Daily stats
Start: 9:00 AM - Memphis, TN
Finish: 4:00 PM -Tunica MS
Time:7:00
Daily dist: 38
Total dist: 561 miles
Weather: Strong SW wind (made water rough)
Start: 9:00 AM - Memphis, TN
Finish: 4:00 PM -Tunica MS
Time:7:00
Daily dist: 38
Total dist: 561 miles
Weather: Strong SW wind (made water rough)
Elmore and Martha at home - my hosts for Christmas
I was up late getting caught up on the blog but I really can’t use that as an excuse for wanting to stay in bed. I really couldn’t pry myself out because I didn’t want the warm Christmas glow to end. But, alas, the river was calling and today Elmore and I had plans to put in 35 miles together from Memphis to Tunica. With plans for Martha to drive to the take out to pick Elmore up, I had the welcome chance to paddle an empty boat while my gear rode down in the truck.
Me with Memphis pyramid in background. (photo by Martha Kelly)
We got on the water by 9:00 AM and Martha’s family came down to the marina to see us off. After the obligatory signing of my boat, and photographs, we slipped away from the dock and began our long slog into the wind. Thankfully it was to be a relatively short day because we both knew we’d be working into a head wind almost all day. One thing that’s understood on this river is that, if the wind is blowing, it will be blowing up stream. Just like two days before, the force of the wind worked against the flow of the river, opposing forces that lump the surface of the water into 2 to 3 foot short interval waves. For much of the day we pulled ourselves down stream trying in vain to hind from the wind along whatever shore looked most likely to provide shelter. It worked for a couple sections but much of the time we worked hard against the wind barely making headway any faster than the current would have pushed us on a calm day.
Elmore and me heading out (photo by Martha Kelly)
When a bend in the river did provide a quiet moment I had a chance to talk to Elmore such a welcome change from talking to myself. He also managed to get a few snap shots of me. Unfortunately those moments were fleeting and we both spent most of the day bouncing through the waves on the river like bronc riders at a rodeo which was fun in it’s own way.
Paddling with Elmore, for whom these are his local waters, gave me a chance to see h`ow he navigates the river. My strategies haven’t been too far off but, just the same, several times I’d have to play catch up while Elmore surged ahead of me by catching a current or avoiding an eddy that I just hadn’t seen. Matched against his river knowledge, racing stroke, and longer boat, I had my work cut out for me to keep up.
After six hours of paddling we landed at the Tunica boat ramp where Martha was waiting. I quickly loaded my boat, bit them farewell and headed back across the river to set up camp on a beautiful sand bar. I’m set up within sight of two casinos on the Mississippi State side, but across a half mile of fast flowing river I may as well be in a different country.
Me from Tunica boat ramp bridge. (photo by Martha Kelly)
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