Day 86 Mississippi River
I lifted my head up from the hammock to take note of the orange hue engulfing the eastern sky. A few moments later, still comfortably hanging between two trees, the top of the sun shown through the forest.
After watching the sunrise from the confines of my hammock I got up, did a bit of writing and made breakfast. Two or so hours later I was packed up and ready to hit the water. I began my paddling day by tuning into to what has become one of my favorite ways to pass time on the water, listening to the Joe Rogan podcast. I find his show to be entertaining, enlightening and on par with the way I see the world, yet open enough to challenge preconceived notions. I dig it. Plus, at around three hours a show, it's a great way to eat up some time.
A warm day in the upper 60s, the sun ducked in and out of cover, hiding behind clouds before shining through a gap in the atmospheric moisture, then repeating the process. In the early afternoon I passed Vicksburg, MS.
After passing the two bridges that connect Vicksburg to Delta, Louisiana I began researching ways to send mail to post offices. In doing my research, I called the post office in Baton Rouge, LA. A few days ago, at the request of the students I am working with, I gave the classrooms the address of the Baton Rouge post office, with plans of picking up postage from the students once I arrive. In my conversation with the post office, however, it wasn't clear if this would work or not. For the rest of the afternoon I had a pit in my stomach, imaging the letters kids had written not being held at the post office and being mailed back to sender. I truly hope it works out. From my understanding, a letter mailed to a post office with "General Delivery" marked under the recipients name should be held by the post master for a week or so until the recipient picks it up. I sure hope this is true and works out. I would hate to let the kids down and not have their letters reach me.
Around 4pm I found a large sandy beach on the northern end of an island to call home. As the sun set I pitched my tent, cooked dinner and did some reading from an interesting book I picked up in Memphis, "Hellhound On His Trail".
Planning for an early morning tomorrow and a big day to reach Natchez, MS by nightfall.
Man I hope those letters make it.