Day 10 - 2012

I started out on the river at 6:15 today. About midway through the day, I had my first set-back. After peddling for about three hours, I realized I was leaning against the seat in a different area. When I tried to lean forward, I experienced extreme pain in the upper right side of my back. I was able to get my feet to the side of the kayak, but then couldn't pull or push myself up for about five minutes. I was able to finish the day up, but sometimes things got pretty painful.




Yesterday I reported I couldn't see Huntington, W.V. from the river. Well, shortly after I got underway, I saw this nice riverfront park and some of the downtown area.




Looks like someone hasn't woke up yet.




Immediately outside Huntington, the barge traffic was very heavy. Over one hundred barges were parked on both sides of the river for several miles.




Some of the barges were parked side by side up to nine deep. I had to go around them into the main channel of the river.




Besides the barges, there were about thirty towboats in operation. The resulted in very choppy water conditions.




This is part of the riverfront park in Ashland , Kentucky. They had a large, clean restroom facility. The park is very nice, in contrast to almost everything else along the river. Up to this point, the river has been very clean. Past Ashland, it's a mess with junk all along both shores. Hopefully the junk stays in this pool and once I get past the next dam, things will look cleaner.




The two bridges at Ashland are painted the same colors as they use on all their signage.




It's hard to see, but this is the riverfront park at Ironton, Ohio.




There are lots of barges "beached" along the river as docks or retaining walls. This one is filled to the top and has grass growing on it which the owners mow as part of their lawn.




Last night I called ahead to the Holiday Point Marina. When I arrived, they were expecting me. The owner let me camp for five dollors and use their showers and restroom facilities.This photo was taken in their floating restaurant.




It looks destroyed here, but I ordered a huge hamburger, with more fries than I could eat and a bottomless Pepsi. Real food, a shower and perfect nighttime weather.......life doesn't get much better!




This is a view look toward the entrance of the marina harbor. You can't see it, but I'm camped to the left of the entrance.




This view is taken from the entrance, into the harbor. Over one hundred boats are here, with lots of camping trailers here as well.




I'm camped close to this flying saucer. Every time a boat enters the harbor, a string of lights around the top goes on for several minutes.

Location:91 Riverview Dr., Franklin Furnace, Ohio 45629