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 
You know I’m supporting you ALL the way, Janet! I love reading your posts and seeing your expedition plans coming to fruition. How can I view the film? Am I missing the link on this post or is it somewhere else?
Thanks, Maryellen! I am trying to keep up. Things are happening fast. My Facebook page is a good place to go for little updates.
Good lucky on a great paddle. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to visit you before your trip. I’m 86 now and about 12 years ago I took my canoe down almost all of the moving water from 3 forks to the landing in Illinois. If you are looking for some one to shuddle your car, try the fire stations. Look out on the 4th of July and Labor day – jet boats and water skiers will swamp you Fort Peck Lake is very shallow at the upper end and the wind can generate some big waves.Ft. Benton to Hell’s Creek was the best section. I saw the mist from the river lay a coat of ice on the canoe one morning in July. Watch out for the beaver. I had one come out of it’s den on the river bank – over my canoe – and into the river with a big splash Keep a good log.
Thanks for the valuable tips, Harold!