Less than 100 Miles to go!

Today’s paddle into New Orleans could have been very stressful. However, I felt very comfortable, at home so to speak. Since the 50's I have paddled, sailed and skippered small craft through industrial ports of both the east and west coast and of several countries, hundreds of times both professional and recreationally. Thirty seven years with the US Navy is now paying off. The years I spent with the US Navy were the best of my life.

Some tight squeezes between barges, tugs and ocean going liners were too close to decide ahead where to paddle. This is especially true along shore lines for that is where most of the craft are located, both parked large craft, underway tugs and other work boats. The channel is where the sea going ships tend to stay while underway. This is not true, however, for underway barges, which tend to navigate through wherever the currents are best for fuel consumption.  The decision where to paddle in high water conditions becomes prominently difficult as water levels increase.

We had to decide on a course to navigate as far ahead as possible. Sometimes, what appeared to be the best option would be a disaster. Often, an alternate paddle route must be selected and quickly executed.


Passing the big ocean going liners is not difficult. They tend to slow down for the paddlers…if they see you, that is. Which I believe is easier for them when a paddler stays as far away from other craft as possible.

When passing by large crafts, the worst is their followed waves, waves generated far behind the vessel. I find it difficult to paddle close to the shorelines because once the big swells reach the shallows they broke, sometimes exceptionally high and over a small crafts forward bow.

I have come to the conclusion the safest place to paddle, at least through the busy industrial waters of the south Mississippi, is right down the charted channel. The tug boat Skippers tend to criticize that decision and have asked, more than once, for me to paddle close to the shore line. We have a marine radio and monitor the tug boat skippers chatter. I cannot comply in most cases, for fear of not being un-seen and consequently the larger craft not slowing down as they tend to do when I paddle in the charted channels. Also, there is no way we would be in New Orleans today, a day earlier than planned, had Austin and I stuck to paddling the shoreline through slow waters where the big eddies swirl.

I have been fortunate to paddle the waters leading to New Orleans with seasoned paddler Austin Graham. He and I basically have the same philosophy when it comes to paddling busy ports. Also noticeable was that once we reached New Orleans "down town" there were very few craft of any size, both parked and underwater. The more difficult waters to paddle are upstream, basically passed, for now that is.

Austin is an amazing person.  He never complains, no matter how difficult the condition are. Just a super guy to do extreme adventures with. 

And, who wouldn't love a guy who has a sense of humor like this?  

Some more personal notes from today’s paddle are on my heart and need to be said.  Trixie Pocket, although not home herself, the neighbors were there awaiting, shouting and shooting bottle rockets and welcomed us with open arms with food, ice cold water, and all.  Thank you also goes to Robyn Bordelon who was planning to paddle with us tomorrow. With the unfortunate issues associated with fast waters, her plans changed, so she met us at the wooden steps in New Orleans, with sandwiches, cold drinks, a truck and a big hug. River Angels like Robyn are a paddler's dream.

A group of people awaited my arrival at the steps downtown New Orleans. There were two individuals I noticed specifically on the bottom step next to the water’s edge. It was Robyn and AJ Foret. I have not met either in person, but AJ and I have been Facebook friends for years. His presence made the emotional adrenalin flow. We are now staying at his home. Two nights without heat and mosquitoes, what a relief!   Before dinner, went for a short walk through the nearby French Quarter and now, I must now sleep.