Page 163 - Louisiana Loop (manuscript Edition)

As the jon boat came closer I could see the dog more clearly in the front and the pilot of the boat sitting in the back
holding the motor handle and the bow of the boat bouncing considerably in the waves. He needed more weight in the
front and I was glad for him that the wind was at his back because a headwind might have flipped him but being out in
the River on these waters I was sure he must know what he was doing.
As he angled across the east side channel of the island I thought “cool” as I had spent some time alone already not seeing
anyone really and looked forward to the company. Comradery of the River often made for campfire friends and I
certainly liked meeting people on the river more than on the shore.
As I stood there watching his progress to my southerly point of the island I could see the gentleman was older and
seemed to fit his dog and his boat. In my mind I imagined “salty dog” and so I nicknamed him Salty Dog as later we
would not exchange names.
People I meet I don’t have a habit of coming up and pressuring to shake hands and pull an awkward moment out of my
hat on the river because not everyone wants to tell you their name. If there comes a time in my conversation when I think
I need to say mine I do easily and freely but in such a way that the person never feels compelled to say who they are.
I met many more people than I listed in my books on the Mississippi River who not only did not want to have pictures
taken but also did not want to share their name so I respected that and still do. The same was true about people who have
done and are doing the Mississippi River. Some don’t want to be known or seen and just want to paddle the river and
even avoid some of the “camera traps” like in the far north. They still paddle the river but for whatever personal reasons
they have they don’t want to be known.

PERSONALLY I LIKE THAT
As ‘Salty Dog’ pulled up I could see his engine on his boat was somewhat DIY (do it yourself) or repaired personally. A
blanket was in place for the dog but the boat was generally a little light for traveling on the river so I suspected what we
called a “day tripper” meaning taking a “day trip” and not a long distance journey.
I was wrong.

Seeing my Kayak on shore Salty Dog called out and asked about landing if it was safe to and I said Yes though recently
water had begun to rise and I had sticks staked out to monitor it.

Relaxed as I was and glad to see another human being I made conversation easy and we fell into “light talk” about the
river and being about noon he mentioned something about coffee and I mentioned something about a beer and we wound
up splitting a single beer as the heat was on sort of and I promised to give him sugar since he was out.

It’s not my habit to drink beer since I prefer Pepsi but times and occasions I drink beer when I can convince myself it
taste good and this was one of those times. Beer also is a universal bridge that often lets a person relax and be themselves
for fear of religious people. I can talk about God, religion and faith as easily as I don’t have to so for me I tend to go with
the flow like the river and see where the current and channels lie.
It felt good to talk. We sat on chairs by my fire and I gave him the good one, chair that is. We broke the ice and his dog
was older and well mannered and it made for a nice break from the solitude of silences paddling alone often brings. It
wasn’t long before Salty Dog realized I was ok and he started talking about his destination and where he came from just
now.
Similar to my experience in Baton Rouge with “the hustler” Salty Dog had to make a quick exit from a rough crowd and
as rough as Salty looked they had to be some bad hombre’s. He was heading up river and when I saw his phone dead I
offered to charged his phone and slowly needs began to give way to campfire friendship. He had some food but I shared
mine with him and He had a long ways to go and I had plans and southern route.

It wasn’t long till he was friendly and offering to catch Catfish for us and how we would feast since I didn’t fish.
Moving his boat he set about making it ship shape even went out and set some lines while I watched his dog.