“The Ohio River moves like old people screw”, I can hear my step dad saying. Not that there’s anything wrong with old people or slow screwing, but I’m just saying it’s slow. Without exaggeration it moves at a pace of about 1 to 1.5 miles an hour…thus far. It may change, but what ive seen so far it’s been flatter than Lake Monroe–seriously. I’ve only seen real waves once…just outside of Louisville, and I’m wondering if the canal/lock through there had something to do with it.

Lazy ole river.

So i feel like I’m paddling flatwater. Doing 20 miles a day actually is a challenge right now. Ive done 20 miles in a day before, but not day after day. So I’m building myself up. Getting used to the grind. Im not going to get discouraged and kick my ass just to get 40 and end this trip early bc of a bad shoulder.

I got 20 more today.

Have been wondering why Hoosiers and Kentuckians view the Ohio River differently. (Note that my sample size is small for the following assertion) It seems Kentuckians are more proud of the river. They have a lot of overlooking parks, more towns, more houses, more mansions. The same happens on the Indiana side too, but maybe 25-30% as often. And while i was trying to make day camp today I think I figured out why….

Every time I’ve camped so far it has been on the Kentucky side. This is because there are way more beaches.

When you look at the Indiana side you see a lot of this limestone shelving with trees covering all available spots…no easy place to disembark, from the boat.

Again, there is that too on the Kentucky side, but only about 25-30% as often…mostly its beach/wooded beach. BUT, you see the symmetry. I think towns were more apt to pop up on the Kentucky side of the river simply because of the geology. You cant build a town on a limestone shelf. But if you did, it would look awesome.

And so, Kentuckians have more of a history with the river, so are more proud of it.

Met an old man named Buford in Alton, IN and he hooked me up with some Gatorade, water, and told me about the bar Im currently sitting in in Magnet, IN. Buford had a perfectly circular hole in his ear and was wearing a US veteran’s hat. I didn’t ask if the two were related.

Now im eating a cheeseburger, chicken fingers, fries, and a couple beers before i go find a spot to camp.