Friday, November 2, 2001 - Unbelievable Story!!

Hey All I know it's been awhile.

I'm still alive. I made it to Grafton on the 26th, but moved on to St Louis. I made it to the city Saturday evening and got a hotel room. I smelled horrible and I needed to wash my clothes. I gave the lovely woman at the front desk my sob story and she gave me a room for an awesome deal- Thanks Murlene-. 

So I spent all day Sunday in St Louis. I went up in the Arch and took some pictures. I think it better viewed from outside though. I also met two guys also headed down to New Orleans. Jody and Joshua. It was great to get to talk to another paddler, but they are now ahead of me. Hopefully I get a chance to catch them. Jody has a web site www.jody.freeservers.com. Check it out. He is doing the trip to raise Diabetes Awareness.

St. Louis Arch

So I pulled out of St Louis Monday morning and was headed south with the new swift current. I'm out of the locks now and I can move much faster. Behind me came a huge pleasure boat named the Grampa Woo. The boat slowed when it reached me and people began to appear on the deck. Little did I now what was coming. Chun Ae and her husband Dana own the boat, and they offered me some lunch. So I paddled around back tied up the canoe and sat down in the dinning room of the boat. The captain decided he would putt along slowly while the canoe was tied to the back. 

Well soon after finishing my first piece of wonderful chicken I hear over the load speaker "SHIT the canoe is sinking" My heart hit the floor as I ran to the back of the boat. Sure enough there she was full of water with everything not tied down floating away. I almost died. My life was being devoured by the Mississippi. But Dana and Chun Ae were very helpful and they pumped the canoe empty while I paddled a kayak out to gather my things. And surprisingly very little got wet after being under water for a few minutes.

I new that at some point I was going to fill the boat, but I thought it
would of happened earlier, not while tied to another boat. Dana and Chun Ae were very helpful and they gave me bags of food and extra trash bags to keep things dry. 

I also have to mention Alexandria Mo. I passed through there weeks ago, but so far that was one of the best nights I've had on the river. A man named Carver Long flagged me in off the river by pointing to a beer can. I was soon well fed and well on my way to being drunk for the night. The gathering I ended up at was Earl's Party. In memory of Earl who owned the cabin along the river and had drowned many years back. I don't believe I've ever met such wonderful people in my life. So if you are ever near mile 359.1 of the Mississippi then stop in at the Purple Cow Bar and tell them you have heard of Earls Party.

Well I've had some other interesting moments in the past few weeks, but
you will have to buy me a beer to hear the rest. I should be at my next
stop by the 5th or 6th. By then the Ohio will have joined the Mississippi
and I should be moving right along.

Thanks for the mail in Grafton and My aunt Joan wins a prize for sending
me some wonderful cookies. If anyone feels the urge to scribble me a letter, please include a Q-tip or two. My ears are in need.

Well take care and I will write again in a few days.

Brendan

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Revised: Saturday, November 24, 2001