Louisiana Loop Day -3 and counting.... "Do or Die"

"DO or DIE"

Most People have options to "bail" "change their mind" "rent a motel room" " purchase a round trip ticket"

Baby it's a one way ticket for me 

Do or Die

Now I don't want to overplay the drama here, but the fact remains, I don't have a way back home until at least 30 or more days from when I arrive because "transport costs" for "self supportive" adventurers like me  just ARE too expensive. 

When you live far away from your starting point, just getting there can eat your savings.

Don't get me wrong. I am used to this and my wife and I do plan on these trips and save, but, any long distance paddling that may have started out as a week maybe, usually gets turned into a long distance great american adventure adventure as a One Way Ticket till monies can be saved.

It does put hair on my chest and I already have plenty.

Still it adds an aura of excitements and nerves others don't necessarily experience and is why often i look like I am moving when I kayak/camp. Mainly because for a few months I am.

That also means for the first few weeks there is a Do or Die type of necessity that makes creativity and mentality of a survivalist crucial. Anyone COULD bail at anytime and get help of some kind, but when you get old enough people expect you to "do for" yourself as much as you can.

This isn't that far from "street people" in the city or homeless in your neighborhood that often operate on the fringes of society. While I would not "panhandle" all kayakers are DEEPLY appreciative of any help or offerings they are given, especially food though drink so follows that and a hot shower is a gift from heaven.

So as I anticipate "my adventure" my immediate concerns thrust me back to the joy of soloing. The Weather/Water/Shelter big three's that mandate my routines on the River and in Camp.

Weather doesn't normally stop me too long, but twice on the Mississippi nearly killed me so it does need to be honored.

Water is both water you paddle on and water to drank because the one you paddle can get real serious real fast there ARE other vessels about.

The one you drink is always a "fill er up" where ever you and however you can because filtering is good, but unless your using commercial grade filtering, it takes valuable time an energy on personal filters.

Shelter. Every day tent goes up and tent goes down and when you don't you do so at your own level of experience. Since I prefer a BIG TENT it becomes a little more involved.

So the first few days returning back to the routine of being on the river..........really.........is just surviving and realizing............there no lights to turn on or thermostat to turn up and home is long ways away and at least 30 or more days to got to even get there if I wanted to.