NO Adventure

AS SEEN ON STREETCARNAGE.COM

Ever since I saw my old friend Katie swim in the river about a year ago, I promised myself that I would do it. I wanted to experience the river on my bare skin and submerged head and live to tell about it.

If you grew up in New Orleans, you’ve heard the tale over and over again. If you swim in the Mississippi, you will drown. My grandfather swam in it as a kid. My bud, Tommy Staub, swam across it at “The Fly,” but was too tired to swim back(he took a cab). Every year, people drown in the river, but it has less to do with the deadliness of the river and more to do with the fact that common sense is not common practice.

It’s a shame that most of the kids that drown in Louisiana rivers DON”T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SWIM.

This tragedy “confirms what we are finding — this continuing cycle of people not knowing how to swim and their children not knowing how to swim and still being around water,” said Sue Anderson, USA Swimming’s Director of Programs and Services.

SO PLEASE: know your abilities when participating in any potentially dangerous activity and know the risks. Before I ever got near the river, I witnessed dogs swimming in there for 30 minutes at a time at up to 250′ from the shore during the spring(when the river is fast). I also talked with people who swam in the river before me(even some who have crossed it) to educate myself through the experiences of others. I also felt that I could outswim a dog since I have two sprint triathlons under my belt and I spend alot of time in(swimming) or on(paddling) the water.

My old pal, the Big River Man himself – Martin Strel.

An actual Mississippi River inhabitant, the paddlenose fish, is a prehistoric creature that has remained unchanged for millions of years, much like an alligator.

Enough with the pleasantries. Since I wanted to do this river swim so bad, I figured I might as well make it a snorkel and explore all that the river had to offer UNDER the surface. What a good idea that turned out to be! Since the dawn of time, man has yearned to snorkel within the New Orleans city limits, but until now, many thought it impossible. NOadventure will always be here to set the record straight. Feast your eyes on this flick and share it if you must:

AND FOR YOUTUBERS:

Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans Mississippi river snorkel snorkeling uptown new orleans swim swim swim swim swim swim swim swim swim swimming swimming swimming swimming swim