Oct 21 2008
The first miles….
“If we sell you our land, you must remember and teach your children that the rivers are our brothers and yours, and you must henceforth give the rivers the kindness you would give any brother.”
Chief Seattle - 1854
Important Update: I have decided to stop the trip for the winter.
Please go to my new post under the “River Notes” section of the website to read about my decision to stop for the winter and then resume the journey next year when the weather warms up again. Don’t forget to keep checking out the website over the next few months as we complete the narrative up to this point as well as finish editing the video footage that we have shot up till now.
Episode Number Three: Out of the Wetlands, at Long Last!
River Notes
If you look over on the sidebar under categories there’s a new section called “River Notes”. As I get to places with internet access I’ll try to write and let you know how the trip is going, as you eagerly await the video updates. Happy travels!
About Seasick Tours
My name is Karl Palazzolo, and I hope to canoe the Mississippi River during the Fall of 2008.
I hope to canoe from Lake Itasca, Minnesota down to the Gulf of Mexico by Louisiana. It should take around three or four months to complete the trip. I’d really like to get an idea of what life is like along the Mississippi through the people that I meet along the way. I’m looking to find people that will share with me the things they think are interesting about their towns or their lives.
Meet Thomas Malkowicz, project partner and video editor.
Tom is the awesome creative mind behind the videos that you see and my partner on the project. He’s what makes the trip look good. Tom will be doing his best to teach me how to film the adventure and then piece together the footage that I send back into the amazing videos that you’ll be watching. Check out the video section of the site to see his latest work. If you’d like to know more about either of us, feel free to check out our biographies listed on the toolbar to the left.
Piecing together life along the Mississippi
My plan is to bring a video camera and record what it’s like to travel along “the Big Muddy”. Do you wonder how the river changes? Where one camps for the night? What a river lock and dam looks like? Who lives along the river? You can experience all of this vicariously through me and more, without the mosquitoes. Visit the website weekly and download the next video and see it for yourself. Thomas will provide roughly edited video during the trip weekly and then produce beautiful, longer segments as his busy life permit. It’s guerrilla television at its best!
Do you live near the Mississippi? Would you like to show me your town or city?
Just like our friends Lewis and Clark pictured in bronze to the right here, whose expedition would have met with folly were it not for the kindness of the native peoples they met along the way, so mine surely would too. Show me what’s great, unusual, unique or fun about your town or your life. If you wouldn’t mind being on video then please be my guest tourguide. If you are a bit camera shy, but would like to show me some kindness by inviting me in for a meal; or a sofa to spend an evening on; or a shower, it would mean the world to me. Please write to the email address below, and in the subject line include the word “host” and the name of your town or the Mississippi mile marker that you are near.
seasicktours@yahoo.com
Donations
What we want more than anything is to make great videos that really show what it is like to canoe down the Mississippi for people to freely enjoy. So please, enjoy the web site and come visit as often as you wish. Admittedly, the entire expedition is going to be accomplished on a shoestring budget, so if you have any desire to help by donating a couple of dollars, it would mean the world to us. Click on the button below to see how. Thanks!
Hey Uncle!
This looks awesome! You’re gonna see a million cool things along the way…I’m looking forward to some updates.
xox-Lizzie
Looks like Fun! Enjoy yourself.
Hey,
I made a facebook group to publicize your trip.
This sounds really wild. I watched your You Tube bit, and was totally taken in. It was great filming, by the way–looks just like one of those travel shows on the Discovery Channel. Maybe they’ll hire you!
Anyway, good luck! Safe Travels–I’ll be watching!
-Becky
Karl,
Good luck with the trip. My wife and I paddled the river in 2005. Give me a holler if you have any questions.
-John
http://www.sourcetosea.net
Karl, We just heard about your new adventure. We promise our prayers for a safe journey. You are a wild and crazy guy. We love you just the way you are. We will follow your journey along the Mississippi. God Bless and have Loads of Fun!!!!!
Hey Karl! Word of your new adventure has spread to our side of the family! Good luck and have fun!
Karl.
You are the man! Keep livin’ the dream and happy paddling!
Man, these videos are fantastic already! And the music is perfect. I can’t wait to see more. This is gonna be big, I just know it.
Hey Karl! You mind if Ed and I live vicariously through you? We both said, almost in unison, that we’ve always wanted to do this very thing.
I’ll be sure to check this blog for updates. May the force be with you on your journey!
Hey Karl,
Good luck! It sounds like a fantastic adventure. The women at the office at the Meadows are amazed at the thought of it. Safe travels, Beth
Go get ‘em Karl - We’ll be following along from our safe, dry, and relatively bug free home. Have a great time and whenever you get discouraged remember you could be cleaning up after Jeffy!
Karl,
When I took cody out this morning I didn’t expect to see your volvo loaded down, with of all things a canoe with the words seasicktours.com on the side. It was nice seeing you this morning, even if you made me a bit jealous. I spoke to your sister Vicky this evening she asked that I pray for you, I honestly hadn’t thought about that, but I will be happy to pray for you and watch your movies, you and your friends have done an amazing job. God Bless on your journey, your neighbor Jim
KARL! You just left and I wish you happy and safe travels! And keep the camera rolling!
Your fan, JoLee
Hey Karl! When Vickie (my SEA classmate) connected us to your upcoming and ongoing journey my husband and i couldn’t stop smiling!!! What an awesome adventure!!! You will be in our prayers… and we’ll keep tabs from time to time. Make a note: save a couple of those big head carp that will be jumping in your canoe and we’ll see about cookin’ some up when you get to Memphis. Showering here is ok by us…we’ll bring a five-gallon bucket, hehe! Can’t wait to see you! God Bless, b
The water looks so clear! Good to see you got started OK. Hoping for more updates soon! Are you camping for the nights? Where? How are the temperatures, mosquitoes, fish, and river conditions? Good luck!
Hi Karl,
Glad to hear your trip is going well. We were in Bemidji Tues. and Thurs. and we both wondered where and how you were doing. Yep, it did get cold a couple of nites this past week. We had a little frost here at Camp Itasca. Business has slowed, but upcoming week to be nice. I am sure you will enjoy the warmer weather. Tree’s are turning color now and I know the scenery will be great. Take care and keep us posted. God be with you. Friends– Craig and Rosann–Camp Itasca
hey, you are almost home. Oh wait you still have a few more months.
Dave Canoy
I am the sister of Robert Youens, who met you on the big river today (Sunday Sept. 21). He enjoyed meeting you and wanted me to check in with your website. Since we are not nearly as “high-tec” as you, I have to liason for Robert. You can find us on iboattrack.com, then cruisers.
Have Fun …Judy
Karl,
I am soooo jealous! The video and journal is fantastic and it looks like you are on your way and loving it! Keep paddlin, stay dry and we will see you soon!
Andy Voss
Hi Karl, we just said goodbye a couple of hours ago - thanks for staying with us and sharing your stories - we’ll be anxious to hear from you when you land in Mpls. For those checking the website, Karl was doing quite well when he left this morning, 10/19/08 from Royalton, MN and now that his tummy and bear container are full, he’s ready to complete the next week of travel! (Good thing because it’s getting cold!)
I’m always happy to hear of others who are seeking out adventure from the seat of a canoe! This journey will be life changing and worth all the ailments you will have to endure to accomplish your goals. May God bess you in life aswell as in your travels.
Jared Jellison author of “Fighting the Current: There & Back”
Robert Youens called in today and asked me to check and see if you were still coming. He is just pulling out of Hannibal Mo. Said its going to be a great day to paddle.
Karl,
Wow, what an adventure. I just ran across your video’s on YouTube. I wish you the best. Have a safe and awesome run along the Miss. I will be eagerly waiting for the next installment.
Scott (Peoria, IL)
Hi!
We have been checking the site now for updates. Did something happen to you on this trip?
Are you going to show any more video?
We hope you are o.k.
Lilah