I think gasoline might be something a wily boatman could scrounge as he made his way down the river. If things are so serious that your boat cannot get anywhere, woudln't there have to be some stranded barges, some of which might have a little fuel in them? I know the whole industry is better at pumping out and draining barges, but it cannot be possible to really get it all out.

All red flag barges have pump engines that run on diesel.

Checking cargoes of barges we might encounter would be very time consuming and deadly dangerous. Not really worth the risk.

Wildman, this may not be feasable, but have you considered storing a bicycle somewhere along your return route? Once you were on land it could cut your return time in half or more.

That's been considered from many angles and it is feasible from only one source/possibility. That possibility is the "scrounging" part of every plan.

Be careful, in some places they shoot "scroungers"...

Diesel outboard a option?

I wish it were. Red Flag barges carry from 125 - 7,125 gals of DFM#2. Those with heater units carry the larger amount.

More & more of the newer Red Flag barges also have 2 good sized solar panels on them to power the alarm system.