The journey is not over until the mission bears fruit:
Empowerment ~ Education ~ Environment
I reached the Gulf of Mexico on December 5, 2013.
Thanks to everyone for their heartfelt support. This was OUR expedition, and for that I am grateful.
Here is a synopsis:
I completed the challenging yet successful ski into
Brower’s Spring with Norm Miller on April 24-25.
I completed three days of incredible
bike riding 100 miles from Hell Roaring Canyon
To Clark Canyon Dam.
I paddled down the Beaverhead River from Clark Canyon Dam to Twin Bridges, where the river worked me hard and I suffered two holes in my boat and a sprained wrist by the second day.
From Twin Bridges, the Beaverhead River turns into the Jefferson River, which is deeper and wider, and one of the more beautiful stretches of this journey. This leg of the journey is neatly tucked under my belt.
I arrived in Three Forks, the headwaters of the Missouri River, on Saturday, May 11, approximately 300 miles downstream from the ultimate source, Brower’s Spring.
I spent the next four months paddling down the Missouri River, stopping at my home base, Cooper’s Landing, on September 16.
My birthday on September 28 marked my arrival in St. Charles, and I paddled through the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers the next day, September 29.
Proceeding down the Mississippi River, I arrived in Memphis, TN, on October 17. Here, I took an extended break of two weeks because of a speaking engagement I flew out to in Bend, OR, at the Conservation Lands Foundation ‘Friends Rendezvous.’
November 1 found me on my way again down the Mississippi River until December 5 when I reached the Gulf of Mexico.
Oh, what a trip it was!
Then, I couldn’t leave the upper Mississippi untouched, so I paddled the whole thing in 2016, Lake Itasca to the Gulf.
Might as well make it a Triple Crown, so I paddled the Yukon River, source to sea, Llewellyn Glacier, B.C., to Emmonak, AK, at the Bering Sea in 2017!
Do what you love and love what you do.
I now want to start writing my book about paddling the Missouri-Mississppi, LoveYourBigMuddy Expedition. Stay tuned.
Every day is a new adventure! Live fast ~ Paddle slow
loveyourbigmuddy expeditions 
Janet, I will pray that whatever you decide (only you will know which is best for you) will be what it is meant to be for you and your journey. It will not be an easy start but you have experience that not every one has and you know your limitations…and how far to push the boundaries of those. Whatever you decide, you will have my support and encouragement. I’m hoping I can support you monetarily as well. I know every little bit will help you in this quest. Paddle planning on!
Maryellen, you are awesome! Thanks so much. (I’m working on changing the sticker color to blue!)
looking like you got it all figured out.
We can do it 😉