Taking the Old Highway - a 2400 mile canoe journey from Fort Collins, Colorado to New Orleans - Softcover

Brad Modesitt

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0981714609 ISBN 13: 9780981714608

Publisher: Modesitt Mirages, 2008

Synopsis

This 2400 mile canoe adventure following the Cache la Poudre, Platte, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers during the great flood of 1993, involves two brothers, a small red canoe and the desire to slow things down a bit. For the cost of a plane ticket, the pair follows the path of a mostly forgotten highway. This adventure shows in a comical way how travelers interact together and the interesting people that color our world. I will take you on a journey of self-discovery while canoeing the Mississippi. The first day we tipped over three times and lost a third of our gear. Canoeing across Nebraska involved more running and pulling of the canoe than floating. On the Missouri River, we canoed all day and night for a week to make up time. On the Mississippi River we entered a massively flooded river that was wreaking havoc on the country. From the wildlife along the Platte River in Nebraska to the Americans we met, we were constantly encouraged to keep paddling. I had believed that people would be interested in my first-hand reports, but I underestimated the interest people had in meeting us. It was as if they wanted to feel part of the journey. The continuation of this book, Ahora es Mejor - Now is Best includes biking in Central and South America, sailing the Caribbean, sea-canoeing Panama, rafting the Grand Canyon and more. I consider myself a brilliant idiot. Planning is sometimes best; other times action is best. It s difficult to always make the right choices. Poor planning and new ideas often have flaws. I discover those flaws with hilarious consequences. For some people, traveling comes easy. For some, relationships come easy. I've rarely met those people. Traveling at different times with my brother, girlfriend, a friend that is a girl, older couple, wife, male friends and large groups of people makes for interesting dynamics. Interactions between the travelers are as interesting as the amazing encounters and mishaps along the colorful path. From encountering quicksand to typhoid fever to a Latin American jail, the mishaps keep you laughing: the insights make you think. At the end of the canoe journey, Kent goes on to law school and Brad continues on a bicycle through Central and South America for a year until he reaches southern Chile.

About this title

About the Author:

Brad Modesitt started out canoeing rivers in Michigan and Ohio. Then, in 1993 he canoed 2400 miles down the Cache La Poudre, Platte, Missouri, and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans. Continuing on a bicycle he made his way to southern Chile. After the trip, he started guiding paddle rafts on the Cache La Poudre River in Fort Collins. After a couple years, he moved to Idaho to work on the Main Salmon, Lower Salmon and Snake Rivers. He soon became manager of a great company with sights on starting an even better company. In 2000,Brad started Mountain Whitewater Descents on the Cache la Poudre River. We have taken 40,000 guests since then and the feedback couldn't be better. We put an immense amount of time into training our guides, because our motto is Our Guides Make the Difference! If we didn't put the time into training our staff, we wouldn't be able to say that. This book is a compilation of the last 20 years; being guide trained (poorly), trained on a different river (quite different training) and then starting Mountain Whitewater Descents and having to come up with an entire program. And even before that when he had to train people at Target (not nearly as fun). During the last 14 years he was certified by Les Bechtel in river rescue, a National Ski Association Ski Patroller, as a Wilderness First Responder, in Outdoor Emergency Care, as an Emergency Medical Technician and has been a CPR and First-Aid instructor. During his travels Brad learned what travelers need and want -- A fun trip with experienced and entertaining guides. Professionalism means everything in every aspect of a business. A job should be fun. Work is only a four-letter word if you make it that way. Lead by example. Follow with respect and the desire to learn. Life is fun enjoy it everyday. Brad now runs Mountain Whitewater Descents with his wife Lindsey and the big bosses, 3½ -year-old Ella and 18-month-old Chase. They love their jobs, lives, each other and the chance to show others how special the Cache La Poudre River is and why it is Colorado s only Wild and Scenic River Photography has been a passion of Brad s and his first book, Pura Vida shows that talent with river, landscape and wildlife pictures from around the globe.

About this edition

• Publisher: Modesitt Mirages
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0981714609
• ISBN 13: 9780981714608
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 144
• Editor: Dr. Doug Woody
• Illustrator: Brad Modesitt