My dad grew up in a little town called Morrison, Illinois (pop. 4500) not more than 5 miles from the Mississippi River.  His Father, my grandfather, has lived his entire life in that part of the country, and made a living as a Machinist in Clinton, Iowa, crossing the Mississippi every day for work - he even worked a summer on the river as a barge hand.

In the summer of 1976, my father, age 24, attempted to drift down the Mississippi River in a raft from Morrison to New Orleans.  He made it a just over a week before stopping due to not making the time he would have liked.

Ever since I heard this story some 5 years ago I have been infatuated with the idea of attempting the same thing. 

I found myself constantly hearing about people doing all kinds of amazing things around the world and thinking to myself one day I would do something like that..  I looked at myself and thought, well what am I doing?

This is about getting off the couch, out of my house, and attempting something unfamiliar.  Meeting new people, seeing new places, trying new things, and just doing something.

 

2,320 miles from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to New Orleans, Louisiana.

The 4th longest river in the world

Duration of trip: Approx. 90 days

Departing Fall 2010