Posts in Wisconsin
Day 38 Mississippi River
Day 38 Mississippi River

After waking up in Pikes Peak campground, Peter and I packed up his blue Chevy Colorado and drove around the corner to a lookout area from atop the Iowa Bluffs. As we peered out from the stone outcropping, the Mississippi River Valley stretched the horizon. A blue sky and gorgeous sun greeted us. Across the water on the opposite shore Wisconsin's namesake river meandered into the Miss, draining much of the States watershed into the valley. Upriver we could see Praire Du Chien, WI. Down river the trees and winding path of the Miss looked inviting. 
After talking and snapping a few photos we walked back to the truck and descended down the bluffs back to the valley floor.

We made a stop at Huckleberry's family restaurant for breakfast. A fitting name for a restaurant on the banks of the Mississippi. After grub and a few more stops along the river the two of us drove back upstream toward where Peter had originally picked me up. We unloaded all the gear from the truck, and with Petes help repacked the boat. With that Peter headed out with plans of driving south to Illinois for the weekend.

Read More
Good People, Wisconsin, IowaWill CollinsPraire Du ChienComment
Day 37 Mississippi River
Day 37 Mississippi River

I popped my head out of the tent first thing in the morning to find a cloud engulfing the river. Thick fog had socked in camp, and hung around so low and dense that seeing the opposite shore wasn't an option, let alone around the next bend. Knowing that the mid morning sun would eventually burn off the haze, I enjoyed a slow AM that gave way to reading, knocking out a few posts, and a few cups of Joe.

With the Iowa/Minnesota border a mile or so down river I was soaking up my last breaths of Minnesota air. 36 days spent canoeing this great state. From the trickling headwaters at Lake Itasca, filled with swampland and waterfowl, to the swimming black bear near Grand Rapids, the turning tree tops of Brainerd, the city skyline of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the towering bluffs of the driftless, hundreds if not thousands of bald eagles, deer, beaver, and of course the amazing people. On a few occasions I heard folks toss around the phrase "Minnesota Nice", which is what I've come to realize as the norther equivalent of "Souther Hospitality". The past 36 days have proved to me that Minnesota Nice is more than a saying or a slogan. It's a northern way of life. And I'm damn thankful to have been able to experience it in its truest form- via canoe on the Mighty Mississippi.

Read More
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Good People, VideoWill CollinsPraire Du ChienComment
Day 36 Mississippi River
Day 36 Mississippi River

I woke up in Johns upstairs bedroom at 7am. I walked down to coffee, oatmeal and the apple cobbler I had missed the night before due to my early bedtime. With a bowl of cereal (fresh milk..hmmm), yogurt and cobbler John and I prepared to make a run back to the Marina and send me down river. Before we left, John gave me one of his 2 gallon collapse water containers. The night before we had talked about my limited water storage. Awesome.

As we got to the marina, John helped load my boat. Just as I was pushing off, a older gentlemen with a cup of coffee and gray ponytail walked up the dock near me.

"Where ya headed?"

"The plan is the Gulf of Mexico!"

The guy paused a moment.

"1978. My buddy and I paddled the river from Itasca with plans of hitting the Gulf. We had both flunked out of college and did the trip as a vision quest to try and figure out our lives"

Read More
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Good PeopleWill CollinsLa CrosseComment
Day 30 Mississippi River
Day 30 Mississippi River

After a later than normal night watching the sky put on a shown in form of heat lightning and shooting stars the morning took a slower start. I took the dew covered rainfly off my tent and set it aside to dry in the sun. Even this early in the AM it was clear today was gonna be a hot one.

I had two calls lined up to my Illinois classrooms at 9:30 and 10:15. Both went well. Once again with the kids were full of energy and asking all kinds of questions. I even got the "don't you have a wife and kids at home?" question. Lol!

While on the phone with the kiddos Max pushed off and hit the river. After wrapping up my calls I loaded the boat and got on the water around 11:30 or so. The plan was to make a food resupply stop 3 miles down river in Wabasha, Mn as all the food I had left was a can of chili and chicken noodle soup.

I pulled up to a public park and dragged the boat onto the sand. Grabbing my skateboard and backpack I ran into the nearest grocery store, a quick 10 minute skate from the river.

Read More
Video, Minnesota, WisconsinWill CollinsWabashaComment
Day 28 Mississippi River
Day 28 Mississippi River

After packing up the tent in the morning I decided to scoot into town to try and find some food and/or a new paddle.

Prescott, Wisconsin was just around the bend and I figure I would try my hand at finding a sporting goods store for a canoe paddle (first stop on Wisconsin! Woohoo!) I started the search by stopping in The Twisted Oak Coffee House just a block off the river. With a warm cup of Joe and blueberry scone I studied maps of the upcoming stretch of river, charged up my backup battery pack and busted out a journal entry.

The barista, a young fellow likely in his early 20s, informed me that there were no sporting goods stores in town. Closest place would be up river to Hastings (obviously not an option for me) or down river towards Red Wing, Mn.

Read More
Wisconsin, Minnesota, VideoWill CollinsComment