day 43: ohio river... done

So coyote tracks are the first thing we see as we hit land this evening.  At least it's not bear or mountain lion tracks.  Soon well be seeing alligator tracks as we have finished the ohio river.  Technically were camping about 3 miles away but it's only because we don't want to camp close to town, for obvious reasons.

Today we killed it.  Going at 4.3-7.1 knots today was the only reason we got this far.  We woke up, sliced a watermelon into pieces with a machete, drank coffee, and we on our way.

Also I made up a song in remembrance of the ohio, it should be on my upcoming record that I'll be making in new orleans.

But I suppose a reflection of what I've learned is in order at this point.  I'll try to be as honest as I can here because I know that there's people out there doing adventures and not learning anything and saying they did, I don't want to be that person, and that's actually one of the first things I learned.  I want to be authentic, honest, and most of all humble.  This trip has definately humbled me.  I've had time to think about the past and future and where I stand a lot, which is part of the reason I did this.  In that time thinking I've realized how I haven't followed through with most of the things I started.  I tend to give up right when things are getting good.  I've also realized how I need to be more independent.  Supporting myself and being adaptable is easy for me, leaning on others shoulders also is.  This is something I've had time thinking about and thinking about how to change for the better.  I learned I'm a horrible fisherman.  I also learned I love hammocks.  I learned that being kind to others pays off and that there's a lot more good people in the world than bad.

I think most of all I've learned what I really want and that most of what we want, use, and have is not what we need.  Sometimes our needs change depending on weather and desire, like rain pants and watermelon.  Sometimes our need is a machete or lighter, even though we don't NEED one.  We all can reevaluate our needs vs desires vs the "what can make my life easier" type things.  Sometimes what we think will make our life easier might actually make us board-er or lazier.  And sometimes we don't realize that when our lives become harder that we can look at it as more challenging,  or even as something we can learn from.  Now I'm no self help guru but I've learned that we must challenge ourselves, we must go into uncomfortable situations.  Quit your job if you hate it so much.  Do what you love, even if it puts your life at risk, because, afterall, today is just as good a day as any to die, or to live.

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Bald eagle count -23
Mile marker-978 of ohio river
Times Erik and or I have said the word "boom"- 12,523
Dead carp floating (to our knowledge) 9374748