Friday May 20th
Today I arrived at the shop a little before 7am. I helped sort out the canoes and prepare for our upcoming trip. We are taking a 20 person church group out on the river for two days. This trip is really exciting for me because I will be the captain of Grasshopper, the 30ft canoe made from Louisiana Bald Cypress and redwood. The paddle today was from Helena, Arkansas to Island 62. We ate on island 61. The whole paddle was about 23 miles.

Monday May 23
Today I woke up at 4:30am and did all of my packing. Mark River picked me up at 6:15, and we headed to the shop so I could say goodbye to John. He gave me all sorts of gifts, and made me an official Quapaw Canoe Company captain. The last thing John said to me was "I never say goodbye, because I believe our paths will cross again. See you later, and may the river be with you".
From now on I will definitely carry the spirit of the river and the soul of Clarksdale with me wherever I go. I already miss Mississippi, but I'm not worried... I'm already planning my next trip out there.

Today we took the nurses out to an island just south of Helena, Arkansas. It was really cool to hang out with them this morning. The nurses had brought their own smaller canoe to use for this weekend.
This boat was named Orca, and we had decided to tow it behind the 30ft canoe that we were all in. The paddle to the island was going great until the Orca flipped. The canoe filled up with water and started to sink, and it brought us to a dead stop in the middle of the channel.I decided to jump in the water and move Orca towards the canoe we were in (Ladybug) so we could flip it and get the water out. We were able to do it and make it to the island and back to the landing safely.
Tomorrow I have to wake up extra early to prepare for a two day trip. I will be getting back Sunday night, and then I will be leaving Monday morning. I have had so much fun in Clarksdale and I can't wait to come back.

Today I helped install shelves into a new kitchen, and varnished our paddles. I also found out that there we are dropping a group of nurses on an island and picking them up on Sunday. They have been friends with John Ruskey for years, and love to do trips on the Mississippi. I met them this afternoon, and one of them brought their dog along. I played fetch with the dog for a little while, then walked around town to get some fresh air and savor the time I have left in Clarksdale.
These past couple weeks have gone by so fast, and I can't believe I'm leaving on Monday. After staying down here for senior project, I know I want to come back down here in the future.

Tuesday May 17th

Today we started by packing two 30ft canoes for a day trip. We took a group of students from Ole Miss through the flooded forests of island 63. Even though I have done this route a few times in the past week, it never gets old. Things are always changing on the river; something you saw on the river could be completely different the next day. 

The river also feels like an escape from reality in a way. It feels like a completely different world when your on the water, and thats mainly because it is. There are so many hidden gems along the river, like a hidden cove with a perfect beach. Or a fallen tree that makes a great spot to eat lunch in the shade. 

I have been paddling the same stretch of the river for the past two weeks now, and I still see something new everything I'm out there. I have one trip left this weekend before I go home, and I will be sure to take it all in before I'm gone.

I remember the first time I was on the Mississippi. It was a week long trip with some kids from school, and I didn't really know much about canoeing or the big river. The more time I spent in Clarksdale, the more I understood how big of an impact the Mississippi has on our country and the species within it. When I came back to Clarksdale for my high school senior project, I learned about becoming a river citizen, and what it means to become one. About a week ago I was camping outside on a beach on Island 62 (Lower Mississippi). I remember looking up at the stars, and hearing the wildlife slowly tune out. I was having a great experience and it was at that moment I knew that I wanted to be a river citizen.

                                                                                              island 62

I wanted to make sure this river could still supply drinking water for millions of people, and that it could provide habitats for some of the most majestic animals in the country. There are 145 species of reptiles and amphibians, and there are also 326 different types of birds on the river. A common site on the lower Mississippi is seeing the water snakes glide across the tops of logs, and seeing turtles such as the Mississippi Map Turtle on the banks basking in the sun.
And if your lucky, you might be able to spot a bald eagle perched on a tree.

After having great experiences on the river, I understand why the big river is so important. I became a river citizen because the Mississippi is extremely valuable, and I want to make sure that it keeps its diversity and continues to have the ability to maintain everything that it provides for our country and the wildlife within it.

I've been talking with Mark River, and I have decided to become a river citizen. A river citizen is someone who believes in the Mississippi River, and knows all the good that it brings to people. While it may rise 20 feet and take out some houses in the process, it also provides us with 92% of the nations agricultural exports. The Big River is also the home of over 260 species of fish. And 18 million people rely on the Mississippi for drinking water.
I knew none of this before I came on this trip. I was just a kid from a little city north of Boston, and all I knew about the Mississippi River was that it was very large. I had no idea how big of an impact it had on our country. The Big River doesn't get the fame it deserves. And it sure hasn't been given the respect it deserves.
1 Mississippi is an organization that brings people together to share the knowledge of this great river. People from all over the country have decided to become river citizens because they know the importance of the Mississippi. I have decided to become a river citizen because I have had great experiences on the Mississippi, and I know the happiness that it can bring people.
I am so grateful that Mark River and his colleagues have given me the chance to write blog posts for 1 Mississippi so I can spread the word about the Mississippi River.

If you are interested about becoming a river citizen contact Mark River at markriver@island63.com
If you have any more questions leave a comment!

I will be posting more about this topic in the days to come!

Today was pretty low key. I got to the shop at 9am, and we just cleaned a lot of things. One of the more interesting parts of the day was meeting Annie, the 32 foot long canoe. A couple of friends built it around a decade ago, and we were cleaning it up and getting it ready for them to take it. The first time they took Annie out was on a 2400 mile stretch of the Mississippi River. After work we all hung out at the shop and ate ribs and potatoes. I had a lot of fun meeting this group of guys and hopefully our paths will cross again!

Today I was in the stern of grasshopper. It was my first time being in the back of such a big boat, and it was a little overwhelming at first. The steering was a little difficult but I got much better as we got downstream! We paddled from Island 62 to a channel that connects Desoto Lake and the Mississippi River. I have been learning so much about the geography and layout of this section of the river, and I can't wait to learn more!

                                              This was taken on Island 62 looking upstream

Written on Saturday, May 7th
Today I woke up, and ran to the Quapaw Canoe Company base. I was so excited to get back out on the river for an overnight trip. We took three canoes out with us on the trip because we had 20 people with us. We all had a lot of fun paddling down the river, and we finally settled for the night at island 62. We cooked kabobs on the fire, and went to bed early in preparation for the next day. 

      This canoes name is grasshopper! She is a 30 foot canoe made of Louisiana Bald Cypress

                    This is my campsite on Island 62. I had this whole side of the beach to myself!

Yesterday, I didn't really do much. We just did a lot of heavy lifting and got some gear together for the trip today. In the evening, I met with John Ruskey and his family for dinner. I had a lot of fun getting to know his family, and the food was delicious! 

I am also leaving for a overnight trip in just under an hour. We are taking a 16 person church group out on the Mississippi.

I'll post two blogs tomorrow night because I won't be able to post tonight!

Here are some pictures of the dugout canoes the Quapaw canoe company has made.

Unfortunately, I did not have time to do the circumnavigation of island 63 today because we had to prep for a trip this weekend. Instead, I had the chance to do a 10 mile strip of the Sunflower River with Mark. But before that, River showed me around the basement of the shop, which flooded about two months ago.

                     (Mark River showing how high the water was during the flood) 

After lunch, we took a canoe out on the Sunflower. 

We were able to catch a glimpse of a few deer running through the trees, as well as some beavers and turtles. Then we stopped for some much needed rice crispy treats along the way. I had a great time exploring the river today, and I can't wait to get back to it!

Today I got to the shop around 9am, and helped work on an old trailer that they carry canoes on. Afterwards, River and I took a group of kids in an after school program out on the Sunflower River. There were more kids than there were on Monday, and we all had a great time. I paddled with a 13 year old named Kyle who liked to rap and talk about cars. He was really funny and kept saying that our canoe was a Bugatti. I had a great time talking to everyone and getting to know more kids in Clarksdale. A lot of people here have been very welcoming and nice to me despite the fact that I'm not a local.
I am also excited because I have to circumnavigate an island called island 63 in the Mississippi River tomorrow!

Today I woke up filled with excitement because I got the chance to go out on the big river! I got to the shop around 8:30am, packed my gear in a little dry sack, and headed off to Helena, Arkansas to find the drop in point. Mark River and I were taking a woman doing a road trip on a 12 mile strip of the Mississippi. When we got in the water, I felt all the feelings of Mountain Classroom coming back to me. I remembered the cool breeze, the wildlife all around me, and even though I was far from my house in Newburyport, it felt like I was at home. We cruised down that river, talking, sharing stories, and having a great time. This is what canoeing is all about. Spending time with friends and exploring places you can't go on foot.

The First Day

Today when I awoke I was filled with excitement. My first day as a Quapaw. But I was just as nervous as I was excited. I had a million thoughts running through my head about how this could be an amazing day, or a terrible day.
I left my temporary home around 8am, and decided to walk along the Sunflower River before my 9am meeting. Sitting alongside the rushing river allowed me to clear my head and think positively. After being briefed about the day, I proceeded to take on the mighty task of cleaning out the Headquarters fridge. After about an hour of holding my nose and trying to keep down my breakfast, the task was complete. Afterwards, the head guide Mark River taught me how to tie the essential knots for canoeing.
After a delightful pizza during my lunch break, it was right back to work. River gave me a tour of the workshop, where he is currently building a 30ft canoe. He lead me through the process, all the way from a plank of wood to a fully functioning canoe. He then gave me a book going into detail about the art of boat building, and told me to read up!
Around 5pm, a group of high school kids came over to the shops and we took them out for an hour long trip on the the Sunflower River. It felt amazing to be back out on the water. Theres something about sitting in a canoe and just floating along; listening to the birds, and the lapping of the water against your boat.
I had an amazing day today, and I know that the weeks to come are only going to get better. I can't wait to see whats in store for me tomorrow!
-MP