Canoeing down the Mississippi
March 16, 2013 4:02 PM Subscribe
Between July 28 and November 10, 2003, Ron Haines canoed down the entire length of the Mississippi. Eight years later, he wrote it up as a series of blog posts with lots of interesting photos and observations: Lake Itasca to Minneapolis-St. Paul. Minneapolis-St. Paul to St. Louis. St. Louis to New Orleans. He also wrote up his logistics and some of the press coverage he got along the way.
The website of the Sabula, IA Castle on the River B&B has changed.
The website of the Sabula, IA Castle on the River B&B has changed.
Really great trip report, thanks.
I've heard of a few people attempt an even more epic Canoe trip: 7000km (4300mi) Across Canada.
I'd love to take either trip in another life.
posted by Popular Ethics at 4:33 PM on March 16, 2013
I've heard of a few people attempt an even more epic Canoe trip: 7000km (4300mi) Across Canada.
I'd love to take either trip in another life.
posted by Popular Ethics at 4:33 PM on March 16, 2013
Currently following a guy making the opposite journey, tracing the path of the Great Migration by foot, boat and train here.
posted by bozeman's simplex at 6:15 PM on March 16, 2013
posted by bozeman's simplex at 6:15 PM on March 16, 2013
Sorry to say but dude lost all my respect when I saw he used wheels to portage his stuff around dams etc.
posted by docgonzo at 6:44 PM on March 16, 2013
posted by docgonzo at 6:44 PM on March 16, 2013
Sorry to say but dude lost all my respect when I saw he used wheels to portage his stuff around dams etc.
That lazy bastard! I bet he lets the buoyant force of the river counteract the gravitational force on his canoe and gear too!
You do realize that puts you behind the Amish in terms of embracing new technologies, right?
posted by Acari at 7:07 PM on March 16, 2013 [7 favorites]
That lazy bastard! I bet he lets the buoyant force of the river counteract the gravitational force on his canoe and gear too!
You do realize that puts you behind the Amish in terms of embracing new technologies, right?
posted by Acari at 7:07 PM on March 16, 2013 [7 favorites]
I might pack heavier for that long of a trip than I would for a weekend in the Boundary Waters, and therefore might find it easier to bring wheels. He may have felt the same way.
posted by padraigin at 7:30 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by padraigin at 7:30 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Six years later, a young Claire Boucher (aka Grimes) and a companion attempted to sail down the Mississippi in a houseboat. Their attempt was spectacularly unsuccessful.
posted by stannate at 9:08 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by stannate at 9:08 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I am now up an hour after I intended to be in bed because I can't quit reading this! (And I am scared of boats so it's not like I'll ever do anything like this!)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:21 PM on March 16, 2013
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 10:21 PM on March 16, 2013
Eyebrows McGee: "I am now up an hour after I intended to be in bed because I can't quit reading this!"
Yeah, I've had a few nights like that lately myself. Funny how day after day of "Another tow was coming towards me" and "I found a nice spot on the sandy side of a wing dam" can be so captivating.
I also thought about this in relation to the recent post about women travelers and women's road stories. Would I ever be comfortable canoeing down the Mississippi myself? Probably not, and a lot of that has to do with being a woman.
All the same, it's a fascinating story, well told.
posted by jiawen at 10:44 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I've had a few nights like that lately myself. Funny how day after day of "Another tow was coming towards me" and "I found a nice spot on the sandy side of a wing dam" can be so captivating.
I also thought about this in relation to the recent post about women travelers and women's road stories. Would I ever be comfortable canoeing down the Mississippi myself? Probably not, and a lot of that has to do with being a woman.
All the same, it's a fascinating story, well told.
posted by jiawen at 10:44 PM on March 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you love long canoe trips, Verlen Kruger did a two year, 21,000 mile trip.
posted by HuronBob at 5:15 AM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by HuronBob at 5:15 AM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Verona and Valerie Kruger spent some time with us in Cedar Key Fl during their trip, awaiting a new sail rig. They wanted to be able to connect their canoes together and sail as a catamaran in crossing the Gulf Stream if needed.
posted by cedar key at 5:29 AM on March 17, 2013
posted by cedar key at 5:29 AM on March 17, 2013
Didn't read this yet, but
a gentleman by the name of Daniel "Out of Order" Alvarez has kayaked from the Boundary waters to Key West just this past year.
http://predictablylost.com/category/angle-to-key-west/
his report: the barge captains in St Louis were surly, but the barge captains in New Orleans were friendly, if only because they thought he would surely die, and they'd hear about it on the news.
There was a book about a black man who attempted, and perhaps accomplished(?) this same float. it was a very different trip, i imagine.
posted by eustatic at 10:52 AM on March 17, 2013
a gentleman by the name of Daniel "Out of Order" Alvarez has kayaked from the Boundary waters to Key West just this past year.
http://predictablylost.com/category/angle-to-key-west/
his report: the barge captains in St Louis were surly, but the barge captains in New Orleans were friendly, if only because they thought he would surely die, and they'd hear about it on the news.
There was a book about a black man who attempted, and perhaps accomplished(?) this same float. it was a very different trip, i imagine.
posted by eustatic at 10:52 AM on March 17, 2013
« Older Computerized Math, Formal Proofs and Alternative... | "I give my right hand to the Occidentals and my... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by jiawen at 4:02 PM on March 16, 2013