Vicksburg — Mississippi River

103 Days. 2,300+ solo miles. A pen, pad, camera and the adventure of a lifetime. Crossing America by Canoe. A Mississippi River story.

In late August of 2017 I set out to complete a dream-to canoe over 2,300 miles through the heart of America on the nations largest artery, the Mississippi River. With no partner, few expectations and a yearning for adventure I packed my boat and headed north to the headwaters of the Mississippi in norther Minnesota. For the next 103 days I traversed the country by canoe, from the Northwoods of Minnesota to the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Along the way I was taken in by the kindness of strangers and stricken by the beauty of the river and the people who call the Mississippi home. These are the stories of that journey. The people and places, triumphs and tribulations. The adventure of a lifetime.

Day 86 Mississippi River

I lifted my head up from the hammock to take note of the orange hue engulfing the eastern sky. A few moments later, still comfortably hanging between two trees, the top of the sun shown through the forest.

After watching the sunrise from the confines of my hammock I got up, did a bit of writing and made breakfast. Two or so hours later I was packed up and ready to hit the water. I began my paddling day by tuning into to what has become one of my favorite ways to pass time on the water, listening to the Joe Rogan podcast. I find his show to be entertaining, enlightening and on par with the way I see the world, yet open enough to challenge preconceived notions. I dig it. Plus, at around three hours a show, it's a great way to eat up some time.

A warm day in the upper 60s, the sun ducked in and out of cover, hiding behind clouds before shining through a gap in the atmospheric moisture, then repeating the process. In the early afternoon I passed Vicksburg, MS.

Mississippi, LouisianaWill CollinsJune 3, 2019Vicksburg, Delta, NatchezComment