Solo Kayaker Treks 3700 Mile Adventure to the Gulf of Mexico

Dale, Maryellen, and I got to the studio pretty early. We got to know the receptionist pretty well so we asked her to take a picture of us while we waited. — Dale, Maryellen, and I arrived at the studio pretty early. We got to know the receptionist well enough to ask her to take a picture of us while we waited.

I enjoyed doing a quick chat with Mary Beth and Alex on WREG TV in Memphis last Friday, October 18, the day after I arrived in Memphis.

Here is my link to the TV “Live at Nine” Show:

http://wreg.com/2013/10/18/solo-kayaker-treks-3700-mile-adventure-to-the-gulf-of-mexico/

Janet Moreland is woman on a mission and is paddling her way down the Mississippi River.

She actually started on this Missouri River in Montana and is making her way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Before she’s done, she will have traveled more than 3,700 miles on her exciting expedition

Posted on: 11:24 am, October 18, 2013, by Nancy B. Allen

I had a fantastic welcoming when I arrived in Memphis.

Members of the Bluff City Canoe Club and the Wolf River Conservancy. And, Maryellen Self traveled in from Kentucky!

I am laying over at Dale and Meriam’s beautiful home in Memphis.

Dale and Meriam Sanders' home in Memphis, TN, where I am laying over. Sweet! — Dale and Meriam Sanders’ home in Memphis, TN, where I am laying over. Sweet!

I went on a great overnight camp/guide party with Wolf River Conservancy, on the Wolf River.

The Wolf River with a little misty fog on top. This is part of the swamp section of the river. It is awesome!

This camp/moonlight paddle event was to recognize and appreciate the Wolf River Conservancy Guides for their selfless efforts on the river. Half of them paddle in after dark and appeared as a stream of little lights in the misty fog. It was surreal and magical. Then, half of them left in the full moon light but were challenged by a denser layer of fog around midnight. What an adventure for them! — This camp/moonlight paddle event was to recognize and appreciate the Wolf River Conservancy Guides for their selfless efforts on the river. Half of them paddled in after dark and appeared as a stream of little lights in the misty fog. It was surreal and magical. Then, half of them left in the full moon light but were challenged by a denser layer of fog around midnight. What an adventure for them! Then, a couple of guides stayed but had no overnight gear. We fixed them up warmly.

The rest of us had a great time hanging out around the fire, and spent a leisurely morning breaking camp. What fun it was paddling through the swamps of Ghost River and into Spirit Lake, where Cypress trees make up 65% of the forest, and Tupelo Gum trees the other 35%. Just incredible scenery!

And, tomorrow I fly to Bend, Oregon to co-present at the Conservation Lands Foundation Friends Rendezvous for the entire weekend. WOW! From solitude on the Mississippi to LOTS going on.

I will try and post some Mississippi River photos from the last few weeks. What a fantastic river to paddle, and a whole new adventure. I probably won’t be going back to post the Missouri until after the expedition is over, which I anticipate will be close to the first of December.

Please check out my facebook page at LoveYourBigMuddy Expedition for Current Events!

Do what you love and love what you do!

Janet

6 thoughts on “Solo Kayaker Treks 3700 Mile Adventure to the Gulf of Mexico”

It has been an absolute joy and privilege to share your time in Memphis. Please keep on sharing your expedition with us and safe travels.

loveyourbigmuddy expedition says:

October 23, 2013 at 8:57 PM

Thanks, Papaw. You’re the best!

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Wow!! Congratulations on getting to Memphis & your wonderful trip through the Cypress/Tupelo swamp–you’re seeing so many wonderful places! Enjoy the break to Oregon & good luck addressing the folks there & sharing your amazing adventure! Bon Voyage!

A captivating live interview but just a mere glimpse of this amazing woman on her incredible journey and epic, record-making adventure! Consider myself very honored and blessed to have met and bonded with my River Sister, such good times and great laughs! And now more hearts to capture at Bend, OR, and then back to the wild miles on the Mississippi onward to the Gulf. She has totally captured mine!!!! Prayers for travel mercies and safety on and off the water! Hugs & Blessings, my dear friend!

Im in north dakota by cattail bay (winnoa) Im glad you are making it

loveyourbigmuddy expedition says:

November 12, 2013 at 4:47 PM

Frank, that is awesome! Have you watched on Facebook? I am so sorry I did not get a photo of you and the others. That was such a unique encounter. I loved it! Would you mind sending me your email address? Warm thanks!

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LoveYourBigMuddy Expedition

My name is Janet Moreland. I am a Missouri River paddler from Columbia, MO, most often found at or near Cooper's Landing, Rivermile 170.

I graduated from the University of Missouri in December 2012 with a degree in Education, and am now certified to teach middle school social studies and/or science.

In December, 2013, I completed a 3,800-mile source-to-sea solo kayak expedition from the Missouri River source at Brower's Spring, Montana, to the Gulf of Mexico. On April 24, 2013, I skied into the source at 9,000 ft. in the Centennial Mountains, and arrived via South Pass at the Gulf of Mexico on December 5, 2013. My mission included elements of empowerment, education, and environmental stewardship.

In 2016 I successfully completed a solo kayak expedition from the Mississippi River source at Lake Itasca, MN, down to the Gulf of Mexico. And, in 2017 I solo journeyed the entire Yukon River from the Llewellyn Glacier on Atlin Lake, British Columbia, to the Bering Sea at Emmonak, AK.

It is believed that I am the first person ever to successfully solo kayak, from source to sea, the three longest rivers on the North American continent.

Status Updates

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

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