Friday, July 12, 2013 | 6:00 a.m. CDT
¦ COURTESY JANET MORELAND/MISSOURIAN READER
BY JANET MORELAND/MISSOURIAN READER
Janet Moreland is attempting to become the first woman to complete a solo kayak trip down the entire length of the Missouri River, from its source at Brower’s Spring, Mont., to its juncture with the Mississippi at St. Louis. She has been sharing updates on her trip on her journey’s Facebook page and blog, and she gave the Missourian permission to share some of those posts.
The Missourian wrote a story about Moreland’s quest before she left, and digital subscribers can read that story here.
Below are several photos that Moreland has posted on her Facebook page since the Missourian published an update on her progress on May 31.
June 16
Greetings from Fort Peck Lake! Oh what a trip it has been! I’ve experienced ‘breathtaking’ beauty, fought off ‘fear’ of predation, dealt with extreme mud anxiety, survived a wilderness electrical storm, fell in love with the animals, and elements, of the natural world, developed efficient use of time, met really cool people with giving hearts, and paddled hard for the last two weeks. I am sharing my days with high wind advisories but hope to reach the marina in a day or two. I will try and post more in the morning while I have a tower in range here at the Pines Recreation Area. I’ll be back!
Before embarking on this expedition, I would explain to journalists that I thought the trip would be more mental than physical. This is true in part. You need mental stamina to maintain the physical exertion needed for continuous paddling. And, you need mental strength to maintain composure when dealing with lots of mud, all the time.
This photo was taken prior to packing up the boat at Gist Camp in the Breaks, my last camp in the Monument. There was five feet of this mud between the semi-solid shore and the boat after I was able to move the boat out to the water once the river level dropped. Whatya gonna do?! You just do it.
June 18
Have I told you lately how much I love my pelicans?
June 21
Near Frazer, MT. Sweet.
June 26
Milestone sign after two months in Montana. [Fort Union. I bushwacked through a willow forest to get here from the river.]
June 27
Tuesday night’s sunset. Perhaps the most spectacular I have ever witnessed. Perhaps.
June 30
This is a view of where we are headed as soon as the wind dies. The veteran paddlers, with their words of wisdom, tell me, “Paddle when the wind is not blowing, no matter what time it is.” Having someone to paddle with as darkness envelopes the lake will offer additional paddling time for me. Also, the shoreline is not muddy, so finding a campsite is much easier. Simple pleasures!! [Sharing time with my new dear friend, Shawn Hollingsworth, at this location. Learn more about his expedition on Facebook at Canoe for a Cause, raising awareness for breast cancer.]
July 2
Found a nice spot on a point at a big bay entrance (the bay goes right). I like to be able to look at the stretch ahead, and feel the wind. What a gorgeous day for paddling, all day! So thankful. So tired.
July 4
Time to move. Here’s to our independence! Cheers! Love to all.
July 5
Something sweet and special about this little beach. Sand and rock, level spots close to water, somewhat protected, nice beach, maybe swimming, no mud, no cows, no road, no trucks, and situated right on the pulse of the lake. If it thunderstorms, I’m good. [I did, in fact, experience a wicked electrical storm this night. I survived. However, it was tame compared to the electrical storm I survived four nights ago on the Missouri River near Stanton, ND.]
July 8
I feel like I should salute this point, or something. Don’t know it’s name. Kind of majestic.
July 9
Mist on the water. Cool water, warm air.
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loveyourbigmuddy expeditions 
There are no words to describe this photo. What an awesome experience you are having Janet. With you in spirit!
Sincerely Linda Albano
So many of us, especially me, are enthralled with your journey…Paddle on! 😀
Thank you for your continued heartful and faithful support, Maryellen! I appreciated you!