Day 9 - 2012

Not much to report today. I have a book with me called the Ohio River Guidebook and the two pages dealing with the section I traveled today doesn't even have highlights listed. I started this morning at 6:50.




This is a photo from yesterday. The map on my iPhone indicated I could find a Walmart at the top of this bank. I wrapped the sail around the mast and tied it up behind these barges. I thought since trees are growing out of the one barge, I shouldn't have a problem with them being moved in the brief time I would be their.




Sure enough, when I reached the top of the bank, I came up right behind a big Walmart and shopping center. This is a photo of the Walmart from the front.Between the store and the hill in the background, is the Ohio River.




This is what the river looked like when I got on it. I got out of the lock last night at 10:00 and couldn't find. Place to camp on the lock side of the river, so I went to the other side and found a naturally occurring sandy beach with huge rocks all around. I could tell people use this area for fishing.




About a mile from my start, I saw two tents from people camping. I could see their campfire from where I was last night. At night, this area is totally dark. You can see the stars really well and if someone has a fire, or a flashlight, you can see it from quite a distance.




I told Bonnie there are a lot of really nice house along the rivet. This one has and observation area that looks like the pilot house on an old paddle wheeler. The sign below the top windows says, "Riverwinds".




The house here is hid by the tree, but it has a walkway leading to this enclosed observation deck.




This is where I'm staying tonight. I'm right on the edge of the river on the West Virginia side, but can't even tell a city is at the top of the bank.

Location:Ohio River, Huntington, West Virginia 25703

Day 8 - 2012 (posted 1 day late)

Once again, this blog is posted late due to connectivity issues in the southeast corner of Ohio. I got on the river at 6:40.




This is the city of Pomeroy, Ohio. It's not a very wide town because the river is on one side and a rocky mountain on the other. There is only one main street and the locals say it's the only city in the country without a four way intersection. I spotted a grocery store from the river, so stopped to replenish my supplies.





This photo was taken from the river. You can see a four way traffic light, but the one facing the river, doesn't have a road in front of it.....just the river.




Another cable stay bridge, with a barged passing under it.




Here was one of the placed I was looking for. It's a McDonalds with a dock and step leading from the river to the restaurant.




This is a view taken from my seat. The device holding the umbrella is a microphone stand and boom. I fixed it up to,fit in a rod holder (fishing rod) and can adjust the umbrella to shade me from almost any direction.




Today was the first day I used the sail. It's one of the few times the wind hasn't been in my face.

Here is a video of me passing under a bridge using my sail.

Location:Robert Byrd Lock & Dam

Day 7 - 2012 (Posted 2 days late)

This blog is posted late because the connectivity in southeast Ohio is pretty poor.

This was my view as I pulled out of the Hocking River at about 6:20. Yes, there is a towboat and barge in the fog.

These are the gates opening as I get ready to make my first of two locates today, this time at Belleville Lock & Dam.

How do some of these trees keep standing?

Somebody made a cool water slide of their own.

I got caught in a thunderstorm again today.
Tonight I found a sandy shore to camp on right after I passed through the Racine Lock. I'm camping out without a tent once again. It's so quiet here, I can hear people talking across the river. Except for the lights from the dam, it's very dark here, so the stars show up especially well.

Location:Racine Lock & Dam