Before I tell you about day 21, let me first write about the strangest thing that happened on day 20. About 7pm Im sober, reading, and suddenly all the fish on the surface of the water. All the fish. They get spooked and they jump at once. Just once. No clue what would cause this. My guess is a tremor/small earthquake or a barge made a loud noise underwater. Maybe you have an idea? But it happened.

Day 21 was absolutely fantastic. I woke up early trying to beat rachael and Marianne (her mom) into town so they wouldn’t have to drive extra…they came 3.5 hours to meet me out here! Months ago when I was working at att, rach and I were talking about this trip and she said that when I get to Cairo she’d show me around the place. Its the town where she and her mother were born, but moved away in the late 70s…this was bc the town kinda died off after the race riots in the 60s. Rachael and her mother’s house was literally bombed…with a bomb, I believe the motive being that they are Syrian. And the police were stuck inside the station because people from outside were shooting it. Sounds like a rough spot.

So rach had vacation this week and lived up to her promise and we all had a fine time. We went around and looked at some historic buildings, their other house, then by chance ran into some people they hadnt seen in 30 years! I was glad we did, because I feel it made the trip a lot more special for them, I also didn’t want my trip to be the center of attention all day.

photo 1

The old movie theatre

The old movie theatre

Hanging wit sum homies at Guetterman Ford. VERY nice people here.

Hanging wit sum new homies at Guetterman Ford. VERY nice people here.

After meeting a bunch of old friends, we went to the best BBQ place I’ve been to, Shemwell’s. Cairo doesn’t have much, but it has Shemwell’s. We then went to The Point, the park at the confluence of the Ohio and the Mississippi, I caught myself pacing back and forth when I saw it.

photo

photo 3

But before I get to the Mississippi, I need to thank Rachael and Marianne for taking me around town and more. Not only did they buy my lunch, but sent me away with a pound of shemwells and paid for my groceries no matter how much I pushed back. They really went out of their way figuratively and geographically, to show me a good time, and to make sure I was well fed–a Syrian thing they tell me. I just know it as a nice thing and still cannot believe the love and support I continue to receive from everyone around me on this trip. Thank you Rachael, and thank you Marianne!

So, I am now camping on the Mississippi. It does move faster. It did do some weird wild stuff when I ran from the Ohio into it. Eddies, whirpools, 4 foot waves. It was real. I was on my toes though and got through unscathed. Not even a splash into the boat. But once the confluence was a mile or so back it changed back to recognizable paddling. I’ve found a nice stacked beach across from Wickliffe, KY that I could not pass up. SO, I will start the Ole Miss tomorrow with a belly full of BBQ and a well rested body. Looking forward to it.

IMG_2014-07-19_18-06-41