A hearty thank you

Here I am trying to wrap up my last trip before heading off on my next adventure to New Zealand and Australia for a few months. I realize I haven’t been in the same place for more then 10 days since May, and this following week and a half will be the maximum amount of days spent in one place until at least Feb. Ah the life of the nomad!

As I still try to wrap my brain around the fact that I did in fact paddle 2,300 miles down a river the main thing that keeps popping into my head about the journey is just how much gratitude I have to the many people helped make this journey possible. And so my thank you begins....

To my friends and family for their endless understanding and support as I once more disappeared from the face of the planet for an undetermined amount of time and embraced me wholeheartedly upon my return.

Thank you to Crystal Head Vodka for helping to fund the expedition. And to our gear sponsors: Mtn Hardwear, Kokatat, Bending Branches, Aqua Bound, Patagonia, Pacific Outdoor Equipment, Gaia, Snap Dragon, Native, Otterbox, GoPro, Pure Organics, Macro Life Naturals, Yoga tune up, Icom, Rite in the Rain, and Hurricane. These companies helped make our trip a breeze with their quality gear, and there’s no way we would have made it downstream for 102 days through the sun, and the bugs, the thunderstorms, and the long days on the river without them.

To the people who hosted us, showered us, feed us, and transported us along the way. Your generosity and hospitality continues to overwhelm me. I would like to personally thank the following people: Betty and Gordon, Neil and Laura, Mark and BSU, Terry, Camp Unistar, Jerrie, Sandy, Cindy, Dave, Shannon, Dennis, George and Patty, Jessie, Anne and Ralph, Forever Ice Cream, Tom, Dan and Lisa, Gail, Dave, Adam, Diane, Barrett and Peggy, Michael, Valerie, Matt and Kim, and of course to Mr. Donnie Hall who did so much to ensure our safety the whole way down.

There are countless more. People we met on beaches, in boats, in campgrounds, and on city streets. If I missed your name, please forgive my lagging memory, and please don’t hesitate to remind me ☺

So I thank you, and you, and you too over there in the corner, for your generosity of support. And don’t forget to continue to think a little about (and perhaps even get someone else to think about :) how water plays a role in your life and your world.

If you’d like to stay in touch please feel free to find me on facebook or twitter, through one of my websites, my not so up to date blog (which might one day be up to date with my latest adventures), or just by plain and simple email. I would love to hear from you.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Danielle-Katz/671098929
http://www.twitter.com/riverkatz
http://www.daniellekatz.com
http://www.daniellekatz.massagetherapy.com
http://daniellekatz.blogspot.com/
I have a lot of email accounts, they all go to the same place, try not to get too confused-they’re all still me ☺

I hope you enjoyed following our trip, I very much enjoyed your support along the way!
May you continue to go with the flow,
Danielle

Mississippi '09 Quick Edit of DK's pics

Click here to view these pictures larger

The Rhythm of the River

Our daily routine, wake, eat, pack, paddle, eat, paddle, unpack, eat, sleep has swept over me. Life on the Mississippi has encompassed my body and soul. I awake in the morning to the sound of birds and emerge from my tent to a bowl of steaming gruel (oatmeal, or 10 grain, and on special mornings Brian's amazing pancakes). We pack our belongings and begin our journey downstream, several bald eagles grace us with their presence, deer hidden in the grasses either stand perfectly still or run snorting loudly in warning as we disrupt their peaceful grazing. We pass turtles sliding into the muddy river, hear the sound of beaver slaps, and watch as muskrats swim before us. We observe the loons, the crazy loons with their cackling laugh, their beaks shuttering in reverberations as they dive through the water.

 

We paddle onwards, over the rice grass, under trees, around rocks, through lakes, and under clouds. The wind, the rain, and the sun pass over us. There is a feeling I get 30 minutes into paddling, when the creaks from the night before fade away and the ache of hour six in the boat has yet to hit. A feeling where I become one with the water, with my boat, with my paddle. My body moves with efficient ease and I am enraptured in the moment of now.

 

It is only later, several hours into paddling when the mind begins to wander away from the present, when the thoughts start hovering like vultures, circling and waiting for the grips of boredom to take hold before swooping down that it gets dangerous. That's about the time I paddle up to Brian and ask him to tell me a story. He complies most of the time :) and recites Robert Service poems or tells fantastical tales of the Boy Who Kayaked Around the World or the King who Hoarded Gold. When the stories do not come, the philosophical discussions begin, and when the conversations run dry, I return to the moment of studying the details of the surrounding scenery. My saving grace on a few of our longer days has been my IPod. Escapism at it's utmost, an out of body experience of sorts as I remove myself from the surrounding landscape, into an alternate reality, rocking out in a kayak shut out from the experience of what is going on around me...but it does save you from the Vultures.

 

Boredom is not a familiar feeling to me, there is always something to do in my "normal" life and it is rather an interesting experience to explore, to ponder it's existence and it's formation, but alas I digress...

 

Lunch appears on a gravel bank or a small beach and as I have taken on the role of Lunch Lady I enthusiastically spread Peanut Butter (too much for the boys) and Jam (too little) on bagels before handing them out. Sometimes we have Hummus on tortillas. We get back in our boats and fight off the post lunch siesta that calls to us. Blinking slowly, hoping that our boats stay straight if we just close our eyes for a moment....

 

We joke that we know we've reached camp if there's mud, mosquitoes, a steep bank, and it starts to rain. The weather this year is unusually cool and wet which I am grateful for. It creates good paddling weather-no overheating, no fear of dehydration and in my mind assists in lowering the bug count by a few degrees (helping to prevent us from being forced into hysterics like migrating Caribou gone crazy from the harassment of the Mosquito). Our camps, while mostly accessible only by river or ATV, are almost always within ear shot of a road and I find it strange to be in the "wilderness" while a parallel universe of civilization exists within a stone's throw.

 

At dinner, (usually an ethnic feast created by Brian-a veggie curry, or other deliciously spiced assortment of carrots, onions, potatoes layered into a bed of Quinoa, rice, or ramen) we eat our fill. Tonight (Day 13-Scott's Rapid and one of my favorite) a soft mist enshrouds the river as it flows through the remaining patches of gleaming sunlight. I sit on a rock and a swarm of gnats tickle at my nose. I consume the rice and curry, ravenous after a long days paddle. The smell of citronella wafts from behind my ears and wrists, it's one of the first evenings I have not shrouded myself in my mosquito veil.

 

The following morning the air sends a slight chill and when the wind blows it showers down large pellets of water remnant from the previous evenings rain. The leaves are an iridescent green and I wonder at the majesty of what it must look like when the fall colors hit.

 

I must be hungry today for I consume a second helping of 10 grain cereal. It is usually a struggle for Brian to get us to finish the heaping portions of deliciousness he creates. I have a secret feeling he's trying to fatten Kevin and I up only to slaughter us one night in our sleep and sell us on the black market. I hear fattened Kayakers bring in a hefty price :) This morning I attribute my appetite to the cold. My body's essential survival need to stockpile for the coming winter arising.

 

I run my fingers over the hardened blisters on my hands and smile. Onwards we go....

 

The river flows by, muddied by the erosion of cows and industry. This is not the pristine little brook we started down, through the meandering paths of rice grass. The quality, the temperament of this water has changed, it has begun to age, and like my own maturation I look forward to observing the evolution of myself and the river and the river within myself as we traverse toward the Gulf.

The first 60 miles!

We have completed the first 60 miles! It is an accomplishment in itself that we were able to complete it within the time frame of the three days which we set for ourselves given that everyone warned us it would take twice as long as we originally planned. I am thrilled to discover that while a 10.5 hr river day is a long one, it is by far not a stretch beyond limits of body or mind.  The fact that we were able to go 31 miles in a day with very little current helping us along, reinforces that we'll be able to put in the miles we need to downstream.

 

7/20 Lake Itasca- a crowd gathered around our brightly colored kayaks and piles of dry bags-wondering about the strange phenomenon of people about to get on a river no deeper then one's knee. Some people asked immediately, are you going to the Gulf? Others were astounded "my that's a long way!"  Like puppies on a leash we began guiding our kayaks this way and that down the shallows. People gathered at a bridge overhead and applause broke out in support. I felt like I was on a stage once more and the echoing claps filled my heart with gratitude. Down we went, in and out of our boats, around rocks, over trees. At lunch the looming clouds spoke of rain and I smiled at the coming adventure. After our PB&J on bagels (our staple lunch for the next few days) we put on our Kokatat paddling jackets and headed into the coming storm. Through the winding wetlands of rice grass and reeds we paddled. The heavens opened and poured out their greeting. I laughed with wonder as the drops pelted down into the water below, reunited once more with their cousins. Onwards we went, through alternating shallows and wetlands.

 

We arrived at camp and emerged from our boats like soggy dogs, the rain had subsided and into dry clothes and a meal of Mac and Cheese (the first of many I believe) we dove. Cramming into Kevin's tent to escape the hoards of mosquitoes. There's a sign at the headwaters that describes the beasts as "voracious long-billed and dyspeptic musketoes" and it sums them up perfectly. The following day was clear and thankfully cool as we once more launched into wetland after wetland. The river shifts and turns and doubles back on itself, contouring itself in endless loops. Blue Heron, Muskrat, Turtles, a Bald Eagle, osprey, deer. We are in their land and it is beautiful!

 

We missed our first campsite choice for the night and unknowingly entered into another 7 mile stretch of wetland. On we paddled and arrived at the next camp. A swarm of canoe campers were settling into their campfire of hot chocolate and smores and graciously shared the site with us. The mosquitoes were out in full force once more and I am now paying the price in pure itchiness. I don't think I can count the number of bites I have, but let's just say that copious amounts of bug spray do very little to deter them.

 

Our long 2nd day, made for an easy 15 miles (after winding our way through a thicket of one downed tree after another) and we rolled into Bemidji around 4 pm. A shower, a restful night of sleep, a little repacking of gear and we'll be off once more, across Lake Bemidji and onto the next 2,440 miles! It feels strange to be at a computer after only 3 days of  being out on the river, but the adventure awaits. Minus a few blisters, bruises, and bites I'm itching (no pun intended:) to just start paddling once more!

Brian and Danielle at the Mississippi

Our first interaction with the Mississippi

 

Arrival in Minnesota

Bemidji, Minnesota

 

We are a day away from putting in on our 3 month 2,500 mile trip down the Mississippi River. Feelings of excitement course through my veins. The pre-trip preparations are nearly complete. Brian and I have been staring at maps for the last few days, speaking with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources river experts and learning as much as we can about the challenges that face us in the first 60 miles of the river. Our first three days of paddling from Lake Itasca to Bemidji are thick with cattails, braiding channels, and very little current to help guide our way. I'm hoping the cool weather we've been having will hold so the bugs won't be quite as treacherous and the water levels will stay a little higher; but it will unfold as it does, and we will adapt accordingly.

 

For the nitty details of what we've been up to, we left Sausalito in the wee hours of the morning to catch a 4am airporter, slept on two flights and arrived in Minneapolis. Did you know that in the Denver airport the bathrooms double as Tornado Bunkers? And swimming pools in Minnesota tend to be round not rectangular?

 

In Minneapolis we were hosted by the Melby's, Gordon and Betty, and were overwhelmed by their hospitality. Gordon took us all around the area. We saw the Mall of America, stopped at DNR headquarters to get maps, got our first glance at the Mississippi, and most importantly were introduced to the Auxillary Coast Guard. The President of the first Flotilla, Dennis, took time to go over maps, safety protocol on the river, and allowed Brian and I to introduce ourselves and our trip with What About Blue to the members at their monthly meeting. Everyone was more then welcoming and we've found that's a bit of trend around here.

 

Thank you to the Melby's, the Nelson's, and everyone who has opened their hands so far.

 

Our bus ride to Bemidji was long, and it's hard to imagine that it will take a month to travel by kayak the distance traveled in less then 7 hours by road but it should be a beautiful journey. The lakes and surrounding greenary are magnificent (even with Minnesota in a drought). And today we watched a play at the local art festival all about history and importance of water in this area. It was very appropos for the beginning of our trip.

 

But enough writing, it's time to start paddling! While the unknowns of this trip are bountious, for myself, for the group, for the journey, I am eagerly anticipating tomorrow and the next day and the next....

 

See you on the river!

 

(check out some photos from the last few days as well in the photos section)

 

 

The first phase of the next phase

With my trusty workhorse of a Subaru fully loaded the first part of my journey has officially begun. I have started my migration route by packing up shop in Los Angeles and traveling North to the Bay Area for a brief layover before guiding some river trips in Oregon and California before heading to the Mississippi.

Driving North on I-5 from LA to San Francisco yesterday I followed along side the extensive canal system that transports water from Northern California to the Southern part of the state. This man made “river” not only allows us “southerners” to stay hydrated, but it helps to feed a nation by irrigating most of the crops along the way.

Along my drive, I was struck by just how extensive our irrigation systems must be in order to supply all the populations that have sprung up in areas without access to fresh water with that very water. I pondered just how much water is being siphoned from these rivers so that some, like the Colorado are unable to even make it to the Ocean before drying up.

The most thought provoking part of the journey was surrounding a campaign from the Farmers about water issues. There were sign posted regularly throughout my whole trip that said things like

“Food grows where water flows”

“Farm water feeds the Nation”

“Water is our Future”

The most prevalent of the signs, planted amongst every arid patch of earth I passed
“Congress Created Dustbowl”

Now I don’t know the specific politics behind this particular campaign and I’m not one to join on a bandwagon of finger pointing if I’m not familiar with the facts, but this campaign made me question once more just how complex an issue the water crisis is. I thought of the farmers shutting down fields and losing their livelihoods because of “congress.” I thought of how without these farmers, the supply of food decreases and price increases. I thought of the Environmental Groups lobbying for the endangered animals and habitats along our waterways. But most of all, regardless of the specifics of this case, I was struck by how apparent THE LACK OF WATER is. This was only reinforced later when I passed a giant reservoir and found it alarmingly low. California is entering our third year of drought and our water sources are significantly tapped.

This applies Nationwide though, as we are running out of the water that seems to endlessly flow from our faucets. And for the 1.2 Billion people worldwide without any access to clean water, the issue is a daily challenge, not a mild inconvenience of not being able to water your lawn everyday. It affects everyone; you and me, our neighbors, our friends, our farmers, our politicians...to say we are tied together intricately in a web would be an understatement...

I’m really looking forward to exploring this spidery entanglement with the people and communities we engage with along the Mississippi this summer. I’m keen about educating others and myself about these issues; collecting facts and information; starting discussions, and figuring out what we can do about it, before all of our rivers do in fact run dry.

If you’re looking to start taking ACTION immediately! You can do two simple things...the first thing is to Join our Network at http://www.whataboutblue.org and follow along with our journey. Start discussions by putting in your two cents about what’s going on and how you’re being affected, and find out what we’re learning along the way.

The second thing you can do is donate a “latte for life.” $5 per month for a year goes directly to local, national, and international charities working on the complexities of water in one way shape or form. (The Gulf Restoration Network, The River Network, and an NGO partner of Blue Planet Run are our current beneficiaries).

Until next time!

Immersed in the water once more

Well, I was finally able to get out on the water here in LA on Friday and Saturday to start putting in my hours in a kayak and also to try to play some much needed catch up to Kevin and Brian’s training regimes.

To return to the Marina down here was in and of itself a trip down memory lane. The last time I set foot at the UCLA Marina Aquatic Center was in my early college days, where I would rise at the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning walk a mile to the bus, take the bus for an hour, and then walk another mile to the water, determined to stay in touch with my outdoor roots. Not much has changed at the MAC, except the sets of fresh young faces eagerly learning how to sail, row, and kayak.

To be back in a boat was a bit like returning to a comforting home (which is good considering it will be my abode for 4 months this summer!). There’s something very soothing about being in a boat and paddling, sinking into a rhythm with your stroke, and feeling the water shift beneath you. It was a welcome change to slow my mind back to the present moment, turn off the to do lists and remind myself of the reasons why water is such an integral part of our existence.

As I settled into my paddling groove, my mind wandered back to my college days when, after practicing rescue techniques in the Marina, I would emerge from the water feeling slightly ill, my body fighting off toxins from the surrounding concrete jungle. And that was just one Marina…

The Mississippi River travels through 10 states and “it drains 41% of the Continental United States...including all or parts of 31 states and two Canadian provinces (Wikipedia).” That’s a lot of run off feeding into the Gulf of Mexico. It is no wonder then that the dead zone at the bottom of it all has grown to be the size of New Jersey.

Thinking about these statistics can be overwhelming, and a feeling of hopelessness can easily wash over you as easily as the water itself...but that is a dangerous route to take. My hope is that this trip will provide inspiration for people to start thinking about water in their lives, and what they can do to help now. Everything from turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, to participating in a local river/bay/wetland cleanup day, to donating towards building a well for those who have no access to clean water.

Water is the foundation of our lives, it feeds and nourishes us, it provides relief, and fun filled activities. It connects us all...

I hope you join us this summer, for the love of water!

My next Adventure (What I'm up to and How you can Help!)

So I'm off again! Ready to embark on my next amazing adventure! This one includes a kayak, a 2500 mile long river, and the water crisis.

No time to read? Just check out the campaign video I helped put together.

http://www.kyte.tv/whataboutblue

From July through October, I'm kayaking the length of the Mississippi River to help raise money and awareness for the Global Water Crisis with a non-profit organization called What About Blue? (http://www.whataboutblue.org)

As you may or may not know our planet is running out of water, our rivers are running dry, we're emptying our aquifers, and much of the water we do have is polluted. 6,000 people die a day from lack of access to clean water, and by 2025 1.8 BILLION people will live in regions with little or no water.

By kayaking the Mississippi (the worlds 4th largest water shed, with a Dead Zone at the bottom of it the size of New Jersey), our goal is to create an event large enough to garner much needed attention surrounding water issues. By paddling from Lake Itasca, MN to the Gulf of Mexico, from July-Oct we aim to unite and inspire a nation to take action for a critical cause. Through media coverage, blogs, photos, and a documentary, we hope to spread the net wide.

Sounds great! How can I help!!!?

Step one, JOIN OUR NETWORK! Go to our website http://www.whataboutblue.org and sign up to be a part of our site, it's free, and it will keep you updated with our journey this summer.

Step two, GIVE "A LATTE FOR LIFE." $5 a month for a year will go to local, national, and international charities dealing with preservation and conservation issues, and supplying fresh water to those in need. (We're currently teaming with Blue Planet Run and the River Network).

Step three, INVEST IN THE EXPEDITION! If you have connections to a company or corporation interested in sponsoring a large scale event for an environmental cause with massive media attention, put me in touch! Their name will be associated with all events, promotions, and media coverage. (FOX news is our official media partner).

If you'd like to make a personal lump-sum contribution towards "What About Blue" please let me know, all contributions are tax deductible and checks are payable to What About Blue Inc. and can be sent to 600 1st Ave North, Suite 302 St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

Step four, MORE MEDIA CONNECTIONS! If you have contacts or connections with journalists, newspapers, magazines, blogs, filmmakers that may be interested in writing an article, following our story, or helping with our documentary about the entire journey, let me know!

Step five, START DISCUSSIONS! Start engaging in conversations about these pressing issues, tell people you know about some dedicated folks who are kayaking the Mississippi; send them to our website; forward this email, reach out to your networks and spread the net wide!

Step six, ENJOY SOME WATER! And I don't mean take an extra long shower! Get outside: paddle, surf, sail, or sit by a waterfall and enjoy water for it's pure magnificence.

Step seven, SAY GOODBYE (sniff). I would love to see you before I depart, and will be holding going-away benefits in

LOS ANGELES: this Sat the 23rd at 9pm at Joe's Joint 8771 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. $10 suggested donation, raffle prizes from Patagonia, spa services, gym memberships. The more the merrier!

BAY AREA: Sun June 21st-It's the Equinox, Father's Day, a What About Blue Benefit, AND a going away party all in one! We'll be doing a paddle to the Gate at 1pm from Sea Trek in Sausalito (cost $75-3/4 of which goes to WAB!-Thank you SEA TREK!) and a Barbecue on the beach around 5 (cost $10). More info soon!

Step eight...ok no more steps, but anything you think you can do to help with any of the above would be much appreciated. Including and not limited to sponsorship, proposals, non-profits, funding, documentary filmmaking, donations, gear suggestions, and words of wisdom...:)

Your love and support is a constant inspiration to me, I look forward to hearing from you, and having you follow along on this next adventure with me!

Much love,
Danielle

Danielle Katz
Team Blue Member
Blue, it's the new Green!
Jump onboard today at http://www.whataboutblue.com