Woke up 500 miles from Nola this morning at mile marker 597ish.
I finally learned to stop counting mileage altogether while I paddle. Keeps me from paddling across a mile wide river just to look at a damn number. I found that I move at a rate of about 6mph so I just measure in hours now. Its actually quite accurate and cant believe it took me almost 5 weeks to figure out that trick.
I also have a fix for mosquitoes. They’re only a big problem for me because I wake up so early. Ive been getting up at 430 local time, 530 eastern, and its still technically night out. So I’m finally moving to central time. The cost will be an hour of paddling during the coolest part of the day (bc the sun still goes down at the same time even tho Ive moved an hour back.), but weather is good.
Winds were light and from the North. Thats just how I like them. System out of the north is creating beautiful 80 degree weather for me over the next few days. I intend to take full advantage. Tomorrow ill sleep in Louisiana. Day after ill be in Vicksburg.
Pulling into Greenville today I was really craving pizza. Its been over a month since Ive eaten pizza. But it was not meant to be. The Port of Greenville is kind of convoluted. You have to go past town, then turn back up an inlet and go about 3 miles on flatwater to get into town. So thats 2-2.5 more hours of paddling (there and back) just for a pizza…nah. So Im at Warfield Park on the southside of town.
Neither pizza hut nor dominos will deliver here even though I said I’d pay the driver extra. O wellz. Vicksburg in 48 hours. We’ll try again there.
Got the Quapaw hookup in Vicksburg and will be staying the night at one of their affiliate’s. So I should leave Vix with fully stocked pantry, power pack recharged, and a large pizza in my stomach. Looking forward to it like its Christmas and I’m 9-years-old.
Paddled approx 60 miles and have setup camp right under marker 537.
MM537 above
Nana
Jul 30, 2014 -
When you get past Vicksburg, it looks like there are no cities to stop in. You won’t be able to set up camp on shore when you get to Alligator country…..what are you going to do??? I’m sure you’ve planned for that but it concerns me….
Stay safe, I love you.
Nana
Nikki Mitchell
Jul 31, 2014 -
Don’t like this part of your journey. Stay in bridges and stuff if you can please. This
Is an article I read this morning will you be coming in contact with the yazoo river or the atchafalaya rivers? This is what I found The areas along the river and the river itself support a great variety of plants and wildlife. Because there is an abundance of natural cover, a good amount of isolation, and food provided by plants such as sedges, pondweeds, and millets, a number of birds flock to the area, especially waterfowl. An estimated eight million ducks, geese, and swans winter in the lower portion of the river, and many more birds use it in their route to Latin America.
The river itself is home to a number of different fish. For example, the most important vareties of fish include several types of catfish, which are used commerically. There are also walleyes and suckers, which are abundant in the middle and lower river and provide the basis for the sport-fishing industry.
Alligators are now becoming rare in the river, only being found in the most isolated backwaters. Shrimp and crab fisheries of the waters are in decline.
Nikki Mitchell
Jul 31, 2014 -
Additionally, numerous marine species have been commonly recorded in the Mississippi’s lower reaches. This ecoregion also supports a large number of unionid mussel and crayfish species (63 and 57 species, respectively). Aquatic reptiles include American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) plus two endemic turtles: Ringed map turtle (Graptemys oculifera) and Yellow-blotched map turtle (G. flavimaculata).
David Mitchell
Jul 31, 2014 -
Mmmmmm, Pizza!