Again, in a small way I’d like to say thank you to an organization that went above and beyond in assisting me. If you’re following regularly, then you’ve heard me talk about the best paddling outfit on the Lower Mississippi, The Quapaw Canoe Company.

I’m not just saying that bc they helped me. Down here everyone in paddling knows about Quapaw. With 3 locations currently (Helena, Clarksdale, and Natchez), and soon to be a 4th (Vicksburg), they are certainly the most extensive.

So say you do want to cross off a Mississippi River trip from your bucket list, but dont have 6 weeks to spare like I did…these are your guys. They have hourly, daily, and weekly rates. They will outfit you with everything you need, even a sleeping bag. Groups up to 25. River guides at all locations that are extremely knowledgeable about the area. You will learn about everything from gators, petrified mud, to how the river was formed–they know these waters.

In fact you may even meet the man who knows the Mississippi better than anyone else alive today, John Ruskey. He is the Mike Jordan of paddling around here and his reputation precedes him at least all the way back up in Indiana.

I cannot thank these bunch of guys enough for the access to their river angel network. Someone is there to help in pretty much every major city from Helena down…and Im sure there are contacts up north too. Through Quapaw I was fed several times, had a couple nights off the river, and met so many amazing people.