Rivertime Spirit
Meet the maker who brings so much cheer to Big Muddy Adventures Family
At Big Muddy Adventures, we’re getting into the holiday spirit with the help of handmade ornaments created by our number one customer, Karen Beneke. If you’ve been on a river trip with BMA, there’s a good chance you’ve met Karen. In the last few years, Karen has joined us on 48 river trips and has no plans to slow down on booking. A true superfan, Karen’s enthusiasm and sense of adventure embodies the rivertime spirit. At this point, she’s basically part of the family, so we thought it would be nice for everyone to get to know the maker behind the adorable holiday ornaments in the shop.
We checked in with Karen to learn more about her crafts and what keeps her coming back again and again.
How did you first hear about BMA?
I started out kayaking in Forest Park when they took over the boats at the Boathouse because it is just down the street from me and accessible by the bus. Then in the fall of 2020 when there was so little going on, I went on my first actual trip and it all snowballed from there!
You've been on 48 trips with BMA to date. What keeps you coming back again and again?
Besides the gorgeous views, excel lent swimming, wonderful food, and fun people? I love that it is always changing. It is mostly the same couple of sections of river, but the river level changes, the weather changes, the seasons change, so it is always a different trip. Plus bonus points for being an outdoor activity that is accessible by public transportation!
You’ve had a LOT of meals with us, I’d love to know which is your favorite?
Guacamole is always a favorite! And I've had a veggie lasagna a couple of times, which was amazing!
What is your most memorable experience on the river?
Really my favorite bits are the quiet, "little" things, paddling in the bow watching the scenery go by, a quiet stroll along the beach, watching the sunset while sitting in the water, crocheting by the campfire, watching the sunrise while lying in my tent.
How did you get started cross stitching?
My mom taught me when I was a kid, so quite a few years. It is one of those things that I won't do for a long time, but then come up with an idea for a project or see something I want to stitch and get back into it for a while. And then get distracted by another craft project and cross stitching will go on the backburner again until I come up with something else to make. It is fun because I can combine it with other interests- I've done nerdy ones (Harry Potter, Doctor Who), religious ones, seasonal ones, and some just playing around with colors and patterns.
Our crew loves the river levels wall hanging you made for the shop! What inspires your designs?
Temperature crafts (knitting, crochet, cross stitch) have been a thing going around on the internet for a while and the wall hanging is a play on that since like I said, I enjoy watching the constantly changing river levels. I describe it as my nerdy, science side, my crafty side, and my canoeing side having a collision. For the ornaments, it is what are the most iconic bits of Big Muddy Adventures, the big canoes (in their proper colors of course!), the rivers, paddles, and muddy boots.
Karen’s ornaments are available in store at the BMA Guide Shop or online at bmaguideshop.com.
Happy Holidays!
