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During my trip, I updated my location with a special GPS that allowed people to know where I was camped.
To see my campsites, click on the link below. Clicking on the blue circles will give you more information about each campsite. (It may take a few seconds to load. Zoom out to see all my campsites. You may also have to click on "View All Tracks" in the top right hand corner of the map.) https://share.delorme.com About the Rivers
-The Frenchman River runs south out of Saskatchewan’s Cypress Hills through prairie grasslands into Montana where it is known as Frenchman Creek. Once in Big Sky Country, the Frenchman meets the Milk River near the town of Saco. The Frenchman is very unique because it’s one of the few Western Canadian rivers that doesn’t drain towards Hudson’s Bay or the Arctic Watershed. Instead, it merges into the Gulf of Mexico. In the early 1800s, the Frenchman was the northern border of Louisiana. -The Milk gets its name from the colour of its water, which is like tea with milk. The chalky-brown Milk River empties into the Missouri River in Montana. In Alberta, the Milk courses through rugged badlands and past ancient Native rock art carved into its sandstone cliffs. In Montana, it meanders through wide valleys amidst dense cottonwood groves. -The Missouri River drains most of the central United States as well as the southern portions of Alberta and Saskatchewan. It’s known for the impressive Missouri Breaks, which are its steep and ruggedly beautiful valley walls. The Missouri flows through eight states before reaching the confluence of the Mississippi in St. Louis.
-Immortalized in songs and novels, the Mississippi is one of the world’s great rivers. It brings to mind images of paddle wheelers, catfish and Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The Mississippi runs through the city of New Orleans which is the home of Mardi Gras as well as many rich cultural traditions. Shortly beyond New Orleans, the freshwater Mississippi mixes into the salty Gulf of Mexico. Together, the Missouri and the Mississippi form the fourth longest river system in the world.
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Starting in Eastend, Saskatchewan, I launched my canoe into the Frenchman River. The Frenchman took me across the Canada/US border into Montana and then carried me into the Milk River. I followed the Milk River until it joined the Missouri. A substantial part of my 3300-mile journey took place on the Missouri River. I canoed the Missouri's waters until they met the Mighty Mississippi near St. Louis. From there, I headed south on the Mississippi until I reached New Orleans, Louisiana where I spread my uncle's ashes.
For more information, click on A and B. The map is interactive. You can zoom in and out or change the settings. |
One day, I heard a song on the radio about canoeing from Alberta to New Orleans. I wrote the singer, Edmonton's Jey Witten, and here is his response:
"Thanks for the email! I checked out your website and your trip is very impressive. I went to New Orleans via Amtrak in 2011 and when I discovered there was a water route from Alberta, I was inspired to write the song."
To learn more about Jey, go to www.jeremywitten.com.
"Thanks for the email! I checked out your website and your trip is very impressive. I went to New Orleans via Amtrak in 2011 and when I discovered there was a water route from Alberta, I was inspired to write the song."
To learn more about Jey, go to www.jeremywitten.com.
