Gambled away the fireworks.

I had to drop some pennies in a casino shaped like a steam boat. Turned a dollar into five bucks playing penny slots (walked away $2 up). And earned a free buffet visit for signing up for a free casino card. Score! sadly, while hiding in the dungeon for a half hour we missed the fireworks. guess they werent very special (word on the dock).

Mile 363: Natchez (not nachos)

Luck was with us this morning. Woke early to a perfect sunny day. Davey caught a cat fish and breakfast was omega filled. Some duck hunters boated up to us looking like an army boat. Nice guys. Chatted and gave us oranges and sodas. we covered the 25 miles in just 3 hours with the wind with us and sun on our face (red nose). Docked and entered the 1820 waterfront bar, Under The Hill saloon at noon and a patron bought us 3 beers each for our efforts. Checked into a $45 motel and headed into this historic town (one of the few saved from being burned during the civil war). Supposed to be fire works tonight for xmas. Theres a holiday ice rink but no one knows how to skate. Priceless.
new mantra - My legs are weak; my arms strong ; been in the canoe a little long; gonna need a beer to carry on. ~ me.

387 miles till we cant see land.

We have stopped just past 387 miles from the mouth of the Mississippi and 20 miles from Natchez. Avg 7 or so mph for the 4 hours on the water today. Doesnt to break early and try to catch fish. No fish but we did gather a load of fire wood; and I wandered around the forest down dirt hunting roads into the swamp and along the coast. Massive metal buoys have floated away and can be found all over. One was in a tree; theres a door in a tree too. Loads of birds. And trees with exposed roots. Another perfect sunset. Delicious stew made over the fire. Tonights the leaves shake and sound like rain. Barges rumble past and fling there spotlight about but not often. Tomorrow Natchez!

Thursday Night Lineup on Mississippi River TV

The bus got into Vicksburg nearly on time. I met some recently released convicts while I waited for the town taxi. Two guys in a car with an estimated price. My friend Davey and I killed a riverboat casinos lunch buffet (Grand Station Hotel). We covered 20 miles in 3 hours passing numerous barges, 10s of thousands of gathered migrating pelicans, past swirling pools and to this spot to camp. Feels like the middle of nowhere but with cell phone signal. Nothing else but mile wide river and the occasional barge with a spotlight. The sun went down perfect while full moon rose at our backs. Time to drink beer, eat hot dogs, and reflect on peeing into a plastic peanut jar and wide open spaces. wish me luck on cold night in cold walmart tent.

Be Prepared

Walmart run complete. This is my 17 dollar waterproof youth tent (which I pretested). The worlds most fashionable 15 dollar coast guard approved life jacket. plus 30 degree sleeping bag and mat courtesy of my buddy Jeff. He also bought me an emergency blanket (in case I need an impromptu Silver Surfer costume). Thanks for the support Jeff. Now for a 12 hour bus ride from Austin to Vicksburg MS full of delicious Saltys bbq.

This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime� 6.5 or higher is required.

Ive been to dinner 3 times now and I cant take a picture different than this. The bright close sun. The dark blue sky always contrasted by stripes of white clouds. And these leafless (now) soft gray trees full of texture and spontanaeity. Coupled woth glassy dark water. An abundance of geese. And dark pink sunsets cutting across the water and glass of the city. A huge flat exspanse atop the mountains. Row s of similar sturdy brick houses. I get so lost. Its like nowhere else.

what is the perfect meal prior to mountain biking the red rocks outside of Denver? This fantastic post-Thanksgiving fixings sandwich. Its all in there. The efforts of a dozen individual acts of cooking in one bite. and followed by an afternoon bike ride with Maryann and JP. We were able to rent a sweet $1000 bike for $40 for 24hrs. Odd that you can rent a new car for the same price. Although denvers dryness and altitude has caused instant congestion and lack of energy, I became renewed on the bike. Surrounded by epic, mountains, orange prarie grass, creeping gray trees. long flat meadows, patterned clouds on a blue sky like none other - consistently. Bike hard up and around corners than come down fast but gradual. Its good its real good! I cant see hiking the long spaces. Biking and trail running seem to make sense.