"Driftin Ol Miss Journal by Wali-G"

Sep 1-15   Sep 16-30   Oct 1-15   Oct 16-31   Nov 1-15   Nov 16-30   Dec 1-15   Dec 16-31  
   September 16, 2009

   Fixed our boat......found out we are moving between1/2 to1.5 mph...... Must set new time perspectives... Still lookin for more power....../////side note- big Shane is currently represented by an eagle fessther Pheng found....,///: recognized as some one's hero and a Jeff Foxworthy project in the same day....//// weather favors hippies lately



   Sep 17, Thursday

   Headed to Brownsville; pushed by a 5.5 hp Johnson.



   Sep 18, Friday

   Stop by the Top of the Rock to get river intel. Get some good information from Captain Nemo the bar tender.

Head to Genoa. Stop by Stoddard to refuel. Make it to our first lock at sundown. We post up to the heavily used railroad tracks to get some sleep. Head to Rudy's to try to bump into a friend of Captain Nemo's. First person we run into is the owner of John's Bar of La Crosse; he takes Pheng and myself out for a Good ol Wisconsin fish fry.



   Sep 19, Saturday

   Genoa, Wi

My little Johnson How mighty is your putter Going down on the Ol Miss

Writing haikus as we wait to go throuh our first lock. The Coast Guard leads the way for us.

Pheng and I camp out for the night. Story-telling ensues around the campfire.





   Sep 20, sunday

   Lansing, Ia

We stop for week 2 of Sunday football and a shower. The search for a larger Johnson continues.

Meet a local personality, Don. Sitting next to Don is Dave Wiley, a Chiropracter that Wali-G met in La Crosse foosball league 5+ years ago.

Dave takes us on a pub crawl of Lansing. We talk Dave into hitchin along to Prairie du Chien.

Later, Pheng meets a man named Red that says he has a25hp engine for us.



   Sep 21, Monday

   Red wakes us up at 7am to take us to New Albin to pick up the 25hp motor he is donating.
Foggy conditions have postponed school for two hours so Red picks up his son, Zeek, to come chech out our adventure craft.
Luck and fate are strongly on our side today as we find that the one part that we need to make the engine go, the throttle arm, is ready and waiting for us on a 'donor' motor at a small marina south of town.
With the service and experience of Greg of S and S Marina, we are on our way with Dave to Prairie du Chien by 1730.



   Sep22, Tuesday

   Raft to Lynxville with Pheng and Dave Wiley spreading the word of the Internet; The communication networks in these parts make this area Amish-like in the sense of 21st century information.

We stop in Lynxville and Falling Rock to find a network and/or wi fi to try to update the website.

At sundown we arrive north of Prairie du Chien at the Winneshiek Marina to pick up Eric.

We meet a locksman named Brandon that gives us lock intel and a ride around Prairie.



   Sep23, Wed

   Prairie Du Chien.Dave's friend Teresa comes to pick Dave up at noon. He let's us use his car to get groceries and gas. With the new 25hp motor test complete, new calculations are made on fuel costs.
There are concerns how far we will make it on our current budget. Alternative engine means (a trolling motor ran on solar or wind energy) are considered and pursued. Ideally, instead of spending $1600 on gas ($1/mile),we could have unlimited energy for the same price. Anycase, donations or sponsorship might be the only way we make it past Dubuque. Crew spirits are optimistic.



   Sep24, Thursday

   The Ol' Miss is dry
The flow and info is low
So why even try?

The poetry continues as drifterradio pokes at how people stymie there lives by getting caught up in the details, questions, and paranoias.

And note- finances are not that big of an issue when you got your health, time, and a supportive/family community.

The filming and picture taking continues.



   Sep25, Friday

   Guttenberg, Ia

Camped out across the river last night. Came to town in a light drizzle to see if we can find Internet.

After a cafe crawl for coffee we find the local library has what we seek.

Headed to Cassville and then Dubuque.



   September 26, 2009 sat

   With a Frankenstein-like fix of the throtte handle, we cover 20 miles and make it to Dubuque, IA around 2000. .....we make it through lock 11 in record time....post up on the sandbar across the river.... The night is spent pondering on how we plan on conquering (leaving a Good mark on this community).....



   Sep 27, 2009 sun

   Assesing the situation. Developing the people skill. Dub town IA.



   Sep 27, 2009, Sunday

   NFL Sunday break in Dubuque, IA. We root for Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. Celebration is in order when Favre throws a game winning touchdown with 2 seconds left on the clock....the Mojo Sports Bar at the Diamond Joe Casino provides an atmosphere of beautiful women and cheap tap beer.



   Sep 29, 2009, Tuesday

   Hanging out in East Dubuque taking advantage of the Att network. Weather is turning colder (50's) and the wind has been blowing hard (25-35 mph minimum) from all directions. A better fix for the throttle handle still sought. Guitar practice and videography continues.