Page 60 - Louisiana Loop (manuscript Edition)

Making Landfall was wonderful partially because it was so close and more importantly being on the water had once
again felt like being matched together as a Jig and Saw to a jigsaw puzzle. After all how do you explain traveling
thousands of miles just to paddle on a river so far away from home?
It just fit.

Taking an angle towards the bridge, twice I had to let barges pass on the east side because I could not trust my weakness
in paddling at this stage. I would paddle a few strokes then glide to catch my breath. Knowing that I watched first for an
opening to “get to the middle” on one side of the bridge without southbound traffic.

Making the center “pass thru” under the bridge I watched for traffic and had to wait for some tows and barges from shore
side docking.
River current wasn’t obvious as usual but when closer to shore you could tell it was moving right along. The Miss is said
to be 3-5 mph most places but that can vary greatly in isolated areas.
Passing the bayou and lock entrance I headed in towards the point to be so shallow that barges might not travel unless
parking by sticking front end into shore as they often do.

I found what I thought was reasonable camp to re-pack and stay a day or two that the map showed no barge parking and
was close to the entrance of the lock. It was meant to be for only one night, but weather changed that.

TYPICAL MISSISSIPPI RIVER ADAPTING.