The Canoe Trip Home Page



Darrol Gasawski, recently retired from Union Pacific in Omaha, Nebraska, is attempting to float the Missouri River from Omaha to St. Charles (MO). This web page is a crude attempt to document his progress and thoughts during his adventure

Travel Log
Departed NP Dodge Park, Omaha Nebraska, June 5th, 2005 (Pics) (Aerial) N41 21.40 -- W95 57.06 -- Milemarker 628.5
Day 1 (Sunday, June 5th): 20 miles to near Long's Landing State Park in Iowa (Pics) (Map) (Aerial) N41 10.891 -- W95 50.817 Stopped for a few cold ones at Anchor Inn and Rick's before really getting underway
Day 2 (Monday, June 6th): 20 miles to just South of the Hwy 34 bridge in Iowa (Pics) (Map) (Aerial) N40 58.982 -- W95 49.918 I was passed by my first barge today, and am surprised that there haven't been any gravel bars suitable for camping thus far on the trip. Have had to climb up into the weeds both nights.
Day 3 (Tuesday, June 7th): 24 miles to just North of Nebraska City, NE (Pics) (Map) (Aerial) N40 42.445 -- W95 51.645 -- Milemarker 564.7 The river apparently is really high as I still haven't seen a campable gravel bar, another night camping in the weeds. Plus, my ice is all gone, so I'll have to drink the rest my beer this evening before it gets warm. It's going to be a long time till I get resupplied on Friday night
Day 4 (Wednesday, June 8th): 25 miles, camping about a mile East South East of Peru, NE (Pics) (Map) N40 27.806 -- W95 40.969 -- Milemarker 540.4 Camping in Missouri!!!! Finally found a sand bar tonight, really more of a mud bar, but it still beats camping in the weeds A beer would sure be good, is it Friday yet?
Day 5 (Thursday, June 9th): 10 miles, camping at Langdon Bend Public Access in Missouri (Pics) (Map) N40 20.337 -- W95 37.292 -- Milemarker 530.6 Almost a real campsite today, no weeds. The area is about 4 miles South of Brownville, NE, where earlier in the day I stopped and walked into town. There I was able to coerce a dock worker into charging my phone in her car, but more importantly, I was able to buy some ice and beer Had a rather severe thunderstorm roll through during the night, lot's of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning
Day 6 (Friday, June 10th): 18 miles, camping 6 miles WNW of Craig, MO (Pics) (Map) Life of luxury tonight! A kind landowner was nice enough to let me stay in his cabin tonight, complete with flush toilet, hot water shower, air conditioning, and satellite TV Editors note: He seemed in very good spirits this evening, but was a little uncomfortable with how high the river is and the prospect of spending the next 3 weeks dodging floating debris and sleeping in the weeds
Day 7 (Saturday, June 11th): 26 miles, camping 2 miles SSW of White Cloud, NE (Pics) (Map) N39 57.386 -- W95 15.446 -- Milemarker 485.8 Back to reality: Floated in and out of rain today, and had to camp in the weeds tonight. Because of all the rain, the river is so high that all gravel bars seem to have disappeared.
Day 8 (Sunday, June 12th): 21 miles, camping 2 miles ESE of Nodaway, MO (Pics) (Map) N39 53.89 -- W94 59.84 -- Milemarker 464.6 Another night of weeds and rain. Should be able to make it completely through the St. Joseph, MO area tomorrow.
Day 9 (Monday, June 13th): 27 miles, camping at the Gentle Breeze Boat Ramp in Missouri (Pics) (Map) N39 41.471 -- W94 58.038 -- Milemarker 438.3 Made it through the St. Joseph, MO area, but it was a tough day: A ferocious head wind most of the day was kicking up 1 foot waves with whitecaps. When I docked at the boat ramp I had several people come up and talk to me about the trip. A few even offered me beer, which was good because my ice is mostly gone. Tomorrow I should be about a 1/3 done, and at this pace I'll get to St. Charles around July 4th.
Day 10 (Tuesday, June 14th): 40 miles, camping at Riverfront Park in Leavenworth (Pics) (Map) N39 19.799 -- W94 54.633 -- Milemarker 397.3 Originally planned to blow through Atchison. Instead, stopped off and spent a couple of hours there. Visited with a couple of fellow floaters (speedboat) from Leavenworth. They clued me into the Riverfront Park Campground. It is in Leavenworth and has hot showers and picnic tables. Able to relax and write. Took two showers. One with clothes on and one without. Two birds with one stone. The river is going down some but it will be some time before the sand bars dry off. Editors note: We're trying a new map format taken from topozone.com. We think it looks more appropriate for the wild canoe trip.
Day 11 (Wednesday, June 15th): 23 miles, in the weeds just short of Kansas City and Interstate 635. (Pics) (Map) N39 09.591 -- W94 39.515 -- Milemarker 376 Departed Atchison at around 10:30 am. Average speed for the day was 4.4 mph. The water is going down but is not necessarily a blessing. Now I have to wade through mud to get up onto the bank. Word has it that the water is close to flood stage downstream from here. Quote for the day: "The floating is great! The camping sucks!" Will try to get past Kansas City tomorrow and find a camping spot away from the city.
Day 12 (Thursday, June 16th): 30 miles, camped just west of Missouri City. (Pics) (Map) N39 14.097 -- W94 18.100 -- Milemarker 345 Departed Kansas City at 6:55 am. Out of water at 3:45 pm. Average speed for the day was 3.9 mph. Camping in luxury on an actual sand bar about 6 ft. above the river. Don't know where it came from but not complaining. Took advantage of the opportunity to clean up the canoe and contents. Some ATVs racing around nearby but out of sight. Probably no camp fire until possibly morning for breakfast. Quote for the day: "Sand bar, ahhh!!" Planning to pass the halfway point tomorrow and reach Lexington to meet Barb for some R&R. Editors note: We are hoping to get another batch of pictures after this weekend. Assuming we get them, look for them early next week. We will try to distribute them backwards to the appropriate dates.
Day 13-14 (Friday/Saturday, June 17th-18th): 29 miles, Lexington Motel. (Pics) (Map) N39 09.893 -- W93 52.937 -- Milemarker 316.4 In the water at 7:50 am. Out at 4:45 pm. Average speed - 3.9 mph. Passed the halfway point today. This is a weekend of luxury in Lexington, MO. Barb met me here and we are relaxing in a motel for the weekend. Visited the Battle of Lexington Park. Also, Fort Osage by Sibley, MO. And other miscellaneous fun stuff. Also received an unexpected visit and case of beer from Terry Nadler, an old U.P. person who happened to be in the area. Quote for the weekend: "The indoor plumbing was great!!"
Day 15 (Sunday, June 19th): 23 miles, camped at the Waverly, MO boat ramp. (Pics) (Map) N39 12.796 -- W93 30.999 -- Milemarker 293.2 In the water at 11:55 am. Out at 6:00 pm. Average speed - 3.9 mph. Talked to a bridge destruction crew here that was tearing down an old bridge. Very interesting stuff. A local fellow went into town to get me a couple bags of ice. Came back with ice, beer, snacks, etc. Wouldn't let me pay. Quote for the day: "Breaking news! - Old U.P. building soon to be imploded - amazing what you can learn on the river!"
Day 16 (Monday, June 20th): 30 miles, camped on a small sand bar. (Pics) (Map) N39 19.469 -- W93 14.524 -- Milemarker 263.5 In the water at 7:20 am. Out at 3:45 pm. Average speed - 4.1 mph. Near Miami, MO about a half mile upstream from the bridge. My GPS miles is 368 and mile marker miles is 364 ... So I've now wandered four extra miles. Just an observation. Fairly uneventful day. I don't feel like cooking so I think I'll just eat some bagel chips and beer complements of my friend from yesterday.
Day 17 (Tuesday, June 21st): 37.7 miles, camped at Glasgow, MO City Park. (Pics) (Map) N39 13.175 -- W92 50.928 -- Milemarker 226.1 In the water at 5:10 am. Out at around 12:45 pm. Average speed - 5.1 mph. Lots of miles today. Higher than normal speed today due to paddling a lot in order to make the miles and get out of the hot sun. Camped at the next bridge crossing point in Glasgow, MO. The park has no trees ... the sun is brutal!! No cell phone coverage, so had to walk into town and use a land line. Town doesn't seem to be too vibrant. Editors note: The information received was second hand from Barb. Notice the couple of question marks above. However, it should be pretty accurate since I found the park on the topo map and was able to get the coordinates. But we don't know how long he was on the water or his speed. Editors note 2: The information above is now totally accurate as Darrol is back in cell range.
Day 18 (Wednesday, June 22nd): 41 miles, camped on sand bar just short of the I70 bridge past Boonville. (Pics) (Map) (Aerial) N38 57.758 -- W92 33.042 -- Milemarker 185.5 In the water at 5:25 am. Out at around 4:30 pm. Average speed - 4.7 mph. Wanted to get this far today to have a good opportunity for bluff photos with sun angle, etc. Stopped for a couple of hours today at Franklin Island and took a nap. The sand bar today is high and dry at about 8-10 feet out of the water.
Day 19 (Thursday, June 23rd): 42 miles, staying at Jim Low's house somewhere in Jefferson City (Pics) (More Pics) (Even More Pics) (Map) N38 35.362 -- W92 10.750 -- Milemarker 143.9 In the water at 5:15 am. Out at 2:15 pm. Average speed - 4.8 mph. Had a suprise visit from Gary Halbe and Anita Selley today at the Jeff City boat ramp. Am staying the night at Jim Low's house. He is a writer for the Missouri Conservationist. He may be featuring an article about the trip in the magazine. Given the mileage that is left, I should be finished sometime next week. Whew!!
Day 20 (Friday, June 24th): 51 miles. On Gilligan's / Darrol's Island. (Pics) (Map) N38 41.963 -- W91 20.897 -- Milemarker 93 In the water at 6:00 am. Out at 6:40 pm. Average speed - 4.8 mph. Stopped at the boat ramp in Hermann, MO with the intent of camping there. Got some ice and beer. Some locals told me of the island just downstream from Hermann and so here I am and glad! This is a great location!! Lots of sand and disconnected from either shore. Quote for the day: "I decided that I was going to finish this float come hell or high water. I've had lots of high water. And now the sun and heat are pure hell. Now I'm going to finish!"
Day 21 (Saturday, June 25th): 44 miles. Weldon Spring boat ramp. (Pics) (Map) N38 39.408 -- W90 44.090 -- Milemarker 48.5 In the water at 5:00 am. Out at 1:30 pm. Average speed - 5.2 mph. Nothing special to report today. Looking forward to the last push tomorrow. The plans are to arrive at the boat ramp in St. Charles between 1 and 2 pm
Day 22 (Sunday, June 26th): 21 miles. Final take out at Blanchet Boat Ramp in St. Charles. (Pics) (Map) N38 47.579 -- W90 28.413 -- Milemarker 27 In the water at 8:15 am. Out at 1:20 pm. Average speed - 4.6 mph. Finally!! ... Arrived at the Blanchet boat ramp to a small welcoming committee.
Total distance of about 600 miles: 600 miles down, 0 to go

The first half of the journey The second half of the journey

Total Visitors:

Please send comments or suggestions to webmaster@joineronline.org

Last Updated 7/20/2005