Lower Mississ

Passing once again through the lock before rejoining the Mississippi River, we saw the Canadian Goose and duck waddling through the mud on the bank. I recalled Bobby telling the chap who had shared our dinner table last night about the foraging pair. "Damn Canadians!" the chap had shot back inhaling on a plain rolled cigarette.

The Lower Mississipi is a remote affair. On the Upper we were always passing towns and marina's fairly regularly. Hoppie was right..there wasn't much between St Louis and Memphis. We had no idea where we'd be able to fuel up again. Our range is a mere 120 miles. Taking on more fuel cans would add too much weight.

We have been told the river is its lowest in years. Sometimes in the middle of the river the depth finder reads just 12ft. Many wrecked barges lay cast up on the banks. Apparetly barge permits never expire, so their owners are not obliged to remove the old rusting hulks.