Archive for category riggy

During our last evening paddle towards St Louis we heard banding against our boat, a loud thumping sound followed by a splash in the night.

Is it a beaver? Did we drop something in the river?

It was asian carp, jumping up out of the water. We found out when one jumped up and landed inside Annie, right behind Cliff!

Next thing we know a live fish is flipping around right beneath Cliff’s feet, inside our boat. He threw that invasive, slimy, stink species overboard.

The stink lingered for days.

This post was created at this location.

Everyday things about America surprise me. Life on the Mississippi is curious, interesting, dynamic.
Below are a few observations that captured this authors imagination.

Halloween is a big thing in Minnesota. The only more celebrated holiday is Christmas.

Duck hunting season just opened. And yes its true, even the dogs wear vests to match the fishing boats and their crews that are fully equipped with camouflage attire.

The Dakota Souix are raising Buffalo on Prarie Island. There is also a Nuclear Power plant and Casino on this island.

Red Wing Shoes built the worlds largest boot. They put it on a float and had a parade. You could fit comfortably inside this boot.

Frank Loyd Wright designed homes in Red Wing. They are beautiful. Emotionally charged, thoughtful architecture.

The ice fishing scene from the movie “Grumpy Old Men” was filmed on the Mississippi in Wabasha, Minnesota.

Up close, freight trains are scary fast. 70 miles per hour fast. Up close, they are wider than they appear. And taller. And louder.

Dredging sand and sediment off river bed is constantly required in order to maintain a depth of at least 9 feet for barge traffic. Where does all this sand go?

Americans know all about the Blackberry. Few realize this technology was pioneered in Canada by graduates from University of Waterloo.

The town of Alma, Wisconsin was founded by two entrepreneurs chopping and selling wood to steamships traveling north, up the Mississippi.

- Written by Doug Copping
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

This post was created at this location.

Rivers are dynamic by nature yet able to integrate.

They unite people and ideas. Landscapes, cities and wildlife. Music, food and culture. Yet they are continually in a state of flow…

Eventually all things become one. And then a river runs through it.
We look forward to exploring this enigma known as The Mississippi.  

- Riggy