Canoe — Mississippi River

103 Days. 2,300+ solo miles. A pen, pad, camera and the adventure of a lifetime. Crossing America by Canoe. A Mississippi River story.

In late August of 2017 I set out to complete a dream-to canoe over 2,300 miles through the heart of America on the nations largest artery, the Mississippi River. With no partner, few expectations and a yearning for adventure I packed my boat and headed north to the headwaters of the Mississippi in norther Minnesota. For the next 103 days I traversed the country by canoe, from the Northwoods of Minnesota to the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Along the way I was taken in by the kindness of strangers and stricken by the beauty of the river and the people who call the Mississippi home. These are the stories of that journey. The people and places, triumphs and tribulations. The adventure of a lifetime.

Day 1 - The Headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi, Lake Itasca, MN

Day #1 is in the books, and I couldn't have asked for a better send off. After finishing up last minute packing the night before, my Mom and I woke up early and drove from our hotel in Bemidji, MN to the headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi- Lake Itasca. We arrived around 9:30AM and walked to the official start of the Mississippi, a small creek that trickles north from Lake Itasca. We met two wonderful women, Karen and Brenda, who were both Catholic Nuns. After chatting for a bit they shared their excitement about my journey, and asked if they could sing me a prayer. The two women closed their eyes, lifted their hands above their heads and sang a beautiful prayer song to bless me before the start of the journey. It was pretty moving!

Minnesota, Good PeopleWill CollinsDecember 19, 2018Mississippi River, BuffaloRoamer, Canoe, Lake ItascaComment