So the first thing to really go wrong happened the other day. I was stopped at Boone's Landing, a campground, when I stepped on my outriggers like I have done a thousand times and "snap" went the back left arm. Luckily for me I was at a place with a welder! Chris, the owner, (the man standing next to Steady Eddie) and Bob the welder/ex-jet engine tester helped me out; I was on my way back on the river in a couple of hours.
This problem could of been a huge disaster if I was on the river in bad weather. Luckily I was where I was, safe up a smaller stream. It makes me think how many things could stop this trip dead in its tracks. One or both of the pontoons could rupture. I could get a hole in my boat too big to patch. God forbid, I could get hurt. So on and so on, the list is pretty long. Oh ya and a point of clarification, I know everyone out there wants me to reach New Orleans, me more than anyone. Though if I get to the Mississippi and it is not safe then my trip will stop at the end of the Ohio. I am an adventurous person but I am not crazy no mater what you think of my trip. I also have a time limit to this trip. I had originally said that I was going to spend no more than 60 days. That has increased to 90 but this is a hard deadline and can not be moved. So there it is. The weather, health, and other problems that I write little about have slowed me down. I can only hope that with strength and perseverance I will reach my goal safely in time.
