Page 109 - "Mississippi in the 1st Person" - Michael James Stone (Demo/Free)

Everything along the Mississippi River is about the perception of remote outdoors. The majori-
ty of the time, just past a greenbelt you might not see is usually a road, a highway, a farm of

some semblance of civilization.

This isn’t to say it is not remote in some ways, it’s just not like being in the Outback of Aus-
tralia, or Bush Alaska even many parts of Canada.

For the most part if you can get a cell phone signal, you can get civilization closer than you

think.

HOWEVER WHEN YOU KAYAK IT< IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE VERY REMOTE

It is this “perception” that makes everyone on the River your friend and if they are like you

traveling on the River, you too appear to then as a comrade in arms.

Many lifetime friends are found in the struggle of paddling down the Mississippi and given
joint experiences of overcoming obstacles, they form strong bonds similar to “brothers in
arms” in military, or “partners” in law enforcement.

It used to be called fellowship, this commonality of shared experiences and purpose, but in the
old days like on the Mississippi it used to be what made a community work.

Working together, overcoming the odds. Social media may be a boon to communication but
having similar interests and experiences are what makes media social. So it is on the River

with anyone who paddles. So it is for those who Long Distance Paddle down the Mississippi
River.

There is a common bond.

Excerpt: “Mississippi River in the 1st Person” -Michael James Stone