River bends

Nancy + Mimi / OBannon State Park, Indiana

Nancy meets Mimi and I at 8am at the Marathon, no longer Texaco gas station (as it had been on Sunday prior our day off) of of junction 1683 in Brandenburg, Ky. She had read about Mimi and decided that the day after she ended her 30+ year career as a teacher that she would guide Mimi along one of her favorite stretches of the Ohio. Much as I loved to kayak, my jammed finger and what would be an hour + logistical nightmare made me delight on her last minute addition!

On this loop of greenery, I encountered open farmland, endless forest--a rural adventure! The possible take out for the day was a line on Jerry Hay's map at the bottom of Obannon State park in Indiana. According to Ranger Bob, there might be some 'deer trails' leading down to the river. I was confident (having actually SEEN a current! upon their departure) that they would want to go to a boat dock further, but having experienced the problems that rural communication can bring, I thought it best to explore the state park and find a trail to the shore and wait until I saw them come by. My method would be the old-fashioned wave and yell.

Shore of OBannon State Park
(mile 661.5)

I spent an hour down at the bottom of the park along the bank with nature. It was a beautiful day and unlike past experiences on remote shores, I felt relaxed--zoning out on the amazing formations that had been piled up by the water over the months, years.

In Leavenworth, IN we were joined by Mimi's daughter, Tess and officer Fountain who took vacation leave from the Huntsville Police department to spend three days kayaking/supporting the swim. It's been great having them here--I definitely have enjoyed the fact that Fountain has been driving/hauling the kayak as well as the opportunity to get to know Tess. They have had fairly long days, but they couldn't have come at a better time as I feel this has been some of the most beautiful stretches of the river and some of the most unique lodging we've had since the swim began.

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I lost Mimi's phone for a good 2 hours. I gradually accumulated a 6 person search party as diverse as one can imagine. Although I was determined that I would not leave Leavenworth until I found it, internally, I had just about given up when I heard a beep on the lawn of a restaurant Fountain and I had waited at to watch Mimi and Tess go by at. Re-energized I proudly announced my discovery to the lovely folks at the Leavenworth Inn, the lovely place we had stayed at. They gave me twine and I braided a tail on the cell phone determined not to lose it again!

We didn't have lodging for the night and that had been on the agenda. Got on the phone-- found and called a place called Colucci's Cabins in the remote town of Magnet where they would be getting out at. In an instant, Bud, the artist/owner of the cabin community said, "yes" and hours later we were in the most amazing, modern yet natural dwellings you could imagine on a stretch of the river that was majestic. We experienced a time warp. The cabins were all designed by Bud, and with a background as a sculptor, they were livable bodies of art. As we sat at our Ying Yang cabin and looked out onto the river you could hear a chorus of wind chimes that lulled you into a sense of calm.

Magnet, IN (mile 703)

Bud Colucci in his office of 'artifacts'
He truly practices his belief in supporting community

Blue Heron's Nest (and my dream home!!)

Inside the Ying Yang Cabin

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At the Magnet boat dock, all of the town came to greet Mimi and Tess--including honest Abe. Abe had popped up on a pontoon boat at several locations throughout the day--less in an attempt to trip out Tess (which he might have a little bit) than to indulge his sense of curiosity.

Rome, IN (mile 701) The courthouse with a door to nowhere

Rome, IN take two--We came back to try and catch Mimi and Tess (as this was a possible end point prior to being ahead of schedule). We weren't seen by them as we yelled and waved, but we were able to meet a nice lady and her little dog gang.

Miss Mon (admittedly, her favorite)

Stevie (with his awesome fu manchu)

Mimi between Nancy and her oldest granddaughter

We ended up finding a take out on a private farm 2 miles past Rome. The matriarch, Nancy, had been born in the same house she lived and raised 5 sons. So much tragedy and love in her life--speaking about the loss of her husband she welled with tears. I asked if I could hug her. I needed a hug too, my uncle had just passed and I was thinking of my brother. I was so happy to meet her and later introduce her to Mimi as we moved from trespassers to neighbors.

Back into the state of packing, swimming, driving, filming.
Current location: Tell City, IN
Time: 3:16pm (we are back in central time!)
Approx. Take out: Cannelton, IN (mile 724)
We'll see what happens...

Mimi got tired of not being able to fit her toes in her shoes

This morning looked like this:

To live adventure

Hanging out with Mike the owner of a marina in Madison, Indiana (and our cross-border support) and Libby, the owner of the Broadway hotel (Indiana's oldest inn & tavern) I went brain dead--unable to describe where we had been the day before ( Carrolton, Ky). Now, slightly more rested, it is still a struggle to think what has happened within the span of 3 days, 60+miles, a thousand moments.

Rivercrest (mike's) Marina (mile 559)

Madison, Indiana (mile 557-9)

Libby + Mimi @ the Broadway Hotel

421 Bridge between Kentucky and Indiana
(mile 557+)

Jennifer @ the Riverboat Inn

It is fitting that when kayaking with Mimi this past week that I read the following quote that is now burned in my memory:

"The first and last days of a thousand day walk are no different. The beginning is the end and the end is the beginning. Your only aim is to achieve your initial purpose, then you can enjoy what you've done. There is no backing out. When you have finished what you've set out to do then you have created something of value."
--From the Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei

Time flattens. I am so involved in various aspects of the swim that I find fewer moments to step back at a distance. As my role changes, so does my perspective.

The last 100 miles have been extremely diverse. From a kayak through the widest stretch of the river to a narrow channel with .7 negative current (holding back the tears!), locking through a dam (lockmaster keith is my new buddy), 'tail-gating' with a bunch of National writing project teachers to a take out point (that changed 2+ times ), rushing hurriedly on the back of a golf cart, being towed in the jackson by 2 cat fisherman in hurry, surrounded by the Louisville chinese community with a bounty of homemade food, and driving in beautiful open farm country to seek out rocky banks along the river.

It's been strange to experience 'the chase', the slight dysfunction that can happen with locating Mimi at the end of the days swim with others. Compound that with fact that you are with 15 teachers, setting up a party in the home of another outgoing Mimi who volunteered her riverfront getaway for the gathering! A few teachers were lost down the winding road to river, Mimi swam 2.5 extra miles and the arrival time changed significantly, but the teachers--who have contemplated WITWIM (where in the water is mimi?) for nearly 2 weeks became part of the experience of the swim. They observed, wrote and read beautiful quotes and poetry--words of strength and support so eloquent that I prayed they would still feel the same once experiencing the sweat, grime and unpredictability that is as much a part of the swim as is the importance of thought.

Writing Marathon

Jean, NWP Summer Institute leader

NWP @ Mimi's dock (mile 544.5)

Mimi's grandson, Patrick
(she had been inspired to contact Mimi because she and her grandson had been planning to swim across the river sometime this summer)

Back to a lone wolf in a park. An opportunity to meet the public, chat, listen to the stories of gigantic catfish, turtles, mink trapping (eeeeeek!) and silly barges getting caught on the sand bar around the bend.

Hanging out with James Stewart, 71, Louisville native who was the best narrator of the water, with a slight preference for the more sizable and faster boats.

James Stewart, Cox's Park, Louisville, KY (mile 600!)

Coolest boots ever--rainbow stitching!

At Cox's Park, I experienced deja vu as I introduced our two Louisville godfathers to one anther--Mike, who had been our support from Madison to Louisville and Jack, a present from Santa Schulte. It was, I felt, a passing of the torch. The torch in this case being a package of logistical duties and two waterlogged ladies. It's hard to say which had the shorter end of the stick--Mike drove back and forth from Louisville to Madison and saved the day by rescuing mimi's cell. Jack enjoyed one of the trickiest take outs while I was kayaking--going to a park that was fenced off, finding a remote road off the main road, muddied feet and two sluggish zombies-- always fun when portaging a kayak up a tiny path into his clean minivan. Yet, both men smiled, calm and accepting in the circumstances--cannot say that I have been the same when encountering similar situations...and that I have!

Thanks, Jack!!
Where we stayed in Elizabethtown, Ky (our day off)

On Jeff Mc Ghee's farm, the last take-out for the week, I stood on a hill overlooking the river, sweated a little (nothing unique about that) removed from everything, everyone, and experienced a brief moment of distance, calm.

Eugene and Jeff McGhee Farm (~ mile 642)

Things soon changed when I discovered a barrage of missed calls from the kayaker of the day, Rob, a Louisville resident, who believed he had passed the the take out. In a moment of doubt, I questioned whether my lulling sense of calm had meant their passing. I looked out in fear as the little dot in front of me was not coming closer, probably taking far too long to realize that it was an unmoving object, like a branch. Just as I turned around, I saw them approaching downstream--ahhh relief! Rough day on the water, quick sand and misguided communication--adventure.

I sometimes attempt to build logical, linear plot of miles, experiences to help describe the swim to others, yet any of the people who have encountered Mimi and I (a dynamic, but slightly complex duo) would know that our inertia is zig-zag-zigged. To be fluid, in ever-changing circumstances, is to live adventure. Yet, it is challenging, and like this blog, quite random.

Fernbank Park outside of Cincinatti (~mile 484)

Captains Quarters, Louisville, KY (mile 596)