Minnesota to New Orleans

река миссисипи

It took 35 years, but my personal desire to ride the Mississippi river’s current – became reality.  With several winter months planning and improvising a craft from an old pontoon before dragging it to Minnesota on a trailer – and then living along and most importantly on the BIG-muddy river for more than a month.

From early summer to August; living aboard the ‘raft-like’ craft (below) ‘Freebird.’ – this simplistic voyage covered 1700 + miles of the Mississippi.  A float from Minnesota to New Orleans; with our the trusty kayak ‘traveller‘ in tow.

The links to our daily log are the right column of this page –

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The scenery and activity surrounding the river was an interesting change from our normal ‘schedule’ back in the Carolina’s, truth is that I always wanted to live on a boat – and this was my best effort to make that happen.

I spent many days on the craft standing rather than sitting; walking the deck in observation; ‘absorbing’ the features of the river while simply drifting along. For me, it was a ‘throw-back’ of early American adventure; Huck Finn style – and that was all that I cared to do…

Reading-up on Mississippi related subjects before the trip; helped to elevate the experience; “Twain” and his journalistic quotes were a’kin to the river spirit.. good read.

Beyond the perpetual motion of the water beneath us, the ‘towboats’ were the most predominant feature and # 1) topic of conversation along the river.  Other conversation points with the folks that we encountered along the river seemed to be unanimous at # 2) their personal desire to ‘go down the river,’ and # 3) catching/eating/ and savoring those big ole catfish from the river.

All the pictures are mine, and we learned firsthand the remarkable nature of those folks along her banks.

I can attest to the fact that the Mississippi is indeed an “interstate of waterways, a ‘backbone’ within our country where a bulk of commerce is propelled on a massive scale – is as perpetual as the river itself.

From my tiny vantage point the unexpected bonus was in surpassing New Orleans and weathering a couple of days along the Gulf’s Intercoastal Waterway.  I loved it, and being ahead of schedule would have gone further had the vessel been worthy for the Gulf.  New Orleans to Biloxi was an added horizon.

I truly did not want the trip to end – but in the end the little ‘raft’ (Freebird) was no match for those ‘rolling swells’ of the Gulf….

A tired bird in Biloxy

There was remorse, yet with any adventure such as this it takes the support/words and effort of friends, family, and folks along the way to make it ‘full-circle,’ thank you – you folks know who you are – you made it happen..

In working back through the notes I have elaborated a little more where I couldn’t while on the river, I will likely continue to.  On the lower Mississippi cell towers were few and reception was spotty – plus there was just too much for me to take-in – to absorb. .

I really wanted to just look around; it was the reason I went – and it was time away from this computer – real-time, well spent.

For the most part the camera held our notes; as for the video’s – be reminded that my voice is untrained (plus with some of those drink concoctions it really didn’t matter) BUT< what I did do was to push the button… we did it!

It has happened so many times over the multitude of years of its existence, I’m just telling you about our little trip.  For anyone, at anytime, floating down the ‘big-gully’ – those moments are all that matter…

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Mom (Marie Hilliard Haynie) a last ride in ‘Freebird’ before ‘scuttle’

Our boat made it home and once back in the Carolina’s – I really hated to pluck the bird’s feathers – but it had to be done.  Carl purchased the vessel and made later two attempts at the river – check the ‘Ghost of Freebird’ link over there to your right.  The simple practicality of the vessel worked well.

The complete trip was an outstanding ride on one of mother nature’s continental tear ducts;  hopefully this blog and the notes within may provide some perspective for any with a similar interest.

The questions section  may hold more detailed answers surrounding the logistic’s of such a ride – a post for each day

lifes2short

maybe a return run…                                    

Canoe/kayak info

Water clarity- 4 upper, 2 lower

Natural Quality – 5 (Upper Mississippi)

Difficulty – moderate, you will become advanced with time

Best thing about the water – it’s temperature

(this is a commercial waterway)

“Traveller’s” updated adventures