July 24th. 4 hours 7 miles. I did 2 1/2 miles in the first hour and assumed I would end the day 2 miles to the good. The Tennessee River had other plans. As frustrating as it can be, it is also amusing to me when she bares her every changing moods. Pete Mangum's patience was put to the test today. My wetsuit had irritated my right arm, so I quit breathing as often on my left side. That cut communication with the boat significantly. Pete, who spends much time routing my swim, was zig zagging trying to get me in his sight. Pam was upset with me. Apoligizing for my disrespect, I vowed to let them know next time I decide to quit breathing bilaterally, so the boat can move to my right side. Oh yeah, Pete got Pam a 5lb bag of peanut M&Ms. She holds the bag up with a big smile and shakes it at me. It is ok. because I jut imagine what the M&Ms look like on thighs. Pam says I have to tell you she is only 106 pounds.... A man from Inside TV called me from New Jersey. He wanted to come on our boat for two days and do a TV spot about the Tennessee River. He said he did a show on a guy that swam a river in Nashville and it was a hit. He asked what day would be good to see all the "dirt". I asked what he meant by "dirt". As it turned out, he wanted to see cars, fridges, tires, garbage, etc. I told him I did not think my swim was appropriate for his show. It would be great to have the swim on national tv, but not by sensationalizing the condition of the river. If we find cars, fertilizer tanks and garbage to flaunt on TV, people are led to believe they are responsible stewards because they dispose of their waste properly. Using the river as a dumping ground for our appliances is unbelieveably irresponsible, but so are things as seemingly harmless as unnecessary pesticides, herbicides, and cleaning agents. And water conservation becomes increasingly important as we continue to double our water consumption faster than our population. In addition, it is easier to pull a fridge or tire from a shoreline than it is to pull out lead, cadmium, and pcb's. Those shows that sensationalize only serve to give us reasons to blame others instead of ourselves. If I take a TV crew around the tributaries of the Tennessee River and show them TV's, tires, and tanks; then walk away leaving them to rust, am I not as guilty as the person who dumped them in the first place? A kind of accomplice to the crime? When I see litter, I pick it up. Unfortunately not always happily. I hate it when I angrily clean up after someone. I am teaching myself to do it gladly. Not because I am happy about what the criminal did- and those who litter are criminals- but because I took a step towards making the world a better place. And that is something to smile about. For God so loved the World...take care of it. My crew and I sincerely thank all of you who care enough to offer words of inspiration. mimi