Archive for October, 2009

The Mississippi River has been acting a bit strange lately and I figured I better write to the source to see if you could help.

You see, September was warmer than anticipated which made the headwaters enjoyable but progress was extremely slow because it never rained resulting in a river with no water. This makes a river expedition difficult.

October on the other hand has been wetter and colder than anything the midwest has seen for ages but the rain never transpired into more current until only a few days ago. Over the last few days it literally has not stopped raining but it is a bit warmer, which is nice. Today I honestly felt like I was in the Amazon, I mean, has Missouri turned into a rain forest? There are flood alerts everywhere but this is supposed to be the fall, not the spring.

This is why I am asking you, Mother Nature, for a break. Could you please make November seasonal for a change?

I know we humans have done a lot to you which has brought about this crazy weather – or should I say climate? But we here on this expedition, are young and innocent. I just want to know if it’s not too much to ask, could you please provide us a normal month just this once – if never again?

I understand you probably want some confessions before you do anything so here it is.

Sure, we humans have pumped some bad, altering substances into the air, poisoned our waters with toxic sludge and decimated the food chain, but we have always had the best of intentions.

Sure, we have made some mistakes along the way but I am sure you can heal yourself – can’t you? I mean, you have been hit by astroids and survived mega eruptions so how hard can it be to clean up 200 years of our mess? I mean, how much damage can an Great Ape really do?

Or maybe you’re just waiting for us to get serious about what we have done and what we’re gonna do about it? I guess that makes sense.

If that is the case then let’s cut a deal.

I cannot control what others do or think as I am only one person, but here is what is in my power.

I will spend the rest of my time here with you, capturing and sharing the incredible wonders you have given us by using the power of adventure storytelling to get the public’s attention (and maybe use a little sarcasm too, if it helps get my point across). I will be an advertising/marketing machine that works for you directly. I will spend all my energy to get others to believe what I know is true; that this world is incredible and worth saving. I know others will see this if they can see what is at stake. I also believe that as more people become aware, they too will tell others. It is not too late but it has to start now.

That is what I will do, now could you please give us a normal November? The team is hanging in there but another month in these conditions and it could get ugly. A little sun and a strong current would sure go a long way. If possible, a north wind would be incredible too.

I will assume my offer is tempting so I will go ahead and begin the crusade to do my part. If you have any questions I will be in St. Louis this weekend.

See ya down river,

Brett

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So it is after 8, we have been waiting for a barge to push through Lock 24 for over 2 hours. We rowed 35 miles after leaving Hannibal at 11 am but there is a storm coming…

A huge system is coming this way and will last 2 days. Thunder, rain and 20 mph south winds (the bad type) should make travel a challenge. We need to be in Alton, just north of STL, by saturday morning as the Andersons will be coming to visit us.

The Andersons made a big donation which made this project possible. I have only met them once and that was 15 months ago. I am most excited for them to see ANNIE.

As of now we have 71 miles to go by Saturday morning. I have us ready to row another 15 miles tonightbso we will have 56 miles to go come tomorrow. With the bad weather coming, I think this is a good gamble – we need to make distance while the weather is decent (right now). Plus we have a habour to pull into tonight but it will be real late, probably midnight.

Anyways the barge is finally moving. See ya down river, gotta row!

Brett

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The other day,�a generous person from Burlington, Iowa, bought us a fine dinner at Big Muddy’s – thanks Dr. Hillyer!

Fast forward. After some repairs, we leave Burlington, cross under the world?s largest double decker swing bridge, and 22 miles later land on a beach. We see a man approach us driving an ATV. He lets us know that we can camp at the beach, which is great because we haven’t seen a decent place to set-up camp in hours. He offers his house for hot showers. After we set up camp and eat dinner we head over.� The man we have met is a Dentist in Fort Madison, a town 20 miles down river of Burlington.�

It just so happens, as conversation reveals, that the Dentist’s best friend was Dr. Hillyer, the same woman who bought us dinner the night before at Big Muddy’s.�A coincidence? �Very unlikely!�

I understand that each situation is relative in life and in this world, and I was reminded of that this week.�Old Man River continues to enrich us with many important life lessons.�

About the same time we started out on this expedition the Dentist’s wife had died after a difficult battle with cancer. Talk about how this encounter has put things into perspective about how we view health, sickness, the river and its challenges.

It was extremely soothing to be at the Dentist?s house and�I am glad he opened up and talked about the loss of his wife as sometimes a stranger?s ear is easier to talk to because it lacks judgement or bias.

I can only imagine how great his grief is. I feel and hope that we gave him an opportunity to openly speak about her and his memories of her, and for me anyways, it felt good to know we probably brightened up his weekend a bit. I am sure, although brief; our visit gave this man a change of pace after trying to adjust to life without his partner.��

One thing I do know is that his wife loved the Mississippi. Her ashes are traveling in these waters with us. Hopefully, she will keep an eye out for us down river.�

For once, it felt like we were able to give something to someone, instead of always being on the receiving end of people?s generosity.�Not only was the Dentist able to share his stories with us, but his stories consoled me and I will explain why.

About a year ago I was traveling throughout S.E. Asia when my Step-Gram-pa (I called him Wells) past on. When I flew out all the drugs he was on had pretty much done him in but I still flew out with only days left in him.

Wells was a big inspiration for me. I know he was far from perfect, but his passion for the outdoors and appreciation for the freedom to explore always captivated my imagination growing up and continues to captivate me even to this day.��

I have always felt guilty for not�being at�his funeral. Not so much for Wells, but for my Gramma Munden. Then again, from the time Wells was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer to the time he died, almost every other week, I had made the 3 hour trip out to visit him with my Mom, Sister or Dad.�

My Grand Dad, a WW2 Vet, always said “don’t visit me when I am dead, visit me when I am alive”. Talk about honesty and bluntness about the facts of life, but boy was he right.�And so, I may not had been there when he was gone but I was there when he was here.

It was a life changing experience for me to see someone so strong wilt away in such a short period of time and all because of cancer. I am just glad I was able to see him as much as I did before he had to go.�

This brings up the question, what causes cancer but that is another blog for another day (cancer alley is approaching).
Let me say that all rivers have a start and an end, and so does life. Row hard while you can because you will not be able too forever.

See ya down river,

Brett

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Greetings,

Out here, it is a luxury to go to bed early and get in some much needed time to read and relax.� Tonight is one of those nights that we are lucky enough have an extra hour or two, so I decide to use this time to write to you.�

Of course, it is raining once again, but we are warm and nestled inside of the tent. I am almost recovered from being sick but still suffering from a bit of a sore throat. It seems Cliff has been hit with sickness too – �Magnus and Tank on tittering on the brink but they just maybe okay.�

It is not too good when most the team isn?t 100% healthy. �Being sick, takes a toll on�your body and you�feel the difference�especially while rowing;�each stroke becomes more difficult as the motivation to move your tired and aching body is stifled by�a lack of energy, but you must keep rowing to reach each destination, and so your body seems to go on auto-pilot, and continues the necessary duties that are required living out here on the River.�

I have never been sick on an expedition.� The unavoidable rain and mandatory vigorous physical exertion only seem to amplify the fact that we are unable to stop and wipe our runny noses or pop in that throat lozenge right away�to soothe our sore throats.�I think its kind of funny how back home when you’re sick you get to call in sick to work and retreat under comfy, warm sheets with plenty of chicken noodle soup.��Out here it is not the same.�Instead we row for 9 hours in the cold rain and fuel our muscles with what I call Reflective River Meditation that is full of thoughts about how enjoyable being sick back home would be – compared to being sick out here of course.� The dream of those comfy warm sheets keeps replaying in your mind and you add in comforts one at time, like, someone bringing you that cup of soothing tea.

Right now, I am hoping that one good night sleep (that will be tonight) can clear this whole sick situation up but hope and reality do not always meet.

On the plus side, it makes me appreciate the importance of being healthy and how important it is to recuperate quickly on this journey.�

The last few days have been challenging with the weather and being sick but I have not forgotten how fortunate I am to be here doing this project.

To all those who worry or think we are about to give, do not threat, we will push on. The blog gives me a chance to relay our experience here and this is what it is like right now.

See ya down river,

Brett

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