Posts in Baton Rouge
Day 101 Mississippi River
Day 101 Mississippi River

I was able to get on the water early this morning. The goal was to make a big push toward salt water in hopes of setting myself up to reach the Gulf tomorrow night.

It was a calm and sunny day in southern Louisiana, the first day of December. Traffic has significantly slowed at this point of the river. Large freighters and cargo ships still cruise by fairly regularly, but for the first time since Baton Rouge I was able to experience calmness. No stress caused by boat traffic in the "bee colonies" of the busy ports. Just me paddling a massive river, trees on either side, and a few boats cruising by now and again.

At 10:30 I made a pit stop to refill water and food. DJ's one stop, a small convince store in Ponite à la Hache, LA. This should be the last supply run before reaching the Gulf.

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Baton Rouge, LouisianaWill CollinsBaton Rouge, Ponite à la HacheComment
Day 96 Mississippi River
Day 96 Mississippi River

 I woke up with the sunrise as barges worked back and forth under an orange sky in the Port of Baton Rouge. Before pushing off for the day and leaving the capital of Louisiana behind I needed a water refill and food resupply.

I walked out from the forest I was camped in, trotted over the levy, and put my skateboard to the pavement. Following a cup of coffee and an egg, Swiss and ham croissant at PJ's coffee shop I located a small market downtown. With a backpack full of groceries and empty water containers I skated back toward home base. On the way I spotted a water fountain off the bike path and filled up my 3 water jugs (that started the trip in Minnesota as plastic apple juice containers) and a 2 gallon collapsible container that had been given to me by John Sullivan all the way back in La Crosse, WI.

I was able to push off into the river around 10:30am. Traffic in the Port of Baton Rouge was busy, with barges and tow boats constantly moving back and forth, and massive ocean going vessels moored up to the loading docks. As I paddled through the Port I weaved back and forth between the two shores doing my best to avoid the commotion

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Baton Rouge, barges, LouisianaWill CollinsLa CrosseComment
Day 93 Mississippi River
Day 93 Mississippi River

I slept in on this Thanksgiving 2017. Once up I gave my family a call in Dallas, TX where they were gathered for the holiday.

After talking with the family I took a leisurely morning, writing and enjoying breakfast and coffee.

I finally hit the water around 11:30am. Baton Rouge, my goal for the night, sat roughly 25 miles downriver.

I worked quickly through the open water, jetting from one bend to the next, doing my best to stick to the inside corners in hopes of avoiding barges. At one point I was pinched in a corner as two barges, one Southbound and one northbound, passed close to shore. I hopped on the Marine radio and spoke with the captain of the northbound vessel.

"You just stick right there buddy and we'll cruise on by. Once I'm past you it looks pretty clear for a while"

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Good People, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, bargesWill CollinsBaton RougeComment