June 12We got to Wahpeton in good time this morning and even found showers in the zoo restrooms. There was a very sad rhinoceros, a couple zebras, and a peacock at the zoo. Shortly thereafter, at the Kidder Dam, we cheated death by a hairsbreadth. The portage was obscured by high water and the water... Continue Reading →
The Bois de Sioux
June 11 - We are on the Bois de Sioux River, somewhere south of Wahpeton. We are camping in North Dakota, and I'm so excited about that! However, the river banks have become very muddy because the flood waters are receding a bit. Whenever we try to get out of the canoe we sink in... Continue Reading →
Mud Lake
Tonight we are at the north end of Mud Lake. After paddling 2 days on big open water, we will enter an actual river tomorrow. We were blessed the last two days to have relatively calm winds so we didn't have to fight the wind in our unconditioned physical state. The lake shores are hard... Continue Reading →
We’re Off!
Finally we are hitting the water! Technically we are launching in South Dakota. We are at the south end of Lake Traverse, which separates SD from MN. We are all so excited to be back on the water again.I am not at all worried about strength or endurance issues, although there is some trepidation among... Continue Reading →
Open Thine Eyes and Thou Shalt See!
Deb Lenox White, one of our original Mississippi paddling trio, is raising money via this Red River section of our Hudson Bay expedition for the Himalayan Cataract Project. It is a most worthy cause because it provides life-changing eye care to remote villagers in the Himalayas who otherwise would be blind. You can read more... Continue Reading →
Food, Glorious Food
We are all independent eaters when we canoe together. We each pack what we like for breakfast and what we want to snack on during the day. Suppers break that rule, however. Our evening meals are communal, so each person needs to cook only every three days. We decided to bring six communal meals each,... Continue Reading →
This is not junk!
This is not junk! This is my essential gear.I have started packing for the first leg of our canoe trip to Hudson Bay. Part of the packing problem, especially when it comes to food, stems from not knowing how long it will take us to paddle 500 miles. Our little trio has never done that... Continue Reading →
Three Stooges alias Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka
Last night the three of us who will be paddling to Hudson Bay gave a presentation in Iowa Falls, Iowa. I have done quite a few of these programs by myself, as have they, but this was the first time we did it jointly. It was really fun for me, and I think it gave... Continue Reading →
Exhale!
The Canadian Border Patrol finally got back to me, after I wrote an email, an online request, a letter, and called several times. The first time I called, they said crossing the border on the Red River couldn't be done. This time it was good news for us! Instead of giving the impression that Canada... Continue Reading →
AMT Excursions
Long long time ago, I can still remember…..I had a student exactly thirty years younger than I, and a colleague exactly fifteen years younger than I. We went on a college canoeing trip to the BWCA once, then twice, and now it has morphed into an every year activity. We paddle one year, bike the... Continue Reading →