After saying goodbye to the lovely crowd in Grafton, IL (two nights and many, many great people – more later), we have since paddled on – we’re in Cape Girardeau, MO right now. We paddled 55 miles to get here , by far out furthest day yet. With a head wind and a high of only 38, it wasn’t the best – but it was sunny. We’re exhausted and probably don’t make much sense, but we have a new plan…
Our goal is to make it to New Orleans by New Year’s Eve. To put that in perspective, it has taken us 76 days to paddle 1250 miles. (we just crossed the halfway point of our trip a few days ago). We want to paddle the next 900 in 20 days.
Our goal is to make it to New Orleans by New Year’s Eve. To put that in perspective, it has taken us 76 days to paddle 1250 miles. (we just crossed the halfway point of our trip a few days ago). We want to paddle the next 900 in 20 days.
With a bit of current after the Missouri River joined the Mississippi in St Louis, this is a real possibility. Especially as the river from here on is described as “desolate” and “lonely” – which means no more towns to distract us with their charms in the middle of our daylight hours. We’re looking forward to joining the Ohio River tomorrow. Our daylight hours are our main limiting factor. The sun comes up just after 7am and sets just after 430pm, which means we have to be in the boat, paddling hard every daylight hour. We need to paddle through Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
And this is partly by necessity – I’ve recently been offered an internship with my favourite magazine in New York City… and it starts in January. So a combination of an intense desire to make it to our destination, combined with a flight booked from New Orleans, has got us excited and motivated. But we need all the warm thoughts we can get. This might mean 20 days without showering and eating mostly canned beans and trailmix!
And this is partly by necessity – I’ve recently been offered an internship with my favourite magazine in New York City… and it starts in January. So a combination of an intense desire to make it to our destination, combined with a flight booked from New Orleans, has got us excited and motivated. But we need all the warm thoughts we can get. This might mean 20 days without showering and eating mostly canned beans and trailmix!
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