Overview
The Big Getter Voyage Map
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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.
Navigation Tips
Once you have selected a blog from the blog archive you will have to scroll down to view it. ;)
Blog Archive
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2008
(131)
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June
(54)
- Day 1, 10 Miles - Rigging / Minnesota river 11 Mil...
- Day 2, 15.5 Miles - 1 Mile above Confluence to Wil...
- Day 3, 18 miles - Willies Hidden Marina to Prescot...
- Availability as of June 5th
- The Comments are Great
- Where to Mail Goodies.
- Day 4, 20 Miles - Prescott Island to 1 mile above ...
- Day 5, 1 Mile - 1 Mile Above Red Wing to Red Wing
- Day 6 - Lay Over in Red Wing
- What to Bring
- A Fine End to My Time in Red Wing
- Johnny Lawless on Lake Pepin
- Day 7, 30 Miles - Red Wing to Wabasha
- Day 8, 23 miles - Wabasha to 2 miles below lock 5
- Can I get some sun
- Day 9, 11 Miles - 2 Miles Below Lock 5 to Winona
- Day 10, 28 Miles - Winona to La Crosse
- The Big Getter Voyage Map
- Driving Through the Driving Rain
- Day Markers and Bird Houses
- Day 11, 21 Miles - La Crosse to 2 Miles Below Lock 8
- Day 12, 29 Miles - Below Lock 8 to Below lock 9
- Mechanical Beasts
- Day 13, 10 Miles - Below lock 9 to Prairie du Chien
- Put-in Sequence
- Day 14 - Lay Over in Prairie Du Chien
- Day 15 - Lay Over P.D.C. - There Aren't too Many o...
- Day 15 - Lay Over P.D.C. - Father's Day
- Day 16 - Pikes Peak
- Comments
- Day 17, 17 Miles - Prairie du Chien to Frenchtown ...
- Day 18, 14 Miles - 4 miles above Guttenberg to Cas...
- Locking Through
- Warm and Unworried
- Day 19, 7 Miles - Cassville to Finley's Landing
- Day 20, 20 Miles - Finley's Landing to Dubuque
- Dy 21, 17 Miles - Dubuque to four miles above Bell...
- Midwest Nice
- Email from JL
- Day 22, 12 Miles - Luke's Landing to Bomb shell beach
- Blogosphere
- Buoy Betting
- Day 23, 15 Miles - Mile Marker 550 to Sabula
- Twilight
- Day 24, 15 Miles - Sabula to Clinton
- Availability as of June 25th
- Day 25, 17 Miles - Clinton to Princeton
- Prairie du Chien Newspaper Article
- Day 26, 17 Miles - Princeton to Moline
- Quad Cities
- Day 27 - Lay Over Moline
- Day 28 - Lay Over Moline
- Can I get twenty six fifty?
- Rusty the Singing Cabbie
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June
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Can I get some sun
I just can’t believe the weather here in Minnesota, it is relentlessly shitty. I’ve experienced warmer days in Alaska and drier days in the Amazon, and the mosquitoes aren’t as bad in either of those places. I’ve now had a week of rain, wind, hail and tornado warnings. The 5-day extended forecast goes something like this: scattered thunderstorms and head winds, suckerrrr. The cabin has held the water out well and although we feel damp our house is dry. Just a few moments ago, we are anchored upstream of Winona with the hatches battened, John stepped out into the downpour and said “oh it’s getting’ pretty out here” in all earnestly. I laughed to myself and thought, yeah compared to the 62 mile an hour storm that rocked us yesterday. His good nature and oblivious attitude toward the elements are well received.
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3 comments:
Looks like there has been worse weather through Iowa. Maybe the Big Getter needs a blessing or some "Holy Caramels" Trappistine Creamy Caramels. This place should not be missed when going through Dubuque. The monks across the river even make wine. That could help too.
Living in Minnesota is not for sissies, that's for sure. Hope it gets MUCH better, Justus...keep up the great work~!! love the blogs..
Hey J,
hope you've been able to stay dry...
im starting to reconsider the idea :) might have grown back some of that inherently thick Israeli skin this past year... but ive never been huge on either storms or mosquitoes!
will be intouch in a couple of weeks - blog is great!
te cuidate
xoxo
e
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