey.  Expected completion date 10/18!!!!! 

 

 

STATUS: 10/11: DANIEL HOUSE,  JACKSON, MS 

 

On 10/9 the guys travelled 51 miles and camped on a sandbar at RM 513.  The weather was good and they found a nice family who topped off their water and even gave them some iced sweet tea!!!  They had severe thunderstorms that night but managed to get up and do 55 miles on 10/10.  They traveled down to RM 455 and again camped on a "nice sandbar."  On 10/11 they waited out fog in the AM to travel 18 miles to Vicksburg, MS, arriving at 1 pm.  They met up with a fellow River Rat named Lane Logue who helped the guys out a ton with their gear and even gave them a few fat tire beers!!  Jim's daughter Jordan met the guys with goodie bags and lots of hugs (Dave's nightmare) and they are staying until Tuesday with the Daniel Family (Jim's daughter Jordan, her husband Kevin and their two children Garland Kay and Cotton.)They will get back on the river on Tuesday.

 

STATUS: 10/8/15 CAMPING ON SANDBAR AT RM 564.5

 

On 10/6 Jim and Dave did 55 miles down to Rm 681 and spent the night on a sandbar.  On 10/7 the guys had a great day of paddling and logged their best mileage to date at 61.5 miles down to RM 619.5 and camped on another sandbar!!!!  Awesome Awesome day for the River Rats!!! On 10/8 they did 55 miles down to RM 564.5 and are again camping on a sandbar!  Quote from Jim "the only thing I hate about camping on a sandbar is the sand".  They have now travelled 1731 miles!!  They will soon be arriving to Vicksburg, MS where they will meet up with Jim's daughter Jordan and her family before starting the final push of the trip. Cell phone service for the river rats has been difficult this week, so I will update with pictures as soon as Jim and Dave are able to send some.        

 

STATUS:  10/5/2015 MEMPHIS, TN

 

On 10/2 Jim and Dave paddled 59.5 miles down to RM 855.5 in howling winds.  They camped on a sandbar and got up early on 10/3 to paddle 15 miles in the early AM.  They stopped in Dyersburg, TN at RM 840 to stay the night at the home of Jeff and Leslie (Jims cousin) and had some good food, and great company!  They also passed a guy who is swimming the entire Mississippi River!!!  On10/4 the guys travelled 55 miles and camped on another sandbar at RM 785.  10/5 was another great day and the guys made it to Memphis, TN!!!  They left the canoe at Mud Island Marina and got a hotel for the night.  They have travelled a total of 1560 miles!!!  Only 569 miles left to go until their projected stopping point at Morgan City, LA.