Brendan, a canoe, and the Mississippi River
Brendan Battenfelder's journey from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.

Tuesday, September 11, 2001 - With wet feet from Grand Rapids, MN

(from Brendan Battenfelder)

Hey all

Things are going great. Matt and I had a wonderful first few days and 
met some wonderful people. We paddled, floated, swam, DRANK, Matt fell in,  and we tried everything else one could think of. After Matt left in Bemidji I had the day from Hell. I had planned to do 21 mile, which was more then Matt and I had done together. But the rains came, then lightning and then 2 miles off course on lake wolf. But I survived and somehow I was smiling when I got to the camp site.



The last few days though have been amazing. I have seen bald eagles,
Ospreys, beavers, otters and a black bear swimming across the river 20 
feet in front of me. So my spirits are high, my feet are soaked, and my belly is tumbling with different meals.

We just got in to Grand Rapids this morning and got a ride from a
construction worker around the dam. We soon found out that the real world was a bit of a mess. After spending a week with no news from the real world, it was strange to here about the attacks. But the solar powered
radio will be cranking when I leave the library. If I said we, I met Fausa (trail name) and I, another traveler headed to the Gulf who I have been with since the second day.

I hope everyone is doing well and I will be in Brainerd soon. I think
earlier then planned. I think I am going to be about three days early.
Thanks to those who scratched together a letter, it put a smile on my
face. Well I am off to the grocery store and then to get a cold beer. It will
be noon in 7 min.

I miss you all and I will write, when I get a chance

Brendan
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Emails from Brendan and his father.		 Photos
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