Ever taken a trip to the Smokey Mountains…from Wisconsin…on a boat?  By car, perhaps, but few have gone via the waterways.  In 1997 on a 24’ pontoon, with a tent on the front and an enclosure on the back, my husband Gene and I camped on the rivers for 75 days and 2700 river miles.  We were river rats.  During this trip to the Smokies, the inland waterways and lakes captured our hearts.

Our log recorded a myriad of sights and sounds: The sun shining and diamonds dancing on the tips of the waves.  Puffy white clouds floating in the huge sea of blue sky.  Wind blowing in our faces.  The noise of the waves lapping and splashing on the pontoons.  The hum of the motor.  The music of Yanni and Alabama.  The fascinating chorus of night sounds on the river.

Our experiences were captivating: Passing thousands of green trees, sloping, grass-covered hills, and limestone bluffs.  Catching an occasional glimpse of the Smokies!  Spotting eagles, Canadian geese, herons, ducks, White Pelicans and a swan!  Approaching bends in the river that continually beckon us -- Come follow me!  Come follow me!  We want to go on and on and on….  There is so much of God’s world to see on the water -- so much that we miss when we travel on land.

Traveling and camping on our pontoon, we encountered so many challenges:

·        Constantly monitoring the ever-changing weather -- the wind and rain, waves, storms and tornados. 

·        The challenge of securely tying to shore or anchoring in a cove -- then sleeping soundly in the constant current. 

·        The challenge of finding gas and oil -- planning accordingly since our 40 gallons of fuel gave us a range of only 80 miles. 

·        The challenge of finding towns for provisions -- carrying supplies on our bikes; keeping a limited onboard food supply, yet creating tasty dishes. 

·        The challenge of navigating with river charts – crossing expansive pools above the locks, exploring coves out of the maintained channel, not running aground or nicking a prop. 

·        The challenge of locking through in a timely manner and finding a suitable anchorage before dusk. 

·        The challenge of the turbulent Mississippi River below St. Louis with tows riling up the water for two miles behind them.

The rivers have been peaceful and prayerful, beautiful and breathtaking, majestic, awe inspiring.  Their waters were refreshing, clean and icy cold, muddy and warm.  We found them curious and amusing, depressing and aggravating, stressful and frightening.  Yet the waterways remain ever-changing and ever-beckoning.  What an adventure! 

We have been boaters for over thirty years, owning a sail canoe, fishing/ski boats, pontoons, a 27’ Sea Ray and currently a 28’ Camano, pocket trawler.  After purchasing the Sea Ray in 1999, we trailered her to ten bodies of water in less than a year from Lake Powell to Lake Champlain.  We were hooked on boating.  We were river rats!

Click on the Great Loop link.  See how we made the jump from River Rats to Loopers.  Learn about the Great Loop and our preparations for cruising the Loop.

Click on the Traveling the Pacific Northwest and Traveling with the Lord links to read about our land travel to the Pacific Northwest, see a list of some of our destinations and read a sample chapter from Jan’s book.