Phatwater level on the Natchez Gauge today is 37.65′ and rising rapidly.  40′ by tomorrow is predicted.  Here’s a shot from yesterday with much drift from the recent mid-west rains, as well as the local.  We’ve had more than six inches in the first two weeks of October.

It’s blustery and cold this morning at the Under-The-Hill Saloon.  High winds may prevent the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race from proceeding tomorrow, following this evening’s Balloon Glow.  The Balloon Glow is a most popular event; a visual spectacle with a pronounced wow factor, wherein  squads of colored ripstop nylon behemoths in the shape of giant, multi-gored lightbulbs are illuminated by burning the remains of long extinct relatives of our Zeuglodons. Once a year they are resurrected in the form of flaming hydrocarbons, set afire to amuse throngs of substance abusers reckoning to “pass a good time.” Wish you all were here to bear witness.

I am in the back room of the saloon where the Phatwater registration took place, with one of our sled team leaders, Scotch, snoozing by our feet.  Scotch is two years older than the Phatwater.

Speyside Gatorpoint Scotch, a single malt Chocolate Lab, well aged at 10 years

He’s much older than Ketchup, whom you see here:

Ketchup, ordering a Scotch

Ketchup is maintained by human companion Lane Browning, a season ticket holder at the Under-The-Hill Saloon and Phatwater Volunteer with no near equal.  Lane is our link with sanity when things begin to fold.  But Ketchup, I hate to say, is a much better dancer.

Here’s the PDF with our results:

Phat09ResultsTimeClassKB

All for now-