Yacht Parade Today

I learned this evening why the locals suggested I stay off the river today. There was a home UT football game today and the big boys take their river hardware to the game. When the game is over, they all parade home down the river together. It is an impressive site to behold, but no place for a little canoe. Awesome display though.

I Been A Thinkin'

I been a thinkin'. If you read my post from last night, you would know that yesterday I averaged only 0.7 miles per hour and wearing myself out doing it, right? Well it's because I'm doing everything wrong. Here is what I realized today just sitting here.
1. I have a long heavy canoe with a large surface area contacting the water.
2. I'm utilizing my shortest and weakest extremities to propel this freighter.
3. I have a good light weight double ended paddle but I am still making little contact with the water compared to the surface area contact and weight of the canoe.
4. Since I am using my arms only for propulsion, when I do anything else with my arms, the canoe stops. Like; take a picture, eat lunch, dry my face, check my email, gesture to that speed boat driver that I think he is number one.
5. The longest and largest extremities on my body with the the largest muscles in them are just sitting in the hull of the canoe. I even have to stop once in a while to exercise them. Even that works against me on my average speed.

I been a thinkin'.

I need to be propelling this freighter with both my arms and legs together. Wow. What a concept. So what am I thinking? A peddle powered paddlewheel system? A peddle powered prop? A peddle powered air boat canoe thingy. I don't know yet, but something has to change. I been a thinkin'.

So, if I did add an additional source of propulsion that utilized my legs, would this still be referred to as "canoeing"? The canoe purist would tell you no and I would agree. I think it would have to convert over to a " human powered water craft". But I want to "canoe" the Tennessee River. Does it really matter what I call it or how I accomplish it as long as I accomplish it uninjured? Something has to change or this trip will take too long, I could injure myself and I won't be having much fun. I been a thinkin'.

I didn't have another new breath taking picture to send you because I have been just lying here all day. So I just sent a picture of what I am doing right now.

Life is Good

I know that you may not be able to fully visualize this, but I am lounging on the top of my canoe, tied to a rock in a nice cove reading a book and napping. My CotTent converts to a lounge chair. I'm too lazy to go to the bank to set up my camera on a tripod so this us the only picture you get for now. It's a beautiful cloudless day. Soon I will be able to float under a Willow Tree for shade for the rest of the day.

Fog on the River

This is what I woke up to this morning...fog. My tent and some of my gear is soaked. I'm going to stay at this location today to dry out. I talked to a local last night and he says the river traffic gets crazy on Saturday's. (I thought it was busy yesterday) I knew that and planned to rest on Saturday's anyway. It seems crazy to rest already after only one full day out, but I am going to stick to my plan.
I slept 12 hours last night. Guess I was tired huh?