Raft down the Mississippi

does liquid foam usually cause halth problems?

 

http://blogs.walkerart.org/offcenter/index.php?s=floating

 

where on page?

 

Floating Temporary Autonomous Zone

 

there isnt anything on there about liquid foam,and if it causes health problems.also....isnt rafter back now?i havent heard from him!could you put something about the construction of your raft in more detail,and possibly post some plans?

 

Hi guys -
Chiming in my 2 cents - to all of you in favor of this adventure on principle, kudos to you. Also, to all of you in favor of these would-be adventurers desiging, building and piloting a safe-for-all-concerned boat down the mightiest of all American rivers, kudos to you too. I think kapnD and stuckinanoffice might agree. All of you who though, on general principle alone, choose to discourage intrepidenss and the courage to take life by the ball sack and squeeze it a little bit, I wish you nothing more than something in your life to help you see that that is what life is all about: the trip.
So to you qwist, may you be the designer, builder and pilot we all wish everyone on the waterways to be. Also, listen to woodbutcher. Experience is knowledge gained too late, and you'll do well if you consider his sage advice. Learn about locks before you enter one. Duluth also seems to have some "experience" that s/he's gained that you may not have to. As for Lobster's advice, I'd have to say that there is a Buddhist mantra that strives to always find the middle path. One path would be to go over Niagra Falls in a barrel, while an alternative path might be to never even get in the barrel. There is here, though, the chance to get in a barrel that's controllable and safe-for-all-concerned. Also, stay away from Niagra Falls altogether.
Fair seas and following winds to you, qwist.

 

Rafting the Mississippi

Any thing you can do to help the four of you would be helpful, as a former kayaker haveing paddled that river you are talking about a lot of hard long work with a number of hot and wet days and nights. I would like to wish you the very best of luck and if I were 30 years younger I would love to go with you, but alas I am old and not a very good speller but alot smarter now.

 

Hey. I want to go.

 

scott you just dont know the river ,or its traffic,,massive coal barges 4 in tandom ,pushed by 2 tugs ,,supertankers,,,drunks you name it ,I wish the guys safe passage would like to here from them ,,,longliner

 

Damn, I'm finally ready

Ok guys, I am so sorry for not getting to this earlier. I came back from my deployment and then jumped straight into school full time. I hope there are still some river dreamers out there. I will now attempt some pictures.

 

and another from the front



You can see I had a lot of junk. I had bbq, propane, tiki torch, nav lights (seperatly switched so I could have an anchor light) mosquito netting, a second floor, a third floor (for jumping and goofing off), a deep cycle battery and recharger and power drills for repairs and a coffee maker (french press) and a 2 burner stove and lets see....

 

Now everyone, yes laugh at my crazy "nondesign" However know this: I had communication, positive flotation to the max, and redundant manuverability. I knew what I was getting myself into. Three years later I get crazy chills to think of how dangerous some of it was and am shamed that I put my parents through it but it was so worth it. I just want people to think and plan, but possibly not over plan...hmm so tough to judge. I can see the appeal of not planning much, and I can also see the fun in planning for it's own purpose. I guess I would err on the side of safety and following regulations. Most regulations are written in blood and are in effect becuase people have died in preventable ways. All that being said, dont give up a dream, if it is one. I would love to redo this trip with a vessle that I built that was beautiful. It is safe to say my thing was just that. A thing. A raft. Good luck. I hope this inspires. Remember: Manuverability (double or triple redundant...even if it's a set of ores (you'll need at least one anyway)), Comm, draft, vision (360 degrees!!) and positive floatation were my musts.

 

I have had a ball reading this thread... my thanks to every particpant but particularly the "doers".

As far as the safety issues.. I believe every boat is a rude violation of good sense and practicality! Only idiots would have one. They are all a path to financial ruin and all have dangers that are otherwise avoidable.... YOU GOTTA LOVE EM! I'll bet the raft above, floated safely by many stranded/grounded/out of fuel conventional runabouts on it's way south. People that impose on the rescue mob should feel shame regardless of their type of craft. Bad luck usualy really means bad planning.

I was born in minnesota and lived when young in Quincy Ill. Now in australia, it's too late for me. A regret.

I have an old national geographic article of a person who rafted down the river. The writer ended the story by relating how as he floated by a levee a group of young boys hailed him to ask how far he was going to which he yelled back, "till we get tired of it!" He said he then heard applause come over the water from the now distant group of boys...

I'm glad to see the 21st century hasn't beaten the dreams out of the boys!

Cheers

Bob

www.thecoastalpassage.com

 

found the article in National Geographic.... it was a sept 75 issue on Mark Twain. the author rafted on the river to duplicate Huckleberry Finns little adventure.

Bob

www.thecoastalpassage.com

 

Rafting with 'George' in 1972

In 1972 five college friends and I rafted the mighty Mississippi in a home-made raft we named George Raft (I'm so old I think people might even remember who he was). We had to go in April because of school so we were alone on the river and it was at near flood stage and with the exception of a few fishermen and the barges there was no other traffic.

At the college where we attended, the head of the publicity department found out what we were planning and decided to give us free promotion (I think we were hoping someone would loan us an outboard at the time). He got so excited about the trip he got other people excited, so in the end radio stations were reporting on our progress (we had to stop before noon each day to find a phone--no cellphones--to make air-time), the Chicago Tribune gave us banner headline treatment in their Metro section (April 20,1972). We thought that was all silly, but what was truly great was how we were treated by the locals on the river. First and foremost by the folks who manned the locks--great, great people. They helped us so much. But really everyone we met was genuinely interested in our journey and wanted to know if they could help. The first six times we were approached by cops we were nervous, but every time it was always that they thought it was too cool what we were doing and just wanted a closer look.

We were befriended by barge captains and given valuable, and important information about river conditions (and to never take the river for granted). People on both sides of the river showed us kindness, and just gave us stuff and told us things like to be sure and camp on the island where they were married, and do we want another drink, and stuff like that. I can't tell you how many boat club members saw us on the docks refueling or whatever and invited us in to get warm and have a brew on them. Just amazing!

We left 'George' with the marina owner in Andalusia, Illinois and I always wondered what happened to it.

We did quite a bit of planning, used Army Corps of Engineers and various agencies to find out information.

I have a singularly warm experience from my time on the Mississippi.

If I can get my son to help me I'll try to get a picture of George on the forum-I'd never be able to figure out how to do it myself.
Peace--Seadog