The who?, was narrowed down drastically by the catch 22 of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. There aren’t too many folk who make a living and also have three months off in a row. On the other hand, those who have the liberty of three months off probably don’t have jobs and therefore couldn’t afford such a trip. Of the few people who fit the first criteria, the number of individuals that would be happy spending 90 days “sleeping in the dirt” is microscopic. So it was settled that Aaron and I would make the journey alone with the possibility of a third if the interest arose.
When?, that was easy for me considering I retired the day I graduated high school. Aaron however, had just switched majors, re-enrolled in university and wouldn’t be able to commit until after graduation in 2007. He suggested that we make it 2008 just to be safe. At first I thought it ridiculous to wait an additional year, but when he reminded me that he was already 4 years into college and still a sophomore and I saw the logic and agreed.
What kind of craft would we use for such an epic adventure? At first we were going to take “The Eyeless Tripper” and “the Grumman Drumman,” our two canoes, but the more we thought about the work involved in making and breaking camp everyday the more we searched for an alternative vessel. We needed something we could live on, a houseboat of sorts that would allow us to simply set anchor and immediately enjoy the creature comforts of a properly made camp. By no means however, did we want to be subjected to the noise and air pollution of an outboard motor, which is the usual form of propulsion on houseboats. That led us to explore other possibilities i.e. solar, wind, hydro and human power. No decisions were made at that time, but we did feel like pedal power was worth researching.
Why ask why? We were born watermen. Our hearts pump fresh water and there is no place either one of us would rather be than in a boat watching the world pass by. To us life is floating downstream and longevity the goal, and that is why we search for the endless river trip.
Overview
The Big Getter Voyage Map
click here to follow along
In the summer of 2008 I will be taking a pontoon houseboat down the Mississippi River from Minneapolis St. Paul to the Gulf of Mexico. It will be my home and vessel as I descend the mighty Mississip. This will be a healthy and relaxing trip, an adventure worth experiencing, and a good-livin-hell-of-a-time. For six years this trip has been living as a fantastical goal within me. I know the beginning is around the bend, and that makes me smile like I just lost my training wheels.
The boat is not traditional in many ways except for that it floats. It is a unique HPB (human powered boat) that in basic appearance looks like a hybrid between a cataraft on steroids and a traditional houseboat. There are four different systems of propulsion that can be operated individually or in conjunction with one another. Its primary form of power comes from two pedal-driven-propeller stations located at the stern on both sides of the boat. They resemble recumbent bicycles with a propeller instead of wheels. In addition, there is a set of oars for rowing on the front deck. The boat also has, for those occasions when the current is strong, sweeps that can be operated from the top of the cabin. Sweeps are long oars that resemble gigantic hockey sticks. They protrude fore and aft of the boat and are used for steering and lateral movement but not necessarily to gain downstream momentum. Lastly there is an outboard motor that can be used in emergencies, for safety and to make up lost time.
The 3-foot diameter inflatable pontoons are 22 feet long and are attached to a frame constructed from 2” Aluminum pipe. The frame also doubles as the skeletal structure, which supports a hanging floor, two side decks, a front deck and a cabin. Plywood that is cut to the right dimensions and fastened to the aluminum pipe forms the floor and decks. As for the cabin, it is waterproof nylon, canvas and mesh all sewn together and fitted around the aluminum pipe. Inside the cabin there are four berths, a living area, a kitchen and storage. Oh yeah there is a bathroom too, outfitted with all the amenities a camping king would expect.
From June through August I’ll weave approximately 1800 miles through 10 states to the ever-nearing Gulf Coast. Geographically speaking the Mississippi River is separated into two sections, the upper and lower, with the dividing point lying at the confluence with the Ohio River. Both section are as unique as they are long and will offer a river front glimpse at Middle America. One major difference of the Upper Mississippi is that it is a series of pools created by channel dams, while the lower half is free flowing. Due to this, the average current will be much faster downstream of the Ohio River. Along the way I will ‘lock through’ 27 locks, visit the homes of Mark Twain and Elvis, dodge barge traffic, and do some fishing and sunbathing. I intend to explore as much as possible, learn what I can and enjoy life to brim.
If you’d like to come, believe me, I want you to. In fact, I want as much company as possible. The cabin will sleep four, so I hope to have three others with me at all times. The invitation is open to everyone and anyone, family, friends, friends of friends, and especially to characters I meet along the way. There is an itinerary in the blog archive that will help you choose when, where and for how long you would like to join the adventure. Don't worry; I expect the trip will take me 100 days, so you'll have all summer to fit in a Mississippi get-a-way.
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