Dear Fans of Old Man River Project,

I am please to tell you that the Old Man River Project has reached the Gulf of Mexixo. We are now driving ANNIE back to Baton Rouge.

110 days since departing Bemidiji State Park the expedition has ended. Wow.

I am proud of what we have accomplished. This expedition was not easy, however it was more than worth while. The Mississippi River has brought me closer to understanding my place in this complicated world. The widsom I have gained will take years to fully understand and so for now I will marvel in the wonder of this moment; knowing we as a team took on so much and over came even more.

There will be more blogs to come and the full story, captured in over 600 hours of video is on it’s way.

See you down river,

Brett

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Last night was insane. Wicked winds followed by thunder and lighting made for a short sleep. By far the greatest storm yet.

We all got soaked, we all were cold and we all did not sleep. Welcome to life on expedition. Sure you get nice sunsets and warm days but you also get your fair share of raw weather. I will never forget last night.

Sorry I am so tiried I can’t go into details.

Today was not much better. The winds were so hard, at times reachin 25 mph, that we held our breaths as we rolled over 6 foot waves. Every so often a massive wave would smash over the edge and hit my back as I oared; this helped keep me awake and ready.

The day was small in distance but we did row in some of the fiercest weather yet. In total only 11 miles were completed, far from the 40 I had hoped for. The good news is that tomorrow should be decent and I expect us to row 50 miles.

That is it, off to bed.

See ya down river,
Brett

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Another night on the river and a night too cherish for sure. We are 20 miles south of the French Quarter only 74 miles from the Head of Passes. These moments are running outn, the Gulf of Mexico is near.

Like an old solider on the battle field ready to make his last charge, our days are numbered. Our final push in well underway.

How many nights like this do we have left beside Old Man River? Maybe two or three. And so, although tomorrow will rain all day, I know wet cloths do not matter anymore because soon this will all be behind me. Amazing, sad, exciting and moving.

Anyways, time for bed, it is just after 8 pm and my alarm is set for 4:46 am. But first a little reading then some dreaming and before too long, back on the oars.

See ya down river,

Brett

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Some things are sometimes hard to explain. Take our current campsite, from the outside looking in, it appears tonight is no different than any other night, but that could not be farther from the truth.

We have a comfortable fire; my belly is full from dinner. The team is relaxing as we listen to John Ruskey playing some river blues on his guitar. Riverkeeper Paul Orr and his brother Micheal are here too. Life couldn’t be better.Yet something is different.

Throughout this expedition we have enjoyed some of the most overlooked natural beauty. Here is the catch. To appreciate beauty you must also see the beast.

We are only 129 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, just north of New Orleans. The stars have vanished, to replace them, the ever so familar glow of the urban sky lights the horizon.

Across the river a nuclear power plant produces energy we all have come to depend on, or should I say expect? To my left thousands of yellow lights hide behind the cover of made man clouds. Steam floats out of countless stacks, some are tall, others wide, there must be a hundred. That steam, coated with proven cancer causing chemicals, enters the same air and water you and I depend on with a gentle ease it almost looks natural.

In front of me are four giant ocean liners that have anchored for the night; their size so enourmous, they stand like skyscrappers. One is from Singapore the other Panama, the other two, well I have never even heard of such places before (they must be an island tax haven or something?). I do wonder what they are doing here. Could they be importers or exporters, maybe both?

Behind me is the Bonnet Carre Spill Way. When Old Man River is running high, the spillway is opened to divert water into Lake Pontchartrain to avert an impending flood on New Orleans. Yet the consequence of this measure is uncomprehensible. When the flood comes, cold river water shocks a sensitie brakish ecosystem like a popicile can freeze your brain.

This my friends is our campsite. Gone are the trees, stars and sand. Here are the lights, odours and rumble. We have spent over a hundred nights with the beauty, now we sleep beside the beast.

See ya down river,

Brett

This post was created at this location.