A new adventure has begun. The Wondrous Mississippi.
My own personal attraction to rivers, in spite of my poor swimming skills, is the fact that they are constantly moving and changing. These are qualities I have found to be invaluable for my own growth during my life’s journey. I tend to agree with the school of thought that the human spirit’s truest nature is to constantly expand and grow. And so it is for a river’s journey, a route of expansion and growth until it returns to the sea from where it once began.
Driving to Minnesota I had flash backs as a kid. Growing up in Nebraska, family vacations were rare. But the few we took were to go fishing in Minnesota. For some crazy reason my dad always like to drive through the night, arriving early in the morning at the lodge, that was never ready for a new guest to arrive at 7 am. The smell of the cool evening air as I drove north took me right back to those days. A giddy feeling filled my smile.
My first stop was to visit a good friend from my high school and college days in Alexandria, MN. Here I planned a test run of my new canoe and to fine tune what ever else needed. Truth be told, I still need to pack things in a way that they can be found again. When traveling I use the system of always putting things back once done, but first you must have a chosen place. My super busy schedule kept me from accomplishing this goal. I have most things, I think, that will be needed, but finding them is an adventure in itself.
With great help from Terry and his brother Rob, we had a magical run down the Otter Tail River on a Saturday morning.
Plus we had a chance to do a little Walleye fishing, we caught enough for an awesome lunch.
From there I headed for Hackensack MN to meet up with Chuck and Ce Leavell. Friends I made while presenting on the EV Explorer last December.
Invaluable, that's what friends are.
With my head somewhat spinning and trying to catch up with the reality that I am setting off on a adventure to explore the Mississippi River I landed at the home of Chuck and Ce in Hackensack. What a treat to spend time with a naturalist in this part of the world. Their warm and generous spirits were very helpful for the transition to exploring the Mississippi River.
Next it was time to figure out just how I was going to get down the Mississippi River!
The Mississippi River is somewhere around 2,300 miles long. I will not canoe the entire stretch of the river, only a few sections where it is young and welcoming. My intent is to experience a moment of the essence of the Mississippi River. To look into its waters and listen to the stories it wishes to share. To celebrate its subtle beauty and encounter the people who call it home. There are over 1,500 historical sites along its shores and countless moments of natural beauty. More than enough opportunities for a new adventure.
Happy to have you along for the adventure.
Cheers,
Dean
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