Day 90 on the Mississippi River

September 4, 2022

Sunday

LMM 736  Memphis

1559 miles completed

I paddled 13 miles today.

I woke up at six. Again I didn’t have any phone service, and again I couldn’t work Wordle. I got up to fog on the river, and immediately started preparing for the day. I was loaded and started paddling into the fog at 8:10.

The fog cleared around 9:30 or 10 o’clock, and then it became a partly cloudy, hot day.

I passed a dredging machine that was using water to suck up sand from the bottom of the river and deposit it some distance away near the shore.

I called Mud Island Marina and asked about storing my kayak while I take a day off. They said that would be fine.

When I got to the marina around 11:30,  I met Joe Weiss, the manager of the marina. Joe had just had rotator cuff surgery a few days ago. He is left-handed and the surgery was on his left shoulder. So he was somewhat handicapped.

I know Joe must’ve been in some pain, because I have had that same surgery, and it is brutal. In spite of his pain and handicap, he was very friendly, and very helpful. Joe helped me find a hotel in downtown Memphis with reasonable rates.

The marina has a designated spot for kayaks and canoes. I was unloading stuff to take with me to the hotel, when I met Tim McKellar. Tim said he is a new member on the Board of Directors for the Memphis yacht club. They are owners of the marina. Tim was very helpful. He showed me the laundry and bathroom, and where I can refill my water jugs.

I got a room at the Sheraton. The Sheridan is a very nice hotel. I can recommend it. Bernadette at the reception desk gave me certificates for complementary cocktail, complementary lunch for today, and complementary breakfast for tomorrow and Tuesday.