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Show RIVER prose style of anybody generous enough to give me a shower. Here's the story as it appeared in the Helena-West Helena Arkansas World and East Arkansas Record: A boy...his dog...and a guitar! Wednesday night well after dark a boy in a 12 foot rowboat came to the docks from upriver. He was tired, saying he had rowed 40 miles that day against a strong South wind. With him was a large dog, part golden lab and German shepherd. The boy said he was from California. He put his boat in at the Kentucky Dam and was headed for Natchez. Asked why not continue to New Orleans, he said that two years ago he and a girl friend made the trip down the Mississippi on a raft. He said the river offered no excitement below Natchez as the big ocean liners crowded the river. He is right. He entertains himself with his guitar. His small boat is crowded with provisions, a sleeping bag, dog food, etc. He said he has yet to fall in the river but his dog has fallen in twice. Thursday morning he took a hot shower then headed for a laundromat to clean his clothes. That afternoon he spent his time writing letters, his diary and reading. Friday morning he got some more provisions and set out for down river. He sported a full head of hair and a full grown beard. He was 21 years old; wants to get a job on a towboat. . . . Rains in the eastern part of the country have caused the river to rise again. For the next several days the Mississippi will continue to climb, then should start to fall again. However, I am not predicting what the river will do. It gets mighty contrary at times. As this very clean longhair was getting ready to leave that morning, Bill came out of the trailer and took some pictures. I told him to give my thanks to everybody for their hospitality. As I rowed away he waved and said, "So long." He walked across the gangway toward shore and I thought I had made good my escape, but he stopped and turned and called out, "Be careful." -202- |