Ravenswood.
Aug. 1.

Mile 221, Ravenswood 

I missed wring about Marietta.  Marietta was named for Marie Antoinette, who was still in general favor in 1788. It was a thank you for French help in the Revolution.  

Marietta is rightly proud of its history as the first real town in Ohio, and a key player in the subsequent settlement of the region.  It never became a big city like Cincinnati, even though the grandeur of its public buildings anticipated a much greater population.  I’m not sure what all supports Marietta today, but Marietta College is a big part.  It was founded way back in 1835, and has 1200 students. It is regarded as one of the top  Midwest colleges. 

In Marietta, like many towns along the river, the architecture is dazzling, paid for with prosperity in the past.

Months ago I contacted Joe Tewksbury, coach of the Marietta High School Rowing Club.  We met at the boathouse, where I saw 

their impressive fleet of eights, and also a variety of old restored 

wooden shells.  Like me, Joe first rowed wooden boats.  You can’t outlive that experience.  The wooden boats are a treasure. Joe has rowed since he was thirteen, and coached for many, many years.  You couldn’t go to Marietta High School and not know him.  We had a couple of hours over coffee discussing our shared love of rowing

Marietta

I took pictures of houses and churches. The churches look more of a Pittsburg scale than small town.  There have to be some empty seats. 

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Houses

I am writing today far downstream, in Pomeroy Ohio. To their credit, McDonalds has a dock.  And wireless, and air conditioning.  A great place to do a little writing.

I spent two nights at the Ravenswood dock, watched a lot of races, heard bands, including Restless Heart (“The Bluest Eyes of Texas”), made friends and sweated a lot.  It was a laidback good time along the River. 

I started this morning early, in complete fog, which burned off in a half hour.  Downstream I stopped at Mason WV’s dock, which was two blocks from gas.  At the landing I ventured into a political conversation with a fellow boater.  He has remained a Trump voter, but with weak enthusiasm.  He told me about the McDonalds dock.

Back to the boat for a bit longer day today, to make up for shore time.  

Indians?

McDonalds