Wimping out, at least a bit

Story here about a recreation of Lincoln's 1828 flatboat trip from Rockport, Indiana, down the Mississippi River to New Orleans.

This was one of several such trips made by Lincoln. On this 1828 journey, he and his companion (the boat had a two-man crew) were attacked by a gang of thieves while anchored along the river shore somewhere in Louisiana. Lincoln was "hurt some" in the melee, but was saved when his fellow crewman yelled "get the guns, Abe, and shoot!" They had no such weapons, but the ruse was apparently enough to scare away the thieves.

Kind of cool to see this trip re-enacted. One thing, though; the 2008 version of the flatboat will be motorized. According to those in the know, motorization is necessary now, in ways that were not the case in 1828. I'm sure that's true, and heaven knows I wouldn't want to challenge anyone's expertise on such matters (I know next to nothing about boating). But c'mon...a motorized flatboat? Kind of ruins the ambience, don't you think? Couldn't they have at least come up with motorized pushpoles?

Personally, I think they should get even more realistic and re-enact a scene from another flatboat journey, whereby Lincoln and his companions were compelled to sew the eyes shut of some hogs they were transporting downriver. Now that would make headlines. And it would sure get the attention of these folks.