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Monthly Archives: July 2017
A Southern Swamp in Illinois: Canoeing the Cache River
(State #28/50) “Oh, we’re much more ecologically diverse than Southern Indiana.” A ranger from the Shawnee NF in Illinois told me. Suspicious of this claim, I pressed a bit. “Oh really? Says the ranger from Illinois.” She laughed. “No, I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Canoeing the Midwest
Tagged American Rivers, Bald Cypress, Cache River, Canoe 50, Canoeing, Humidity, Illinois, Invasive Species, mosquitoes, Ohio River Valley, RAMSR, SCA, Swamp
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Crashing a “Dads Camp” Canoe: Blue River, Indiana
(State #27/50) The Red River of Kentucky was yellow and the Blue River of Indiana was a green brown. So, either these rivers have changed in nature over time, or colors are just fun names for rivers, despite reality. Or … Continue reading
A Jumping Rock, a Drunk and a Red River Gorge: Canoeing Kentucky
“I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks.” — Daniel Boone (State #26/50) The Red River was yellow — a muddy tan to be precise. It reminded me of that scene in the … Continue reading
Posted in Canoeing the South
Tagged American Rivers, Beer, Canoe 50, Canoeing, Daniel Boone, Fireflies, Gladie Visitor Center, Hitchhike, Jumping Rock, Kentucky, Poison Ivy, Red River Gorge
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Push, Pull, Drag: The Little Muskingum River, Ohio
(State #25/50) Ohio is in the North. The hills, the trucks and even the accents of Southeastern Ohio, however, all seem transported from below the Mason Dixon Line. The air was hot, thick and sticky as I drove into Wayne … Continue reading
Posted in Canoeing the Midwest
Tagged American Rivers, Canoe 50, Canoeing, Fireflies, Hitchhike, Little Muskingum, Marietta, Muskrat, Ohio, Ohio River Valley, River Otter, Wayne National Forest
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I Saw a Bear! Canoeing Pine Creek, Pennsylvania
(State #24/50) I’m always suspicious of places claiming to be “The Grand Canyon of…” Someone, likely from a bygone tourism board, decided to label the Pine Creek Gorge of Pennsylvania with that title. Indeed, it is a river valley cut … Continue reading
Posted in The Mid-Atlantic
Tagged Allegheny Plataeu, American Rivers, Bald Eagle, Beer, Black bear, Canoe 50, Canoeing, Pennsylvania, Pine Creek Canyon
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Summer, Finally: A Connecticut Canoe on the Housatonic
(State #23/50) I sat down on a bench near the covered bridge along the river, waiting for the sun to come out. I pulled out my laptop to write and, lo, the sun broke through the gray ceiling! Then, on … Continue reading
A Soggy Bottom Canoe: Sacandaga River, New York
(State #22/50) We overuse and misuse many words nowadays. I wont say I’m as guilty as they come, but I am guilty — I’ve called coincidences ironic, I’ve referred to cups of coffee as awesome and I once literally ate 1,000 … Continue reading
