St Louis , Days 53 to 55

Over the last few days I became the Gomer Pyle of Big Muddy Adventures. I take care of the highly specialized jobs like ice chest washing, PFD organization, carrying paddles and trying to stay out of the way. Big Muddy did a day camp session with inner city kids one morning. Fitting 30 kids with life vests, paddles and loading them into the large canoes. The water is a new and strange world to most of the kids, making for a great learning experience. These types of trips are Mike's passion. While I did find time to visit the Forest Park, Art Museum, Cahokia Indian mounds the high light was meeting the endless stream of people who stopped by the house to visit Mike and the clients arriving for trips. Film makers, Dr's, real estate investors, Artists, film and audio production, local politicians, tourists all brought together by the river. The Full Moon paddle trips with dinner are a favorite of anyone who has been on one. Mike lets many guides and volunteers come along on these trips when their schedule allows. We enjoyed another great paddle down the Missouri river to the it's confluence with Mississippi and onto Duck Island. Our friend the Eagle was perched atop his driftwood log over watching us as we landed, always a good start to a evening on the sand bar. Volunteers and staff set up camp and cooked dinner just in time for the full moon raising over the river. One guest surprised his date by proposing by campfire, kneeling in the sand. I made some great memories and picked up a few new skills during my stay in St Louis and it was only possible because of the generosity of Mike and the entire Big Muddy Adventures family.