Days 70 & 71 - Water Shortage
Day 70: Pickett Island → Pickett Island
Date: September 16th, 2022
LRM 704 → LRM 704
Distance today: 0 miles
River Time: 0 hours
Countdown to Baton Rouge, LA: 475 miles
Local Gauge: -4.0 Memphis Gauge
I think today’s spot was a great one for a rest day. A tall willow forest with a sandy bottom, and shade most of the day. Today we lived on a small island wedged between two wingdams.
We were ahead of schedule for our arrival to Clarksdale, so we had to slow it down a notch, hence the rest day today.
We filled our day with reading books, life talks, embroidering, hammocking, swimming, cooking, and towboat watching.
The only problem, as we noted last night, was that we were now running low on water. Having to go an extra 24 hours before our scheduled resupply point left us with less than enough. We rationed water all day, and tried to prevent sweating whenever possible. Now at the end of the night, I am going to bed with half a liter of water to my name. Luckily we will wake up early, and a water resupply will be our first order of business!
Here are some photos from the day:
Day 71: Pickett Island → Doe Island / Prairie Point Towhead
Date: September 17th, 2022
LRM 704 → LRM 665
Distance today: 39 miles
River Time: 10 hours
Countdown to Baton Rouge, LA: 436 miles
Local Gauge: 2.9 Helena Gauge
This morning our mission critical was to get drinking water. By the time 7:15 a.m. rolled around, we were both completely dry. Luckily, we had a plan. We paddled the ~4 miles to the Tunica Riverpark, which opened at 8 a.m. according to the sign on the building.
Except it didn’t.
8:10 a.m., 8:20 a.m. … nothing. Google Maps said 9 a.m., and Tunica Tourism said 10 a.m. So we weren’t sure what to believe, and we decided to expand our search.
We went off exploring and found hose water by the Tunica Casino. It wasn’t the greatest, but it would have to do. Certainly it was better than drinking the water from the Mississippi! (I do have a backup option, a filter with a charcoal component that can reduce some of the chemical content of the water, but I keep it as a last resort only.)
We began to lug our water jug back to the boat ramp, taking turns carrying the 42 lb load. When we arrived back at the Tunica Riverpark, we were astonished to find it open for business! We dumped out the hose water, and refilled with some water from inside. When we asked the staff what time the place opened, she replied that it opens at 8 a.m., she was just late. The entire experience was very Delta.
A Floating Lunch
Due to our hour-long delay, we hopped into the boat post-haste. We decided to have a floating lunch, taking turns preparing our lunches while the other kept the canoe straight.
As we were eating, a peculiar barge passed us — one that we had been hearing about on the radio for some time. All the other barges on the River were yielding to it heavily, parting like the Red Sea to give it all the space it needed. We were confused as to why this was the case, until we realized that the containers were stacked higher than the pilot house of the tow! It couldn’t see straight ahead of it, thus it was being given all priority. It was an interesting sight.
We paddled onward, past Walnut Bend and into the straightaway that would end our day. The tallest parts of the city of Helena, AR, came in to view gradually: the power lines, the bridge. Eventually we made it around the massive sandbar that is Prairie Point Towhead. Now we were in the homestretch and could see Helena, AR, in front of us, and Buck Island to our right. We didn’t actually make it to Buck Island; we stopped at neighboring Doe Island before it.
Doe Island is a gorgeous site. A site with full afternoon shade and lots of beaver activity is a winner in my book. We passed two very recent beaver chews on willow trees, and set up the tent right nearby. We cooked dinner with a gorgeous view of Helena as the day faded into dusk.
River Log Days 69 & 70
710 - Cat Island: Long sandbars. Walk to afternoon shade a quarter mile long.
704 - Pickett Island: LBD. Shorter walk in low water. Steep banks but nice willow sand once on top!
665 - Doe Island: LBD, very good low-water camping. Steep, short walk to flat and sandy willow forest.
J-C, Solange is adorable, and you are adorable together. I’m so glad she has been able to join you from time to time. xoxox
of course i liked it. just remembered i had not reported my visit with your parents. occasion tom zwickle bariel. my only 1st cousin. we come from small famalies this occasion gave me a chance to visit raymond av. i flew. weather good. willkie boys were there. amber for dinner and good visit.