Page 59 - Louisiana Loop (manuscript Edition)

Leaving the Shore just north of the Baton Rouge sign where the Train Track still had a crossing light rarely used since
the road was no longer there but the crossing was and the trail led down the levee to the water, I pushed outward fifty
feet to assure some depth.

North of me along the banks the bushes started and led to a tow companies business with parked barges and docks
nearby, but here in Baton this was where many Kayak and Canoe launches were recorded in pictures and details.

Others has said there was no access, I don’t know where they were looking but this was perfect for kayaks.

Paddling along the shore I wanted to get my sea legs on but truth be told I was just too excited to pay any real attention
to my own mental checklist or safety concerns except to don my PFD. I was back on the water exactly where I planned if
not about a week late do to buses and cargo shipments.
On the water and slowly fading out to a better view of the Baton Rouge sign I recalled how I got here:

One of the things that happened was I was not allowed to get in my gear and I didn’t have all my gear so I had just the
clothes on my back like mostly people and it makes you appreciate a lot more some of the things that people go through
when I was told to leave the Bus Station at Midnight.

Now I’ve pretty much understood what it’s like because I’ve been poor at times in my life not exactly homeless but
about as close as you can get in my car as a hippie. I knew what car camping was but it’s only called that when you have
a home to go to. When you don’t and the car is your home you call it homeless.

A part of me from those days is transferred to kayaking and expedition camping but I never forgot my roots so I was
never opposed to having to wing it……...even if at first shocked into dealing with it.
Unfortunately finally on the third day when I was glad to get my gear and I was readmitted to the bus Station with
apologies a guy that I was talking to tried to hustle me.
We almost got into an altercation because he tried to rip me off for cab fare and then rip me off for supposedly helping
me. So it was a tough day the day I finally got my kayaks last bag and that I hadn’t slept that night because I had been
out walking around the city trying to survive.
Then I spent most of the day trying to wait to see if my gear would come in. When it did it was then a matter of getting
out of the bus station and to the water .
Sleep what sleep who needs sleep?

Then I had to try to get everything unloaded from shipping and taxi to Inflating to loading fast because of the only
sunshine I was going to get was to day for the next three days .

Next I had to get across the river and I found out quickly that after three days in a Greyhound bus station and not being
in shape I wasn’t ready to paddle across the river.

Oh I stood up and as is my habit tried to stand up paddle but it about wiped me out so I sat down. Even the few paddle
strokes while nice, were also physically taxing. This not in shame was going to take it’s toll whether I liked it or not.