Anyone want to row down the MO, & MS river

[reddwar]

I am going to retire end of the year & I am 300+ need to get in shape. So I have been thinking how to do it. Best way I can think of is to row down the river! Well the longest run that I can find with no dam is the MO. starting at Gavin Point Dam Yankton, SD. There are endangered birds on the first 50-60 miles which is the only free water south of MT. in the summer.

Now I want to do a lot of rideing next year. So after sturgis will have had the summer to ride & the birds should be off the river, also should beat the cold weather as we go down the river to New Orleans.

There are some great places to eat every, like Bohemian Cafe in Omaha, BBQ in Memphis or a Steak at Doe's Eat Place, Greenville. So we will not have to eat on the river all the time.

The longest trip I have done on the river was a week on the San Juan in Utah 15-20 years ago in my canoe. Now this will not be anything like that but I think it will be fun.

I do not have a boat at this time. I am looking at a 17-18' row boat with a carrying capacity of 500-800lb. Do not know at this time if I will buy a boat or will build a boat, CLC has a class in June that is 5 1/2 days & they help you build your boat for a fee.

So if anyone would like to row down the MO & MS rivers next fall drop me a line.

red

[cmptrmn.1]

That would be cool. I have taken my power boat from Bonneville dam to the ocean (Astoria) here in Oregon/Washington. I can not even imagine rowing some 2000 miles.

[greg58]

I can come down and wave as you go by Omaha.

I would eat at the Surfside Club, it is right on the Missouri river on the north edge of Omaha.

Greg58

[reddwar]

On the 14 & 15 we will be working over in Council Bluffs so I will try out the Surfside Club after I eat at the Bohemian Cafe.

red

[mwmalotte]

I haven't looked at a map bit if your route along the muddy Mo takes ya past Kansas, let me know. Leavenworth is right on the river.

[greg58]

Originally Posted by reddwar

On the 14 & 15 we will be working over in Council Bluffs so I will try out the Surfside Club after I eat at the Bohemian Cafe.

red

Also try Joe Tess fish on So. 24th st in South Omaha. World famous carp dinners, they made Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on food channel.
Surfside is a little tricky, it is under the Morman Bridge,which is over the Missouri River on I-680, then go north 1-2 miles it is on the east side of the road. I think the road is Pershing Blvd.
In the summer people sit at the Surfside Club and eat and enjoy the boats going by, you are almost guaranteed to be flashed or mooned. Not always a pretty sight

Greg58

[cinnamon]

i'll be in mississippi december 1...and i usually get stuck there...so i may need a ride on the river...passing that way then??...lol

[reddwar]

Cinnamon I will not be going down the river till 2010. If you are down on the river then I would love to give you a ride down river. I am just looking to see if anyone next late summer/fall would like to take a canoe/row boat for the trip of a life time.

red

[cinnamon]

Originally Posted by reddwar

Cinnamon I will not be going down the river till 2010. If you are down on the river then I would love to give you a ride down river. I am just looking to see if anyone next late summer/fall would like to take a canoe/row boat for the trip of a life time.

red

well, i will just have to see if i can't make it back there in 2010!

[Streaking Tiger]

wow - are you really up for that? Do you do this on a regular basis? Sounds like a huge feat IMO - even if I were young and physically fit and in practice for something like that. It would be like me trying to climb Mt Everest - ain't gonna happen. I certainly wish you luck - 'cause that sounds like more work than fun. There's rowing involved - right? No motor? Maybe take a motor just in case. Good luck man.

btw: you mentioned that you're possibly going to build your own boat? and then take that same boat on an incredibly long journey? with no motor? C'mon man - you're kiddin' - right? Let us know when you get back - and take pictures. I gotta see this.

[trikebubble]

Sounds like a great plan, but why not a kayak of some sort? Their are models made specifically for long distance travel, and they have to be more efficant to ply the waters with.
Just curious?

[reddwar]

I would love to take a sea kayak down the river as it would be a lot faster. But I have bad right shoulder & I can't get it my right arm above my right shoulder, well I can but I get pain so the kayak is out.

If I could win the lotto then I would get the Heritage 18 but it is a little out of my price range.
The Heritage 18 Rowing Skiff from Little River Marine

So I am looking at CLC & building the Northeaster dory but it has a 56" beam do not know if I want a boat that wide but you can take a week & go to class & build it. Which is the only way I would build a boat.
Light-weight Rowing and Sailing Dory That You Can Build

Now I do have a 16' Mad River canoe that I may take down the river but if I do I want to row it. So I have come across the FrontRower that I can use my canoe. Check out the frontrower it is different.
World's most advanced rowing boats - how they work. Row boats, kits, plans.

Not sure what I am going to do at this time but I have a little time.

red

[greg58]

Red that is a cool way to motivate a canoe. I have a couple of Winona canoes and would be a little scared of dumping all loaded down with gear and such, but with that rowing rig going solo I think the oars could act as stability and your center of gravity is low with that set-up.
How do they steer with the rowing rig?

Greg58

[StarGate]

It sounds like it would be an awesome trip but I'd have one concern doing it. Have you see the size of the waves generated by the tugs and barges that run up and down the Mississippi? I've fished on or around the the Mississippi river several times and the waves generated by those tugs are capable of swamping most small boats. Then of course you have the areas where some really rough water is created on the river that would be a challenge even w/o any waves from the tugs. If you do make the trip be sure to post some dates that you plan on trying to be in some of the areas. I could meet up with you and take you to get some of that Memphis BBQ.

[reddwar]

I am not leaving tell next year late Aug. so I got a little over 9 mo. before I hit the water Just looking to see if anyone wants to take a trip down the river with me.
Here is Brendan 23 year old who is on the river now he should be just past Greenville, The River Roads Rambler, at.
www.riverroads.com - Your online source for Great River Road and Mississippi River travel information!
I have been looking this site over also as you can see I have been doing a lot of reading
Planning Your Mississippi Canoe Trip

red

[reddwar]

Sorry Brendan is at Featured this month & Travel journal not at River Roads Rambler.

www.riverroads.com - Your online source for Great River Road and Mississippi River travel information!

red