Getting back out on the water! I am very much looking forward to
getting back on the water. The time off has given me a great chance
to spend time with my family. The next nine days will be familiar
to me. This will mark the third time paddling this section of the
Tom Bigbee river from McIntosh to Demopolis. This section is
largely secluded with no real chance to stock up on groceries until
Demopolis. If the occasion should arise (and it did when Hurricane
Katrina hit) I could walk a mile and a half to a small overpriced
grocery store and a gas station in Coffeeville. Unless some other
unforeseen circumstance presents itself I will have plenty of
supplies to reach Demopolis.
The random sandbars between McIntosh and Demopolis will give me a
chance to try out my new tent and get the most out of my down time.
The river winds around never really giving the wind much time to
pick up waves which is good for me. Paddling against a constant
current can become demoralizing if you let it. When I left Ohio it
was spring, down here in Alabama it feels like full blown summer
high 80s and very hot. Even all the trees have leaves. The hot
temps may force me to paddle during the night and find a shady spot
to sleep during the day.
My scheduled time of arrival in Demopolis is April 29th. Demopolis
is also where my next update will come from.