And We're Off...

Ah, there is so much to say, but we only have five minutes.
We had a marvelous time on the Mura. So many people came out to support us and share in the belief our rivers should flow freely. The Mura is so beautiful. If more people came to the river to sit, watch and listen the world would be a better place. People would be calmer and our rivers would be wilder! The people along the Mura in Austria, Slovenia and Croatia are dedicated to the health of the Mura and FUN! When Kelsey and her group flipped the canoe, there was laughter, but we did not let them see! At least not until Kelsey was warm and dry. Actually she was more worried that she could not get back into the USA with a wet and messy passport to reunite with her boyfiend. Ah, young love!

Tomorrow we start the Drava. It looks REALLY, REALLY cold, but I am not going to touch it until I jump in. What difference will it make how cold it is? Kelsey is concerned for the whitewater and boulders a few hundred kilometers downstream from our starting point. She is afraid her touring kajak will not make it. She wants to make sure the passports are going to be kept dry. I told her to call her boyfriend and make sure he will still love her with a head injury. She told me to be quiet because I am at that age where it is easy to break a hip. Teasing and laughter can be good stress reducers. It will be fine!

We found out a couple of days ago that at the end of the Drava, it is not the raw sewage that is dangerous but the mines. When Arno said that, I assumed he meant chemicals as a result of mining. He did not. He meant MINES...boom, boom. After the Homeland War with Serbia and Croatia, as in ALL wars, there were many undenotated bombs. We need to be careful we do not detonate any of them as we swim through that section of the Drava. There are usually warning signs, but Arno said he was trapsing around the riverbank and came upon a stick without a sign. It was stressful finding his way out of the area. I get a picture of him on tippy toes easing his way back to his car. Well, I was told when swimming the Tennessee River not to stand up in Moccasin Bend due to poisoning from WWII. As then, I do not plan to stand up while swimming through the mines.

I have been too long, thanks for all of your support. Please remember that the majority of ALL people are kind, compassionate and supportive of a clean, healthy environment. Live on....mimi