The Port of Shreve

We spent the weekend in Shreveport lining up an apartment for me and looking around what will be our new home town. Nice little city with some really friendly people. I guess I will have to get used to the language there, though. From now on if you want to cheer me on you can’t shout “Go Ned” – instead you’ll need to scream “Geaux Ned” – it’s a Cajun thing, I guess.

One of those kind folks has offered to let me keep the boat at his place. He lives on a bayou about a mile off Cross Lake. So, I’ll be able to swing by there, throw the boat in the water, and be out training without having to trailer the kayak around town. And he tells me there aren’t TOO many alligators in the bayou! So, next Monday I’ll be at the new job and in the new apartment. The boat is on order and should be delivered in Shreveport some time around the 10th. Then the training can really begin.

90 days until the Mr340 and 102 subscribers to the blog.

Two of the Haitian Pilgrims just got back from a short fact finding visit to Boileau and report that Port au Prince looks much like what we’ve seen on the TV reports. Piles of rubble and tent cities. But people continue to go about their business – trying to attend to their daily needs. In Boileau the first impression is that not much has changed. But, after talking to the people there it’s become apparent that the flooding (it’s the start of the rainy season in Haiti) and the influx of refugees from Port au Prince have strained their resources. Once again, though, people do what must be done to try and eke out a living. The Haitian Pilgrims have set up getting several containers of emergency food for Boileau. If they haven’t yet been delivered they’re on the way. So, the crisis is still on-going but, thanks to the Haitian Pilgrims, the people of Boileau have been spared much of the fallout. The Pilgrims are meeting next weekend, so I hope to have more details in my next post.

Ned

Anchors Aweigh – the WRN sails to a new port

The whole idea of the Missouri River 340 has been contingent on me getting a real job, with real insurance. So, behind the scenes of trying to get in shape, build readership for the blog, and put together lists and lists of things we’ll need to buy and accumulate for the race, I’ve been working hard at finding employment. Its been part of this leap of faith I’ve talked about. Well, as of Friday that part of the voyage has finally come to an end. I’ve been offered a new job in Shreveport, Louisiana, working for Centerpoint Energy. We hadn’t planned on a move, will miss our friends in Dallas, and aren’t looking forward to all to all the other changes, but that’s part of the leap of faith.

So, the next few weeks will be busy with all the logistics associated with starting a new job, making the move, looking for a new place to live, selling the house, finding a good church family, and on and on and on. But I will keep the preparing for the race in July.

Thanks to all my friends who have had faith in me. Thanks to all of you who have helped me to have faith in myself. And, thanks in advance to everyone for all the help I’ll need between now and the end of July. My blogging will start anew now that there’s something to blog about.

And what will I be blogging about? I plan to make the decision on a boat in the next few weeks and get that ordered. Then I’ll be working out on the Red River in Shreveport. I’ll also start hitting up the businesses down there for team sponsorship money. If that boat looks like something from NASCAR it’s fine with me. Heck, everyone knows the more advertising you have on a vehicle the faster it goes. And finally (you knew this was coming) start thinking about race sponsorships. I’ll be doing this for a good cause so, if you’re a gambling person, take a gamble on me. Ten cents a mile only totals $34.00 if I make it all the way down the river.

Next stop – Shreveport.
Cap’n Ned