River Time: Lower Mississippi River Dispatch

Share this post

A Community that Plays Together, Stays Together

quapaw.substack.com

A Community that Plays Together, Stays Together

Saturday, March 18th, Community Canoe Daytrip Adventure 1-5pm, meet at Quapaw Canoe Company in downtown Clarksdale.

John Ruskey
Mar 16
6
1
Share this post

A Community that Plays Together, Stays Together

quapaw.substack.com
“I saw a highway with diamonds, with nobody on it…” (Bob Dylan, Hard Rain) Watercolor John Ruskey
Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No. 900
"Voice of the Lower Mississippi River" 
Memphis, TN ~ Helena, AR ~  Clarksdale, MS ~ Vicksburg, MS
Photos & Text (c) 2023 John Ruskey

Issue #900 of the Lower Mississippi River Dispatch

A milestone for us!   This is Issue No. 900 of the Lower Mississippi River Dispatch!  We have delivered 900 issues since 1999.  Started out as simple stream of consciousness emails to friends & family, and grew from there.  If you're new to the journey, welcome aboard "River Time!" -- where the big, muddy, Mississippi River leads us back home, to Mother Earth -- through the magic balance of the canoe, in harmony with the birds, the fishes, the beavers -- and all of creation.

Saturday, March 18th, Community Canoe

Community Canoe Daytrip: flooded forest exploration, bird-watching, sketching, writing, maybe some music?  All the good things in life we bring them to life on our big river adventures.  And this one is for you, good people, our monthly community canoe, which is designed in partnership with the Lower Mississippi River Foundation, especially tailored for kids, and anyone who has never tasted the wild beauty of the big beautiful river!

Meet 1pm at Quapaw Canoe Company in downtown Clarksdale, MS.  Dress warmly!  Pack your favorite hot beverage in a thermos.  River stage: 33.8 on the Helen Gage.  About 35 feet higher than the low water Oct 2022.  It will be a breezy cold day, mostly sunny, high of 51, NNW wind 10-15 mph.  Back to land by 5pm.  Special opportunity for those who have never paddled on the Mississippi River!  

Songbird extravaganza.  We will be paddling through flooded forests, at the canopy level where birds are normally flying!  

Free for youth under 18.  1/4 price for educators ($25). 1/2 price for adults $50).  Reservations required!

Please go to automatic online signup for making reservation.
Watercolor, John Ruskey
Island 62 Mississippi River Adventure

The Island 62 Adventure is a roundtrip voyageur canoe paddle on the biggest river in North America, the Mighty Mississippi, involving a tour of an archipelago of Mississippi River Islands with big beaches, swim holes, birds, turtles, and other wildlife.  This round trip paddle affords an incredible variety of giant sandbars, wetlands, gravel/fossil bars, deep willow forests, and miles of beaches to swim from or walk along.  So — a little bit of everything!
Watercolor, John Ruskey
Schedule:

Meet: 1pm
Quapaw Canoe Company
291 Sunflower Avenue
Clarksdale, MS  38614

Follow us to river
Start: 2pm Quapaw Landing
Explore Flooded Forests by Canoe
Make landing wherever possible
End: 5pm Quapaw Landing (could be later if you want to stay out longer)

Pack in Daypack or Drybag:
Each person should pack:
-waterbottles
-snacks
-your favorite hot beverage in a thermos
-sun protection
-bug protection
-shoes that can get muddy and wet (or go barefoot)

Optional:
-cell phone
-camera
-bird book
-binoculars
-swim gear
-towel

Note:
Pack any electronics in dry bag, dry box, or zip lock bags

Wear:
Dress for weather. It will be a cold breezy day, Wear shoes that can get muddy and wet (or go barefoot). 
 
Call me 662-902-7841 if you’d prefer to talk!  Sincerely yours in service of the big river,

-John

John Ruskey
Quapaw Canoe Company
291 Sunflower Avenue
Clarksdale, MS  38614
662-902-7841
john@island63.com
Watercolor, John Ruskey

Made possible through a partnership with the Lower Mississippi River Foundation.  Dedicated to fostering long-term stewardship of the big river through its youth.
Watercolor, John Ruskey

1
Share this post

A Community that Plays Together, Stays Together

quapaw.substack.com
1 Comment
THOMAS EIER
Mar 16

Wambli John is a gift from GOD too all of us River Rats around the world. He is a wonderful steward of the Mighty Mississippi River. TEE IN IDAHO

Expand full comment
Reply
TopNewCommunity

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2023 John Ruskey
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing