July 31st. 4 hours 8 miles The River was absolutely beautiful today. Blue herons were everywhere. We virtually had the River to ourselves except for a few barges. It remained gorgeous until it was almost time to pull me out. Pete and Kenley wanted to pull me out 5 minutes early but Kay talked them out of it. The handy-dandy 150 boat motor got us to shore before the afternoon storm hit. While Pete and Kenley were loading the boat, Kay and I checked out the teeth on the Long-nosed Gar left for dead on the shore. Kay said she jumped in to cool off while I was swimming, started thinking about Gar fish and quickly returned to the boat. Silly woman. Why are people so afraid of animals? WE are the ones doing the attacking and the killing. They have to be afraid of us, not the other way around. (Polar Bears are exempt-they do track people.) We saw a dead Gar on the shoreline killed by a person...but not once have I seen a person on the shores of the Tennessee killed by a fish. Kay says I have to mention there were lots of Gar around the boat and she has tiny, delicate toes. And she says there was a fish so big that came up to the boat today that it made Kenley jump. He defended his behavior in response to Pete's teasing by stating it was at least a 50 lb. bull fish. If a 50lb bull fish can make a riverwise biologist jump I wonder what a 135 pound swimmer does to the fish? Tomorrow is my last day, and at this point of my swim, I am always physically, emotionally, and mentally drained. But it is going to be difficult to step out of her waters for another year. There just something about the Tennessee River. I memorized a poem today and the ending stanza was: The river breeds patience, and pleasure, and swift lessons in humility. But mostly possession. Those who love the river end up belonging to it. If those lines are meaningless to someone, it is probably because they only know how to use the Tennessee River. It is sad for the River and for the user because neither of them benefit. I also memorized a message off a monument in Norris, TN place by the Civillian Concervation Corp. (My grandfather was a member and placed the phone lines across the Grand Canyon.) The message stated: In our 9 year existence we worked to beautify your land and pass it into your hands. The preservatin of this country will remain strong as long as the flame of freedom is filled with creative thoughts and accomplishments and not smothered with negligence. If you and future generations see fit to raise your voices of praise for us...we will consider it our reward. Tomorrow's swim will be in praise of the Civillian Conservation Corp. and their work to beautify our country. Tonight I will pray that as a country we have more creative thoughts and accomplishments, and less negligence. Goodnight, mimi