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.  ;)  

Day 82, MM 123 to Algiers Canal (MM89)

It was a stressful day on two accounts, one, the sheer number of barges and ships that could squish us deader than a mackerel, and two, I still hadn't determined where I could take the Getter out of the water. Both my mom and my dad had been researching possible take out locations but they were turning up the same results I had. Either the facilities were too far away, inaccessible or non-existent. My only chance were some boat ramps on the intercoastal waterway after the Harvey and Algiers canals meet. I could navigate up the Harvey canal but we would miss downtown New Orleans altogether so I decided to go the extra ten miles down to the Algiers. The traffic was heavy and it was hard to relax. In-fact I would have gone right by downtown unbeknownst if Kathy hadn't tuned me into it. She urged me to pull over on a sand bar opposite the city and between the view and a celebratory drink my nerves settled quite a bit. I couldn't believe the trip was coming to an end. Three months ago I couldn't have even imagine this moment. I reveled in the summer's accomplishments and adventures and felt sad but equally as satisfied. We shoved off, said good bye to New Orleans and headed for the Algiers lock. It was another seven miles or so down to the canal and when we got there a line of at least three barges were waiting to lock through so we waited along side them. Our turn didn't come around until after 6 p.m. and I didn't want to get caught on the skinny canal in the dark with no place to sleep and since I wasn't sure about any boat ramps I asked the lock master if we could sleep up against the back side of the canal wall. He granted us permission, so we are enjoying one last unexpected night on the river.

This is what the shoreline looks like now

Ships

Downtown New Orleans

2nd to last photo on the Mississippi river (looking upstream)

Last photo (downstream)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Guys! Still tracking your progress on your site! Hurrah! You made it to NOLA!!!

Let us know if we can do anything for you!

John & Steph
M/V Streamsong
Memphis

August 23, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Anonymous said...

Justus, I hope you post some photos of the take out, the end of a wonderful trip.

There are a lot of folks who will miss following your highly entertaining blog, a vicarious thrill for us all, and probably even more so for those who joined you in a hands on expeience.


Count me in on the next Big Getter voyage!

August 23, 2008 at 1:05 PM
katie said...

Hi Justus,

I'm sorry it didn't work out with my mom and I meeting up with you in Baton Rouge on our way to Florida. I figured getting the timing right was kinda like getting the planets to align...Anyway, I hope I get to meet you at some point, and congratulations on a successful rafting trip!

-Katie

August 23, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Anonymous said...

Hi, Justus,
Looks like you had a fantastic summer. Sorry we weren't able to meet up in BR. I would have liked to see your boat in person. Maybe we'll get up to New York one of these days.
Your cousin,
Elaine

August 28, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Unknown said...

Been watching you since you were in Moline, held up by the flood.
Safe trip to New Orleans and watch out for the hurricane!
Anne, the sculler

August 30, 2008 at 7:02 PM

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