Night time rowing

Rowing at night was the most peaceful time I have spent on the river yet.  Everything is quiet except for the power plants and trains in the distance.  The water was smooth as glass and I was gliding through it effortlessly.  The temperature hadn't dropped enough that I wasn't sweating, but it was very comfortable compared to how it is usually.  I may have to change my rowing schedule.  Thanks for the suggestion Ben.

Marietta

Nice little town with easy waterfront access.  I had a burger and a look around.  Then headed on my way.  

First lock in the Huntington District

I have moved out of the Pittsburgh district after today's thunderstorms.  Some people have express interest in the locking procedures.  So I thought I would take a couple pics and describe how it goes.  You approach the lock and on the far wall; there is a rope there to pull.  That rope sounds a bell and the lock master knows you are there.  Though most of the time, I just call ahead because it is hard for me to move the canoe in tight quarters.  They then signal you with a green light and one loud whistle blow.  You then proceed into the lock and to a mooring station.  Most of the locks on the Ohio have floating moorings as are in the photo.  So all you need to have is a couple feet of rope.  The locks on the Allegheny and the first couple on the Ohio just had hooks at to top so you had to have like 75 feet of rope.  Well anyways, after you are tied up the lock master begins to drop the water and ten minutes later you are on your way.  Ten to twenty feet lower.  The lock masters are always happy to see me and lock me through.  I definitely break the routine of just locking through barges.  Sometimes I get the best info from the lock master on where to stay, which streams are good and where not to go.  They are wonderful resources and also break the routine of my day.  Thanks goes out to the lock master that gave me the info on the storm three days ago.  I would never have got off the river in time with out you!

Electric

One of the thousands of barges taking coal to one of the hundreds of power plants in West Virginia.  The West Virginia side has easily three to four times as many power plants compared to the Ohio with half the development.  Where does this power go?

First rain storm in the boat

Well rain fly not as water tight as I had hoped.  The storm just came up on me, no real warning.  Nothing was put away, I barely got to shore.  Everything would of been semi dry if it wasn't for the barges; I dislike them.  Got everything up and secure and a barge flies by and water pours over the side of the canoe.  There is about thirty gallons of water in the boat right now!  I am just sitting above it looking at it in contempt.  Thank god for the pontoons, keeping me stable and afloat.  I had often said before I left for the trip that I wish they were smaller.  I take it all back they are perfect. Thank you Randy Grape.

First rain storm

Two days ago, my parents came to visit me on the river bringing things that I realized I needed and taking away those things that were just weighing me down.  Lucky for me in the exchange I got a tent because it was storming last night for the first time since I have been on this trip.  I got off the water around eight at Duffy campground struck up a conversation with a married couple, got a place to park my tent, food and a shower.  People in general have been very nice on the river.  Wes is a sheet metal worker and his wife Kim is a home maker.  They come to the river on the weekends to stay in their RV and relax.  I think I will be getting a late start today as all my stuff is wet from the down pour last night.  Also I woke up this morning and some of my fingers were numb.  I have been rowing pretty hard and my fingers have been really sore and stiff but never numb.  That was a sign to take it easy today.  So I woke up late, ate some bacon and eggs with Wes and Kim.  Washed some of my clothes and in general, charged my batteries.  Thank god for the kindness of strangers.  I don't need it to survive but it makes the trip that much nicer.

June 1st

Yesterday was a rough day.  I went through three states in a matter of hours: PA, WV, and OH.   After passing the point of origin (a surrey point used by the fore fathers),  the winds picked up a bit!  So much so that it created a three to four foot swell going up river.  I fought for every foot I could get, and after four hours of paddling, I traveled a mile.  So I stopped for a break in a, under a maple tree.  I was hoping that the wind would change on this otherwise beautiful day.  They didn't so I continued in the same fashion for another couple of hours till I went past a marina and decided to stop.  There I asked for a coke and got a beer instead.  After Chad (the guy I met) and I  had talked for awhile, he introduced me to the president of the boat club, who was a wonderful person with a lot of knowledge about the local river history.  He offered me a place to sleep, a shower, and a spare boat he was trying to sell "old hippies and Greeny too." Thank you Rick and Carla Hamilton, and Chad McCoy for making my stay at Wellsville boat club enjoyable.  I woke up the next day and the river was like a sheet of glass.  I was so glad I stopped.    

The picture is of Rick