Mississippi Odyssey by Chris Markham
© Kathy Kehrli
The Mississippi is well worth reading about. It is not a commonplace river, but on the contrary, is in all ways remarkable.
Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi
Do you recall your first experience with a large body of water? Do you remember the excitement and fascination it held? There’s just something about water that draws people in, taking them captive in its mesmerizing power. For some, the attraction is overwhelming. Chris Markham is one such person.
Enchanted by tales of the Mississippi since his early childhood, Chris could never quite shake the urge to become one with this mighty river. Armed with a camera, a backpack and his able-bodied legs, he decided once and for all to live out his longtime dream: to sail the entire length of the Mississippi. There was only one thing standing in his way – how to go about it. The solution: hitchhiking.
The Mississippi River spans over 2,350 miles, extending from Lake Itasca, MN in the North to the Gulf of Mexico in the South. Determined not to miss a single inch of the river’s main course, Chris began his adventure in Lake Itasca. Early on, the going was tough, but slowly Chris worked his way south where he finally landed a ride aboard a towboat, the Harriet M, which would take him all the way to his coveted destination.
The Upper Mississippi is comprised of 29 locks and dams and, as can be imagined, traversing the river can be a tricky proposition at best, especially for a heavily laden towboat. Chris Markham takes us into this sometimes dangerous, often times solitary, but always rewarding existence where he introduces us to some of the select few who call this river home.
Throughout this amazing journey, nature and wildlife abound. The Mississippi River shares a border with ten different states and is a migration corridor for 40% of North America’s ducks, geese, swan, and other wading birds. Wildlife is at its peak in the Louisiana swamplands surrounding the Mississippi. This is definitely the trip of a lifetime for the nature enthusiast.
Much has been written about the Mississippi but nothing like Chris Markham’s first-hand account. Mississippi Odyssey blends a bit of history, a sprinkling of friendship, a touch of mystique and a lot of luck into a must-read adventure.
Chris Markham will be joining me throughout the first half of April for an "Ask the Author" session. If you’d like to participate, stop by my discussion board. Mississippi Odyssey is available for purchase at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com.
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