updated 09-27-02
updated 09-27-02
Welcome. My name is David Estrada. I am glad that you decided to come visit and learn a little more about me and my life on the River. This page will give you my background, information on how and why I chose to work on the River, and other special tidbits surrounding the river life.
I grew up in Port Arthur, Texas a port town near Louisiana that the Intracostal Waterway passes through. As a child I would always go to the seawall and wave to the passing men on towboats and barges. I would become overjoyed when these men would wave back to me. I would stand in awe of the length of some of these tows. I would always wonder - Where are they going? What's it like to be a proud riverman? I never would have known that when I grew up that I would be one of these men passing by. One of the most gratifying things from working on the river as waving back to kids on the bank. Every time I'd wave to them, I would see myself.
I started working on towboats and barges in the winter of 1995. I worked on them full time through the summer of 96. The money I earned helped me move to and attend college in Austin at St. Edwards University. During my entire college years I worked on the boats during my summer, winter, and spring breaks to finance my education. I earned my college degree and 'retired' from the boats on June 9th, 2000.
I miss it dearly
During my years of full time and part time life on the river, I started out at deckhand, then tankerman, then finally became a mate. Most of my time I worked for Sabine Towing Company and the company that later took them over, Kirby Inland Marine. I even had a brief stint working for Canal Barge Company out of New Orleans.
I didn't just work on the rivers for the pay. I enjoyed going back because the experience of living on the river for months for at a time. I would get to travel on the Upper and Lower Mississippi River, the Ohio River, and the Intracostal Waterway. My travels on the natural arteries of this land took me to such states as Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana. It was a most unique way of experiencing America.
Another wondrous thing about working on the boats were the people. I met many captains, pilots, deckcrew, and mates who have made a positive, profound and lasting impact on my life. Some of these people you'll be introduced to in my river pages. Working and living with these people made them like brothers to me. It was always a complete thrill to cross paths with these men on the river and talk about old times.
When I was heading toward the end of my college years, I hinted to one of my old Sabine buddies of my inevitable retirement from the River. "You'll be back", he said. "Once the River gets in your blood, it's there for good. You'll be back."
He was right. Although I have turned to a new chapter in my life, the River often calls back for me. It now lives in my pictures, my stories, my memories. Please kick back and enjoy your cruise down the River with me.
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