Day 27 (A rough start to the new year in Vicksburg MS)

Daily stats
Start: 6:30 AM- On the river
Finish: 12:30 PM - Vicksburg MS
Time: 6:00
Daily dist: 45 miles
Total dist: miles
Companions: None
Weather: Partly cloudy and chilly nice NE tail wind.

Ever since it happened last night I’ve been wondering how exactly to go about telling my mom without worrying her to death. Lord only knows she’s been through enough with all the misadventures I’ve been through up to this point. I figured I’d wait till morning when I was safe and warm with a full belly. That’s where I am right now, in a river boat casino restaurant with the crumbs of a cheese burger on the plate in front of me. I’m taking advantage to a wall outlet to top off my batteries one last time before I push off to the embracing safety of the winter-cold Mississippi river with all it’s whirlpools, wing dams, barge traffic, and wind blown waves….all things that I know and am ready to deal with. 

My problem seems to be with towns and the people therein.
.

Yesterday I came into town and secured my gear in the new wire mesh bags and set about finding water, batteries, a place to charge my computer and phone, a place to do my laundry, and a warm meal. Being New Years day most shops were closed but by walking two miles off the river I did find an open washamateria as they call Laundromats down here and a warm meal came via an all you can eat pizza buffet. My trouble came when I was walking back down to the river later on.

Going on the suggestion of the police in New Madrid I approached a pair of police officers in a grocery store parking lot and let them know about me being camped down by the river. They weren’t too concerned and said that they’d let their sergeant know so if there were any calls they’d know what was up. I bid them good night and continued on. I was walking along the sidewalk coming up on a gas station convenience store. Two teenage kids were walking my way sporting the ridiculous - pants around their knees - look some kids seem to like now days. I didn’t think much of them and simply said “how’s it goin.” as I approached them. The next thing I knew one boy raised his hand and I heard the hissing sound of an aerosol can as something wet and at first cold hit me in the face. An initial sting like hairspray hit my eyes and I stumbled back a few paces and in complete shock said “what’s up with that?!” They didn’t do anything more they just stood by smugly watching me slowly feel the burning effects of the spray take effect. - A PRANK! -

At that point I didn’t know what they’d sprayed (hairspray, paint,…whatever) I just knew that it hurt and was hurting more. I stumbled immediately into the convenience store eyes watering and nose running. As I tried to explain myself the spray worked itself into my skin and eyes. Every time I closed my eyes in pain it got harder to open them again until they were all but sealed shut in pain. The store attendants (much less than really helpful) directed me to the bathroom where I ran water in my eyes and face to try to flush away whatever was causing the pain. After three times asking the store attendants to please call 911 they offered up their phone to me (barely able to keep my eyes open with my face feeling like its on fire) so I could call myself. I said forget it and used my own phone to call. After briefly explaining myself the police and paramedics were sent. Wouldn’t you know it but the same officers I had just spoken to were the first to arrive.

So…for the second time on this trip I found myself surrounded by law enforcement answering questions and giving descriptions as to who had done something to me. I got my first ride in an ambulance to the hospital where they flushed my eyes properly and got me put back together. In the process I learned that I was the second person to fall victim to this terrible prank. Apparently a young woman had succumbed to the same fate twenty minutes before me. They didn’t know exactly what the kids were spraying but a simple guess was that I’d been maced. Nice town eh?

That’s it, I’m done with towns for now. My faith in people (especially this new-to-me kind of cold hearted terrible people found in this region) is wearing thin……very …very…very thin. I hate to admit it but the “knife lady” isn’t totally wrong. It is a dangerous world out there especially along this impoverished corridor of the lower Mississippi. The river is huge, beautiful, powerful, and inspiring. The towns have problems…big problems…and are best left alone, or visited very briefly for only what I need, not necessarily all the town comforts I want after a few days on the river.

I once again received help from some good people this time in a church shelter home who took me in last night and fed me breakfast this morning.  Even as I write this blog the waitress and cook here at the casio restaurant, who know my story, are slipping me sausage and egg sandwiches on the sly.  There ARE good people all around... hopefully enough to make up for the bad ones.  I’m going to be back on the river in an hour and I intend to stay out there until I reach Baton Rogue where I’ll be staying with someone while I sort out the last two days on the river and my transition into the Gulf of Mexico.

What I’ve been told of the state of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina is not good and I am searching, in earnest, for folks to paddle through with me or to give me a place to stay at night. If you know of anybody that lives in the New Orleans area that might be willing to give me a hand please let me know. I only wish I could trust people more, but I’m learning that I simply can’t.

Sorry to put you through this mom…. what a world we live in.

DON’T ANYBODY DARE TELL ME TO STOP
 - NOBODY -
 I DON'T WANT ANY NAY-SAYERS OR I TOLD YOU SO'S

IT WILL TAKE A LOT MORE THAN A COUPLE LITTLE *!#$ &&*@'S IN MISSISSIPPI
 TO PULL ME OFF OF THIS TRIP