Page 75 - Louisiana Loop (manuscript Edition)

It goes without saying “Don’t Drink the Water” is a common theme
once you get to Baton Rouge and approach the areas called “cancer
alley”. It is a common practice among kayakers to “filter water”
because water becomes a big issue from Baton Rouge on as
increasingly it is hard to find as easy access as no one want to play
water boy or girl.

BUT NO ONE WANTS TO GET SICK FROM THE WATER
So boiling, straining, filtering and using many ways as possible to save
the effort everyone uses what tools they have available.
I would suggest to you that even with boiling, straining then filtering,
with that much effort, you are better off planning your water stops just
getting pure water.
MY FILTER FAILED AND I GOT VIOLENTLY SICK

Now I admit I should have replaced my filter before I started the trip but it was neglected and I paid the consequences of
my action.
Unless you have a “anti-nausea” pills, you really don’t want to get as bad an episode as I experienced of water poisoning
and spend time in the hospital. I have to admit though after getting “treated” with fluids and rest, I was certainly in better
shape to start my expedition than before as I have spent almost a week depleted from bus, and waiting in bus stations as
well as at least 24 hours of nausea ending in the emergency room unable to stop vomiting till they used an injection and
induced the vomiting to stop.

I admit it got me in faster and I certainly did not have to wait, but that was not planning and I was miserable and sore.
The Bottom Line is still simply: ”Don’t Drink the Water” once you come into petrochemical plants and massive
industrial plants located from about Baton Rouge south;.
It is true some people will say they drink anytime and in rare occasions that may be true and a person might get away
with it at first, but the facts are the water is not safe for drinking even as cleaning the Mississippi River has become a
priority .
Planning and asking or using facilities and buying water is not that hard and doing otherwise is more lazy than necessity.

I plan my water stops as carefully as I do resupply or food and watch for opportunities to add an extra gallon or two to my supply. If
I notice a hose or hose hook up generally I’ll fill a gallon jug without question or thought unless obviously invading private property
but most of the time it is easier to simply ask someone then to have to resort to stealing water.