I have subscription to the Times so this might be behind a paywall but I thought it was worth posting up. It's an epic trip. You can read about this guy's 2-year journey across the US here.

Here's a similar article with no pay wall.

adventure journal


and an article from early in trip

mid trip adventure journal

Looks interesting. I'll started reading and will continue over the weekend.

Thanks Bill! I'm glad that story is up online in a few different magazines. It's a fascinating journey. I've been traveling the length of NY state on my way from MN to Boston and I've been wondering if it would be possible to paddle some/all of the Erie Canal. According to Neal's trip, I guess it is!

At last in person Canoecopia there was a presentation on just that - Buffalo to Statue of Liberty in a kayak. Very possible. I started a spread sheet of camping sites. A few stretches far between - probably means stealth camping.

I was looking at turning north in Albany on Champlain canal, either to border for a pick up or continue to St Lawrence Seaway and back home (up river).

Just don't be surprised by railway noise - a freight train every 15 to 20 minutes I'm told.

There's a pretty good organization promoting recreational use of the Canal.

Amazing story!

After kayaking around on the Mississippi in Minneapolis one day, I spent some time on Google maps trying to figure out just how far I could go if I really tried. The idea that i could paddle from here to Yellowstone, Denver, Houston, Chicago, or Pittsburgh amazed me. The reach of the Mississippi watershed is enormous. Then toss in some conveniences like the Erie Canal, Chicago canal, or Savannah Portage and it’s just amazing how much could theoretically be reached.

I live in New Haven, Mo., and we have a paddle board/ canoe shop with a micro brewery attached. “Paddle Stop New Haven”. Any way the owners ran into this fella in Hermann, Mo and paddled down the Missouri with him listening to his stories. Such a treat