Marietta. The Storm. Marietta.

I have a bunch of writing I haven’t done!  So instead of catching up on the days (which has stopped me from writing at all), I want to focus on some of the towns that have been, well, extraordinary… starting with Marietta, Ohio.

Reverend Linda was the first to return my call (with the help from the church secretary, Diane).

I’d been starting to worry the churches wouldn't respond to my emails and phone calls, and now I know why… I needed the RIGHT church to be my first experience on the river.

The 1^st Congregational Church of Marietta Ohio.  What can I say that will do my experience justice?

To start:  I walked in completely stressed and tired. That ended immediately when Linda walked up, gave me a huge hug, and with awesome sincerity whispered, “Welcome Home.”

It was just that simple. 

After came an ‘Extravagant Welcome’ of singing, incredible piano/organ playing, a perfect sermon and then blessings.  Blessing to Marita and Bernie, to me and to my Henry.  They even got him treats and set out a water bowl… a small gesture, but to have strangers recognize his importance in my life was beautiful.

After the service I did my presentation.  It felt good.  In that painful, heart wrenching sorta way that comes with speaking your truth.

Then we went to a bar (Yup, these are my sorta church people), where I got to experience my first fried bologna sandwich at the Harmar Tavern.  Holy Hannah Batman… my bologna has a first name and it’s spelled M-A-R-I-E-T-T-A.  (Post service ‘Lunch Bunch’ folks, you are too awesome)

I went back to the hotel that Sunday overwhelmed- in the good way.

Then some headaches hit.  Credit card fraud and some other stresses took over and stole the peace of the day and the excitement of sleeping in a bed. I was left wanting to crawl back a few hours to my 1^st Congregational folks and hide… yeah…

(Henry enjoying the bed while I spent hours trying to figure out my credit card disaster)

BUT

The next morning we headed back to my boat (we had left it at the beautiful Sistersville, West Virginia, public dock) and I was off again.

(Sistersville Ferry)

This time ending at a little, clean, amazing RV/Campsite on the chute of an island in St. Mary’s, West Virginia.  Richard and his wife made sure we had electric and a code to the showers… Marita, Henry and I went for a swim.  Henry rolled in the mud.  It was hot and muggy, but a beautiful, quiet spot.

Then it POURED & STORMED & BOOMED.

I was a little worried about Henry, but he didn’t mind one bit, and slept right through.  Wow, dog. 

The next morning I found out Richard had been up all night monitoring the river, and with good reason… the river was high and fast (and my tent was filled with water... 4 inches of rain in a few hours was too much for my lightweight backpacking tent).

(that little dot is Henry watching stuff float by)

So we sat and stared at TREES, chairs, basketballs, tables and other rubbish fly past us. 

I was hesitant to go.  I called the lock right below us.  I called Jim the lock master at a previous lock to get his advice.  I sat and stared at another tree go by. 

I decided not to go…

Then I decided to go…

Then I decided not to go…

Then I remembered Lovely Judy from church that Sunday.  She had offered to have Henry and I stay the night when we got back to Marietta (we had stopped short before and drove in for church).

That got me to go.

A flood was not going to stop me from sleeping in a bed and doing laundry. Nope.

It ended up being a thrilling day of crazy sailing (a strong head wind mixed with the crazy current) and a boost in confidence handling poor weather on the river (for future river folks, my ‘kayak’ has 2 outriggers, a dagger board and designed for ocean conditions… I would not have taken out a regular canoe or kayak… in truth, I should have waited).

(Coming out of the island chute to The Ohio and the gunk at the lock)

I came to the end of my ‘Flood Day’ giddy I survived, mentally and physically trashed, and welcomed with open arms (again) by beautiful Marietta, Ohio.

The Mayor had come out (a Marine Veteran).  The Congressman’s staff came out.  My church came out.  The local news station did a story... 

... and after the welcome, my new friend Judy took me away to her beautiful home.

(Look at my happy boy!)

(My dog is sucker for a good bed)

That crazy day was rewarded with Manhattans, cheese and crackers, chicken salad, my laundry getting done, Henry getting to watch birds from a perfect porch and a beautiful new friendship… 

… Not just from my generous hostess, but from an entire town.

Just awesome.