Jake,
I'm glad you are safe. Please reconsider allowing someone to finish this trip with you rather than alone.
Branden Z.

Jake, Sorry this happened to you and hope you are feeling better. I know that baby shampoo can help stop the skin from stinging and your tears help to wah out the spray. Your original idea of us all being linked to the water and now having others join you for portions of your journey makes sense. Paddle on.

Keep paddling Jake.

Our deep caring and love are with you. I, too, am thinking of your mother and dad - and the rest of your wonderful family. I would never suggest quitting - others who know more than I know what you need to do (including yourself). Just be smart and continue your dream. We are all with you. It is hard to face this side of the world - without any doubt whatsoever, it is there. We cannot let those people make us become bitter - we just have to be certain we become smarter - their ways just cannot win!

In case you haven't seen the movie Deliverance, if you hear a banjo as you walk into down, get the heck out of there as fast as you can.

Oh Jake, I am so sorry. I can't believe this has happened to you. I have always been so proud of southern hospitality. I wonder where it has gone. I guess I'm just naive.

Pat

Jake, I've really enjoyed following your blog postings, but can't tell you how disappointed I've been to read of the two town incidents you've had. All areas are inhabited by both good and bad people, as your experiences demonstrate so frustratingly well. It's clear to me that a trip such as yours would only be undertaken by someone with both great physical strength and great emotional strength. I know you'll use that emotional fortitude to persevere through times such as this one. Be more wary when you have to, but I hope these events don't change the character of the person I feel that I'm getting to know through your postings. Continue to be strong and know you have many many supporters and admirers.

Keep your head up Jake. Bad apples in every batch. Dont let'em get you down.


Keep up the good work!!!!!!

Sorry to hear about your misadventure on your Great Adventure! Stay Strong! I am enjoying your blog. Aaron, LOVE you Letter to the Editor!

Sounds like they sprayed you with pepper spray. Your eyes slam shut and the effects last about 30 minutes.
there usually are no lasting effects though.

Go Jake Go!

I wish all of the people of this country were as good and honorable as you need. Watch you back, and be safe!

Hey Jake I hope your doing alright after this incident with those punks. It hard to imagine a human harming another human and not having any remorse. Anyway keep your head up and stay safe and know that the majority of people in this world are good. Stay safe man I've been enjoying your blogs.

When Aaron called me last night. I could not believe it. My adventurist friend you are traveling along the arm pit of the south. All the towns along there are less than inviting (cleaned this up a bunch since I talked to Aaron). There are good people in the south, Arkansas here but please don't judge us by those that live along the rivers in the Delta's. It is tough all over but I promise the inner cities have nothing on the mean nature of the poor river bottom dwellers. You keep going and know that the "Big Easy" is less than save. Any time you have cops assigned in pairs, 2 in one car that is a "sign". They have guns and an area that needs two guns for safety, well dont stop.. Paddle, Paddle FAST. I can't wait until you are closer to the Florida area. I have family down there and I will contact them as you get closer.

Just don't give up on the good people.. They are out there but they most likely are working during the day and sleeping at night. You know the taxpayers and not the Entitlement gangs running around at night, drinking, trading and "pranking". It was most likely the welfare reciepents or the kids of those that don't work that were pranking you.

Keep going down river hit the gulf and dont look back... and when you finish this trip lets plot out the White River that passes through the beautiful Ozark mountains for a chance to instill any loss of faith in the human race. Good old Hill people up here... Hill billies...

Keep up the great posts...

Mike

Please, everyone feel free to blast me but remember Jake is on this great adventure and "All opinions are that of the writer and in no way reflects that of the hero paddling down the Mississippi River"

Mike S., I don't want to "blast" you or anyone else, but I think you're leaping to some faulty generalizations about the people of the Mississippi Delta AND the people of the Ozarks. I've spent substantial time in both regions, and in both regions I've encountered some of the most gracious people I've ever met and some of the biggest creeps I've ever met.

Jake, Sorry for you trouble. You were the victim of random stupidity. It is sad the mindset of some. Makes one realize how far on the value chart some have fallen. I can't help but think of you as a soldier on one of the frontlines of many of the moral delemmas we face as a society. Okay, a little corney, but you have taken on a great solo adventure and are touching more lives in a positive way everyday. So don't ever give up your quest. Be careful and keep on shining.

Hey Jake, a friend just told me this morning about your blog and that you were in need of some help in New Orleans. I moved here a few months ago and have plenty of room to stay and have been told I'm not a terrible cook. If you're still in need, shoot me an email (and a cell if you have it) and let me know what day you think you'll be arriving. Hope things have calmed down for you!
- Corey (cafunder@gmail.com)

I think the biggest casualty of this pranking incident is that it chipped away a bit of your incredibly positive outlook on life. It made me livid to hear about those ignoramuses and then the 7-11 losers who wouldn't even lend a hand. I don't blame you for being pissed. Let's hope karma takes care of them, and you run into some more angels like you have previously on this trip. May the force be with you!
Best, Patty

Jake,
In response to Jen's post: I didn't want to mention it before for fear of jinxing you, but your photos show a yellow bag (spare paddle?) on your back deck that resembles the aforementioned evil fruit.

That nonsense aside, if anything can purge the bad juju from this trip, it's your spirit and integrity. Combined with all of the support from the friends you've yet to meet along the way and those following your blog, you will succeed. Hang in there!
Cheers, Greg

Jake,

Sorry to hear about your misfortune in Vicksburg. I actually spent a month down there and found everyone hospitable as advertised. I don't doubt that there are punks down there, there are punks everywhere. I hope you don't run into anymore.

Andy

Jake--this is your dream to do the great loop and continue to do so. Don't let the 2 misshaps get you down. As you are paddling during the day and have a chance to rest please pray to God and as him for protection, peace, and strength for the remainder of your trip, you are human not supernatural so with God on your team as your savior he can make the rest of your trip more peaceful. I will begin saying a daily prayer for your safety and strength. Good luck and don't quit!!! In Jesus' precious name..

Rich

I thought about it all night long whether I should say anything or not.

I decided to, in hopes that it could prevent some fatal mishap from occurring. The last thing I, and I am sure everyone else, is in agreement with, is none of us want to watch a movie about your demise, which occurred to Christopher McCandless, who hiked into the Alaskan wilderness, with little food, expereince and equipment, and died four months later of starvation.

You never know what or who you may encounter out on the open road/waters. Under your circumstances, you are bound to attract a lot of attention. You are also an easy prey because you are alone and are unfamiliar with the area.

Since you elected to paddle this journey alone, it is completely up to you to keep yourself as safe as possible on this adventure of yours. Your plan has some flaws in it, which need to be rectified or else I suspect a, b and c listed below will occur in the near future.

The more time that you think about what you would do in these situations, the more prepared you will be, if they should occur – which is the same reason why you practice rolling. The more you practice (think about what you would do), the better prepared you will be if/when they occur.

What is your plan:

if instead of getting sprayed with pepper spray by two guys –

a.) two guys followed you back to your camp and beat the pulp out of you and then stole all of your stuff – including your cell phone and wallet?

You might want to keep a debit card (and identification who to call in an emergency) taped to your leg under your sock…for such emergency.

b.) Or if two men followed you back to camp to steal your kayak, while you are a sleep – (or you woke up when they were attempting to steal your kayak), what would you do?

What means of self defense do you have?

c.) How long do you think your gear will be safe from individuals who make a habit of breaking into locked garages?

Wouldn’t a good pair of bolt cutters be able to cut right through the wire gear protection?

If you are dragging a kayak around with you – you will stand out like a sore thumb, which will draw more attention to you than if you were walking around town without it.

It is more difficult to get away from would be attackers, when you are dragging your kayak with you.

Perhaps you need to avoid going into town as much as possible.

Here’s a soft cooler http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=12551%2E1&deptid=1601

that will fit under your bungee cords on the top of your kayak, which will allow you to carry more food and water.

Pulling out a laptop (or expensive electronic equipment) in a public facility, to recharge the batteries will draw attention to would be robbers.

Perhaps it would be wise to only blog once a week – and turn on your cell phone ONLY at designated times of the day when you check in to preserve the length of the batteries.

Pitching a tent on the shore of river, at this time of the year, in a location that doesn’t typically have tents pitched, will also draw a lot of attention.

Isn’t pitching a tent on a sand bar on a river – which is known to flood –…especially when it is raining rather risky?

Laundromats attract thieves who steal peoples clothing out of dryers when people go next door to get a donut – (or step outside to watch their kayak).

One of my safety repellants while kayaking out in the boonies, is to stink as much as possible so people keep away from me…Don’t laugh, it has worked so far.

Isn’t paddling in the fog extremely risky for other vessels to see you?

The more you avoid risky situations that put your life in jeopardy, the greater the chance you will have to complete this journey of yours intact and alive.

Janice - apparently you are not aware of Jake's skill as a paddler, he has more hours logged on his rearend then probably most of us combined. I would be willing to bet his skills on the water against most people (especially crash test Berto:). As for moving and navigating the fog, Jake has made the necessary adjustments (putting trust in technology) to help keep him safe on the water.
Along with his skill as a paddler, Jake has also spent a few years on a California mountain search and rescue team along with spending 30 years hunting and camping in Northern Wisconsin. He has also lived near to and camped in the Everglades, so he understands and is ready to deal with the natural hazards of the South - Jake is very skilled at wilderness survival and will have no trouble surviving with the gear he has.
As for Jake's urban survival - he has thought of the questions that you pose and does have a basic plan - One of the smartest suggestions that Jake has received and placed into action is notifying authorities of his presence and asking them to check on him.

As it stands, we (his family) are working on plans to gt him safely through populated areas - if you know of individuals along the route that may be able to aide him let us know - But be rest assured Jake has the skill and knowledge to make it through this trip. The only real danger he faces, is the unpredictable human scum which no amount of planning will ever prepare him for!

Keep going Jake! we got your back

FYI I have kayaked (and camped) solo seriouly for 32 years – at over 250 destinations on 3 week expeditions at remote destinations.

I read Jake’s bio. His bio didn’t mention anything about camping on an extended kayak trip for more than 13 days which totalled one outing.

The glitch in notifying the police of your location is, it might be illegal to pitch a tent, and they may prohibit Jake from camping there.

The bottom line, is we all want Jake to stay out of harms way.

Jake,
We hated to read about your trouble in Vicksburg and maybe "street smarts" is what you are gaining from these misfortunes. Please do NOT let these 2 incidents chenge your faith in the majority of people you have and will encounter on this journey. You are a remarkable person who is getting stronger and wiser and we are lucky to know you and share the good, bad, and ugly. We are praying for you every day!

Regarding four posts back... Since Jake is now solidly engaged in his expedition, I don't see much point in quibbling over whether he is or is not qualified to do it.
But I will offer this observation: Having spent the better part of my life involved with paddling in particular and the outdoors in general, I have noticed that one's degree of aptitude, skill, and experience varies inversely as one's desire to mouth off about same.