It has been another event-filled day for Team Hope. Mike and I left
with Bob & Clark from Knox Landing this morning for a 14-mile paddle.
I shot some really cool video footage of the paddlers, including clips
of Bob & Clark passing a barge, Clark snoring, and Bob falling asleep
while paddling. There was some confusion concerning where Mike and
I would be picked up (the Angola ferry landing has two locations on
the west bank). A few sat phone calls later and we determined that
the crew was at one of the two ferry landings, while Mike, Bob, Clark
and I were at the other. Mike and I gave Clark & Bob the drinks we
had in our canoe, and they departed. Mike and I talked to the Ferry
captain and watched the local wildlife (including a six-foot gator)
while waiting to be picked up by the road crew.
The three road
crew vehicles travelled to Baton Rouge, where we set up camp near
the Argosy Casino. Angie, Mike, Denise and I took off in Angie's
car to get a pizza. We found a Domino's Pizza, went inside, and
ordered. Denise went back to the car to wait for us. As she was
sitting there, she heard the squealing of tires, and looked up in
time to see a pickup truck rear-end a car stopped at a stoplight
in front of the Domino's. From inside we heard the crash, and looked
outside to see that three vehicles had been involved in an accident.
We told the Domino's employees to call 911, and rushed outside.
I went to each
of the three vehicles and asked if everything was alright. An elderly
woman in the middle car--who had apparently been rear-ended and
then struck the car in front of her--was clearly in pain. I asked
her where she was injured, and she said that her neck hurt. I told
her that we had called the police, and that they would be there
soon. I stayed next to the driver's side door of her car, and waved
cars by who came up behind us. I had Mike bring me a piece of paper
and the sat phone, and I asked the woman if there was anyone I could
call for her to let them know what had happened and where she was.
I tried her son, but he was not home. I then tried her neighbor,
and when I reached her, explained what had happened and where we
were. They drove down to the scene--which was just a few blocks
from their house--about ten minutes later. The police and ambulance
arrived after what seemed like a long wait (about 20 minutes), and,
as it appeared the situation was under control, we departed for
the river.
Upon arriving
at the Casino, we saw that Don Keller and Desiree Loeb-Guth were
there to meet us. Desiree had a HUGE banner with her, which we strung
up between two of our vehicles. When Bob & Clark arrived at around
18h00, we used the banner as a backdrop for lots of photos. Several
reporters were there, and they commenced to taking pictures and
interviewing the paddlers and crew. In between photos and interview
questions, Bob & Clark gobbled down a Domino's Supreme pizza. After
a short break, they were back on the water. Bob prepared to take
a nap as Clark paddled away under the Casino bridge.
--AMG
posted by Andrew M. Gribble at 3:57
AM
Road
Crew Finish Time Bets
Denise: 8 AM,
28 May
Angie: 1 PM, 28 May
AMG: 2:12 PM, 28 May
posted by Andrew M. Gribble at 4:01
AM
5/27/03 7:48am
I just heard that the boat will arrive in Norco La. sometime around
11a. That puts them in New Orleans at about 6p. Andrew/Stan please
let me know if we will be on the Algiers side or the NO side near
the moon walk .
posted by Desiree at 7:54
AM
Bob Bradford
called to say he wanted to give me a jingle while Clark paddled
(finally!). They are are mile marker 151 or 152, and gave me the
lat/long to call in for our maps. They hit heavy heavy fog at mile
marker 170 or so and have been going fairly slow, for safety.
I told him
about our bet for the final time and told him I was betting they
would finish Wednesday, and that most guesses were for Wednesday.
When I asked him his best bet, he said, "Well, what's today?" I
told him Tuesday, he said "Well, yeah, probably tomorrow during
the daylight". I asked for a more specific guess but he refused
to cooperate, citing that I was pumping him for information so I
could win.... and then saying if he guesses a certain time, he might
speed up or slow down to make it....he also informed me that betting
was illegal and kept laughing and he kept laughing and kept changing
the subject....
He said Clark
was paddling hard and fast, gritting his teeth as he went, and Bob
hoped Clark was not going to break the paddle..... and then said
he was going to sleep now..... Good night Bob!
posted by Mary at 8:54
AM
Go TEAM HOPE!
I'll guess:
Wednesday May 28, 11:32 a.m.
-TWS
posted by Tony at 9:36
AM
It Now looks
like the team will be in Algiers/New Orleans this evening around
7pm. They will most likely pull up on the Algiers Point ferry
dock. New Orleans area folks should come and join us on the levee
this evening while we wait for the crew. To get there take the
canal St. Ferry across to Algiers or drive over the bridge and
look for us at the ferry.
posted by Desiree at 10:50
AM
