Poor William helping Magical Madge – Sunflower Expedition
A Sunflower River Expedition!
An excerpt taken from John Ruskey’s update Keith Plunkett — Lucy’s Revenge: 2 Days on a Sunflower River Expedition
“We hosted Keith & Sharon Plunkett and their son Hudson on the Sunflower last weekend — 11 paddlers on the river Saturday, 13 paddlers on Sunday, including my daughter Emma Lou! The river was smiling with all the attention. Thanks again to all the kayakers & canoeists who joined in — and special thanks to chef Matthew Joseph (Stone Pony) for feeding everyone Saturday night in support of Mississippi Alzheimer’s Association. See below for photos from the weekend. Unfortunately no one got a photo of Madge Howell when she took her swim in the newly named “Madge’s Pool” although Madge did determine that it was “Bottomless!”
WATCH THE VIDEO.
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Sunflower River Expedition Poor William, Lil John and Driftwood Johnnie admiring Da Nasty. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
“Driftwood Johnnie” – John Ruskey on the Sunflower River Expedition . Photo by The Delta Bohemian
Sunflower River Expedition Josh, Lil John, Magical, Becky and Courtney. Photo by The Delta Bohemian
WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE COMMENTS!!
Madge — Just watched the online version! Ohmigod — love it! I couldn’t stop laughing/crying (the sad state of affairs on the sunflower) What fun. Daddy Rich’s music was perfect for this! Love what you put together.
Cap’n Billy:
You got all the photos expect for Madge’s swim in probably the deepest pool on this section of the river — hee,hee! not that you didn’t WANT to get that photo —
Okay, to fill everyone in — if you weren’t on the river that day — here’s the scene:
Overcast but warm & humid Delta Day. Feels like rain. A bunch of canoes traversing a log jam in the middle of a dirty delta river, yes, our poor neglected Sunflower. And it stinks. As Madge & Billy approach in their canoe Madge reaches the slippery log and has to leave canoe to help pull Billy through. She is standing on one side of the canoe and I’m on the other. She’s there one minute pushing the canoe and then the next moment SHE’S NOT!
Madge falls off log into trash-filled pool with no bottom. Everyone who sees her is in shock. She’s not upset though, “its feels good” she announces (warm spring day — hot & sweaty from the paddling into head wind) — now Madge just wants to know how do get back out. She looks up sweetly & innocently with laughter in her eyes and says “Okay, what do I do know?”
ANd what does her husband do?
Cap’n Billy is sputtering and looking madder in his glistening eyes than usual. And he’s barking out in short emphatic commanding syllables: “Quick!” “Quick!” Quick!” And then he finally gets it out:
“Quick! — get my camera!”
Hee-hee! And ya know what the really funny thing was — I think Madge was thinking the same thing!
WHat a team you guys are. I’m still laughing about that moment! Thanks for the laughter on this disheartening stretch of river. Thanks for all this attention to our poor neglected (but strikingly wonderful & wonderfully muddy) Sunflower River.
Well put, Captain Ruskey!
If I had’nt grown up with ya’ll, I would swear ya’ll was a bunch a rednecks!!!!
Wish I had been with you!!
Cool Video ‘Lil Round. Sorry I was on call at the Hatchery and could not make it.Thanks for the invite though. We need a High water Event to wash the trash down to The Big Sunflower.
Looking like we just may get it too!
Loved the photos, the music and the read – great as always.