After an eventful journey north, Junebug 1 and Junebug 2 made it to Piasa Creek just after midnight last night. Today, the five Mighty Quapaws, John Ruskey, Seth, Ellis, Melvin, John Cooper, Scott Mandrell and I began the work of constructing the raft that will carry our merry band and the Monsta Movies Film Production team to New Orleans. It was a marvelous day of hard work, topped off by an Independence Day celebration in Alton, IL. Our Berliner friends are surrounded by Americana, nothing of which will top the experience they will have when we shove off on Monday.
Archive for July, 2009
Twins United
Friday, July 3rd, 2009Flooded Forest
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
Two weeks ago, we paddled one of our favorite routes with Joni Doyle and her son. We put in at Maple Island access on a scorching late afternoon. Temps were in the mid 90’s. As we made the turn into the back channel for our return upstream, the flooded forest invited us in. We paddled between willow, cottonwood and maple trees. At various points, we were pulling the canoe with our hands wrapped around the trunks and squeezing between. The rewards of our effort were immediate. The temperature dropped 20 degrees and the magic of wetlands appeared. Later we stopped along the cut bank of the island and climbed out of the canoe for some exploring. The mud squeezed between our bare toes as we walked inland. The colors and light were enchanting. But the highlight of the trip was the swimming. Three times, we walked a hundred yards along the bank. Then jumped in, floating and swimming along with the current back to our canoe. Refreshing!
Twins are born!
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
The Quapaw Canoe Company has proudly given birth to a set of twins. “Junebug 1″ and “Junebug 2″ are a pair of canoes conceived and created in a workshop in Clarksdale. They are the true descendants of the ‘grande dame”, the Lady Bug, who has traveled and carried hundreds of paddlers safely over thousands of miles on the mighty Mississippi River. Her off spring literally sprung off of their molds just two weeks apart That is about 2 minutes in human time.. “Junebug 1″ was born first and is a sparkling cypress strip model. “Junebug 2″ is the exact same size, 28 and a half feet, but is a most unique canoe, made of a lovely and light redwood.
For their maiden expedition, the two muscular boys (we think they are boys.) will be tested in a formidable way. They will be the pontoons for a 20 foot raft which shall be the vessel for a German movie production. Just like their delivery doctors, they will learn the river via a full month long expedition from St. Louis to New Orleans. It begins Thursday, July 2 with a raft assembly and canoe camp at Piasa Creek Access just upstream from Alton, IL. The actual on water expedition will commence just in time for the Full Moon on July 6.
This weekend, Wambli John Ruskey, Big Muddy Mike Clark, Seth the mysterious Portugeuse carpenter, his comrade in fine craftsmanship, Josh, and the Mighty Quapaws will be enjoying a cigar.
