Big Muddy Adventures Blog » Angelas Ark http://2muddy.com/blog A muddy collection, like river bank detritus, of stories, commentary and news from Big Muddy Adventures Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:11:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 “Goin’ Old Timey” http://2muddy.com/blog/2009/09/04/goin-old-timey/ http://2muddy.com/blog/2009/09/04/goin-old-timey/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:37:59 +0000 Administrator http://2muddy.com/blog/?p=132 "Where is Angela's Arkansas?" "No, not Arkansas, sir. Angela's Ark, it's a flat boat, like the "Ark of the Convent'."

Our good friends of Angela’s Ark are set to depart on a historic voyage to Memphis. They are prepared to go “old timey”, which means on a flat boat, authentic and river worthy. The history of this boat is a rival to the history of this voyage. Angela’s Ark was commissioned for Mount St. Joseph Ursuiline Nuns, good teachers and early pioneers of faith and good works to the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys. Their purpose was to celebrate their anniversary of coming down the Ohio. John Cooper built it for them, and now is present to witness its second great journey. Which leads to the second bit of history involved.

Captain Lewis at St. Charles reviewing the field.

Captain Lewis at St. Charles reviewing the field.

It is also about an anniversary. This being the 200th anniversary of the river trip, horse journey and death of Captain Meriwether Lewis on these dates in 1809. For that story, you may be interested in the intrigue preceding it, or perhaps you assume as has been written, “it was just a suicide”. A better way to decide than wikipedia is to actually study it intensely then retrace the steps chronologically and as only a river trip, and a horse trip will allow you. For that story, you should check back on Angela’s Ark.

The most dangerous thing on the river is a boat with a motor. Unless that motor is six strong oars, six strong rowers and good tiller. Angela's Ark deck with oars.

The most dangerous thing on the river is a boat with a motor. Unless that motor is six strong oars, six strong rowers and good tiller. Angela's Ark deck with oars.

So how does Big Muddy Mike get involved. Well, that’s a bit of “Then and Now” and now I had the good fortune to be able to work on the motor for Angela’s Ark. It is part of the “old timey” associated with this story. The motor is nothing more than eight wooden oars, each with a history of its own. BMA set up a portable canoe shop at Piasa Creek and went to work, sanding, glueing, glassing and spar varnishing to bring the oars back to “ship shape”. The work was completed in a nick of river time and they are now being river tested.
The "Banana Boat", cottonwood dugout, and Angela's Ark oars have been restored via the "portable canoe shop."

The last bit of the “Old Timey” is the crew. The crew won’t appreciate that so I must explain the joke. They are the First Squad. The stunt doubles to the reenactors guild of Lewis and Clark and many other rendezvous events. They range in age from 18-80, and the eighty year old is fitter and stronger than the youngest of the usual reenactor crowd. Most are more comfortable in sheep skin, elk skin, hemp cloth or the woolens of the 18th and early 19th century military issue than they are in even Levis or Wranglers. They are likely to raid a food pantry, but then use the loot to cook and feed forty homeless river rats while entertaining a hundred more with stories. They help nuns on to flat boats, raise Native sons in the air and give them thrills and joy all the while cursing loudly at ‘neer-do-wells’, which is often each other Most of all, and most appreciated, they have done the rivers, the mountains and the trails, in the “old timey” way, by paddle and saddle and blisters and sweat, and they are ready again. Bon Voyage! See you on the river.

]]> http://2muddy.com/blog/2009/09/04/goin-old-timey/feed/ 0 Mr. and Mrs. Sippi Expedition http://2muddy.com/blog/2009/07/06/mr-and-mrs-sippi-expedition/ http://2muddy.com/blog/2009/07/06/mr-and-mrs-sippi-expedition/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:59:27 +0000 Administrator http://2muddy.com/blog/?p=50
John Ruskey tightens the raft bolts which secure it to Junebug 1 and 2.

John Ruskey tightens the raft bolts which secure it to Junebug 1 and 2.

For the past three days, our camp at Piasa Harbor has been a beehive of activity. We have been hard at work assembling the raft for an expedition to New Orleans. Our clients are Monsta Movies Film productions from Berlin Germany. Their movie is called “Mr. and Mrs. Sippi.” The journey began months ago for all involved. The movie crew has been writing and researching, traveling and preparing for their parts. We have been building the canoes and the raft which is now secured on top of Junebug 1 and 2.

Patricia and Volker, aka Mr. and Mrs. Sippi, row Angela's Ark in preparation for the expedition and movie roles.

Patricia and Volken, aka Mr. and Mrs. Sippi, row Angela's Ark in preparation for the expedition and movie roles.

Today, the lead actors, Patricia Schafer and Volker Strubing, Mr. and Mrs. Sippi, came to Piasa to do some shooting on Angela’s Ark. Angela’s Ark is an authentic 19th century replica flat boat which BMA has been helping to crew and prepare for its own journey in September. The flat boat has been written into the story as a connection to our good friend and BMA colleague, Scott Mandrell, who has filled a big role as the St. Louis / Alton IL host to the movie team. While John Ruskey, Seth Barger, the Mighty Quapaws and I worked hard putting the finishing touches on the Junebugs and raft, the Ark rowed past. As a measure of great fortune, John Cooper, the builder of Angela’s Ark, was also present and lent a master’s hand as we put the oar locks, railings, and cleats on the deck.

The real adventure begins tomorrow when we untether the craft and begin our journey to New Orleans. The “Monsta” folks are excited as are we. It should be a grand endeavor, made especially cool by the brilliance of the raft.

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