Mississippi River – Source to Sea – Solo … but never alone.
Ok ... I still needed something to track my location. Something that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Something that has powerful features. Something that won't run my battery dead all the time. It's a tall order. I didn't actually think I would find anything to meet my needs. I was wrong ( it's not the first time and won't be the last ).
"It was classic Ann Raiho, exercising her adventure muscle whenever possible. But deeper than that, it was her understanding that everything that happens, good or bad, is a story. And life is just a string of stories that we collect over time, and we might as well make them good ones."
"Canoeing with the Cree" is the first hand account of a daring and risky canoe trip from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay by two audacious young men who simply didn't know any better than to attempt something that few had ever dreamed possible.
"I alone am responsible for the consequences of my actions."
We have another little gem of a stream called Rook's Creek. It is a tributary of the Vermilion River and just like the Vermilion, it flows from South to North.
This trip is suitable for beginners who have good boat control skills. There are no dams or other man made obstructions on this section of the river. Strainers, dead falls, and log jams may occur without warning in nearly any location along this stretch of the river. Use caution and always wear your lifejacket.
I had never been in a canoe before. Luckily for me, several summers at the campground meant that I was a strong swimmer. I think that might have been a factor in the decision to let me go on a week long canoe trip, with no prior paddling experience, and with a bunch of people I had just met. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?
This story would be completely remarkable, even without the added hardship of not being allowed through the locks, but what makes this story so outstanding in my opinion is the grace and positive attitude with which LouAnne handled the entire experience. She made the whole thing look easy. To say that I am impressed would be a great understatement.
That's just the first, and one of the many, little dramas that played out this season. Thankfully, these things seem to work out alright in the end thanks to a lot of wonderful people along the river.
Part of my preparation and planning for my big trip next year has been following paddlers who did the trip this year. My primary resource has been the Mississippi River Paddlers ( MRP ) page on Facebook. The MRP has so many experienced paddlers who have already done the trip that their collective experience would … Continue reading 2019 Mississippi River Season Recap
Glory Days - Part 1 