financial – loveyourbigmuddy expeditions

Tim_Kids — Washington riverside education experience

Okay. So, part of my expedition mission is to empower kids. To persuade them that they can achieve goals that, at first glance, may not seem possible. Ideally, they will learn how to put on an “I can do it” attitude despite circumstances that may cause them to want to give up. They will look adversity in the eye and find solutions to keep moving forward. Yes, that is my goal. Of course, I need to practice what I preach, right?

Today, the challenge of this expedition reached a new dimension. I know, already? So, I just found out that my dog has a torn ACL in his right knee. This calls for surgery that is rarely done for less than $1800. How do I know? He had his left ACL repaired last January. After meds are prescribed, the procedure costs over $2000. My poor Rio Oso. And, woe is me.

Just so happens today is also my last full regular day in the University of Missouri Sustainability Office. I will be starting my student teaching internship on Monday. I decided, quite easily, that I would not work and student teach at the same time. I want to give 100% to my students. I want to devote my whole self to motivating them to love learning.

This is a non-paying internship. However, generous scholarships from the College of Ed and student loan will pull me through the semester, and for that I am grateful. My plan is to work part time from January through March, while earnestly pursuing a teaching job for the next school year, after which I will devote 100% to my expedition. Of course, I will be contacting potential sponsors, pouring over maps, networking, cultivating my goals, and mapping out my course from here on out, as much as I can manage.

I decided to share the planning of this expedition on this blog. Normally, I don’t care to seem complainy (I know, not a word, right? I like it, though.) in public, but this will undoubtedly be the first of many challenges along the way. I really do want to practice what I preach. So, there you have it. Let’s keep on movin’ on. Solution-minded-always!

Oh, and any fundraising suggestions are very welcome.

Live fast ~ paddle slow

See you on the river (syotr)

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

Tag: financial

Always good to practice what you preach

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