Topic: Mississippi River overnighter????

[philllll]

I know it's early but my weekends seem to get all committed to something... but are there any plans for a MS river overnighter later in the fall?

[shamen]

Well!  I was going to post today about it when I got home and low and behold someone is asking about it.
No, it is not to early to start talking about it because of the folk's different dates already set aside.
I am going to go through the whole thing just in case there is somebody who is new to this.
For the past 5 years a group of us do an overnight trip on the Mississippi River. It is open to all if you think you can handle the MR. It does not matter whether it is a canoe, long boat, whitewater boat or whatever self powered boat. You have to be able to carry your gear or get someone in the bigger boats to do it for you.  You can be as simple or refined as you desire. You have to arrange your own shuttle. 
This is not a MWW event just a lot of us participate in it. Open to everyone. Youth have come with their parents but not on their own.
The distance varies depending on where we paddle but it is normally somewhere between 30-40 miles total. Don't let the distance scare you we are not racing and it is a lazy trip for most. We travel slow enough that last year a tandem canoe 1st Timers on the MR had no problem staying with us. We let the current do most of the work. We try to do a little more on Sat. than on Sun.  We try to camp someplace where 1 day (either day) paddlers can still do it.  The eating, drinking, conversation, fires, and etc. on Sat. is worth the effort for even one day of the trip. 
Last year we said that we would try to do a new section this year starting at Tunica. I have not checked that out but let us talk that out here before we make a decision.
The big decision is the date. We want to go went it is starting to cool off and a good number of the bugs are gone and being out with the migrating pelicans is nice.
Her are some possible dates with a little notations about possible conflicts.
Please post your preferences

Oct 11-12   Phatwater race
Oct 17-18 closest weekend to full moon
Oct 25-26
Oct 31-NOv 1
Nov 8-9  out for me
Nov 14-15 out for me
Nov 22-23 weekend before thanksgiving

My preferences is Oct 31-Nov. 1   OR  Nov 22-23

Whatever I have left out all of the previous participants add on.
If you  have never paddle on the MR for any distance and in remote areas I encourage you to join. You will be surprised and it is lots of fun with great company.
Peace vincent/shamen

[hzack]

I vote nov 22-23rd. that gives me time to get back in a boat before then.

heather

[philllll]

i vote for nov 22/23

[Jason]

either 10/31 or 11/22 will work for me.

[HeMan81]

I think I'm interested in this trip, and either 10/31 or 11/22 will work for me.

[JDF4743]

Is Oct 25-26th an option - I noticed Vincent's weekend is still open and that would be earlier with weather still cool, pelicans around (ha, I have no idea) and we avoid potential Halloween and Thanksgiving conflicts (yes, working on my sales skills, here.)

[philllll]

super late thanksgiving this year.  it's not until Nov 27th... 
another week for the turkeys to fatten up.  mmmmmmmm.

[shamen]

The Oct date should be Nov 1-2, the Sat Sun after Halloween. If it was actually Halloween I would not go. Halloween is big time at my house. I am working on my Halloween village in the house and starting to collect my 15-20 pumpkins for my yard and other decorations;  and just itching to wear my Halloween ties and bow ties.
I personally like the weekend before Thanksgiving Nov. 22-23.
I am leaning against the Oct dates because my Jewish friends say Oct has a lot of important  religious dates for them.
No one has said anything about where. Do we want to do a new section of the MR, if so I need to start checking the charts.
------
As a side note Mon. I paddle in the Pearl River Wildlife Refuge around Jackson, MS very nice and lots of water to explore.
AND
DID ANYONE SEE ELMORE ON TV LAST NIGHT? NICE JOB ELMORE PROMOTING SKILLED CRAFT WORK. YOU OUGHT TO BE A SPOKESPERSON FOR YOUR LOVE OF WOOD WORKING.
Peace vincent/shamen

[hzack]

The Tunica run was nice. I would like have another run on that museum down there. A new (someone has paddled this part before) run would be okay too.  The 11/22 date is the only one I can make.  Do others have suggested runs? What about above Randolph? I haven't been up north of there. Aren't there some famous "islands" where scoundrals, thieves and scalawags used to hole up?

And does anyone know how to change your name on this thing? I couldn't get it where it would let me get to my username.

Heather

[Bill Perry]

I'm sorry to say I have been out of touch for the last several months with a lot going on here at home and in my life in general. I have started a new job the first part of this month at lifeblood (will discuss about blood giving later).
I'm going through a new training program that makes my time quite tight and hard to get time off, so I would have to put in ASAP. So the later dates would work best for me.
As for where a repeat of last year would not be bad, but would not mind doing the one from here by my home in Tipton Co. again. As the river is always in change I don't think either trip would be a waste. My only objection to a new route is the distance it would take to drive there and the time involved. As some have a hard time with the early departure times, the shuttle trip back, and now the gas to do it all in.
But as usual if I can get off I'm do my best to be there as it's always a blast to do a trip with Vincent.

[Elmore]

     I'm with Bill on staying close to home.  That's partly my laziness talking--I keep my boat in the harbor, so my shuttle would be easier if we either start or finish there--but he does have a point with the issues of gasoline and time.  I think the Nov. 22 weekend works for me.
     Speaking of starting or finishing in the harbor: for some reason, there are concrete barriers blocking off the Auction Avenue boat ramp.  Read my separate post on this for more information.

[shamen]

I have no problem repeating any of the trips we have done. And I cannot help but think of Ed Abbey in Desert Solitaire when some tourist asked him if there was another road out at Arches N P because they had seen everything there was to see on the way in.
I t doe seem at this point that Nov 22-23 is the preferred date. Let's wait till the end of the week for further response before we finalize.
Peace vincent/shamen

[Ashley in Memphis]

If we go this year, Jerry and I will not be in the canoe--woohoo! We both have our own boats now, which is great if you don't play well with others.

He'll be going for sure, but my decision's based mostly on the temperature. At what point in the year (or at what sustained average daily temperature) would it be advisable to wear a drysuit for this length of trip? If you don't own one, what would be the next best type of stuff to wear? I'd love to go, but I don't want to freeze my tushy off!

Generally speaking (although I know the River is not always predictable), how different is the water at the end of November than at the end of October?

[DrSonny]

For November 22, the average daytime high is 59 and the overnight low is 41.   

If you wore a dry suit, and temps were in the 50's and you had no way to cool off, i.e. roll; you would burn up.  I would say you need a long sleeve polypro shirt and a nylon spray jacket or windbreaker layer.  If you are extremely cold blooded you might want a sweater or additional fleece layer, but if you are paddling dry I would think this would be too much.   Remember, this is an overnight touring trip.  You should have additional dry clothes in your boat.  If you get uncomfortable take off a layer or add one.  A dry top is an excellent, although somewhat expensive piece of gear; but this would be essential if you are planning on paddling in the winter.  If you are just not a cold weather paddler, save your money, and have a thin and thick base layer available and a good windproof, water repellant outer top available.  You would need these items in your gear anyway, just to hang out at night if the temps are in the 40's, or if it rains.  I think a lot of body temperarture comfort in a touring boat depends on your headgear.  If you get really cold in the wind, consider buying a light balaklava.
 
The  record low temp for this date is 16.  If it's 16, the gear recommendations might be different!