Author Archives: Andrew

“We’re not going to make it!” screamed Kevin Ferrell over the roaring river as we shot from Upper to Middle Keeney rapids just right of our intended line.  Under a heavy sky and driving rain we desperately tried to move … Continue reading →

After a week of lazily floating down a healthy Greenbrier River, not to mention enjoying the best hospitality West Virginia has to offer, we entered the final and most challenging river of our journey on Saturday, May 12. The New … Continue reading →

In the last week we have kept with our goal of making as few miles as possible each day.  The Greenbrier provided a stark contrast to the Jackson.  Instead of battling up continuous rapids through filthy water alongside I-64, we have … Continue reading →

We arrived in Buchanan in the midst of a cold, driving rain that persisted for the next day and a half.  Our friend Jimmy Lewis opened his home to us and we all enjoyed showers, clean laundry, and sleeping inside … Continue reading →

With Balcony in the rear view the crew is relishing the beauty of Appalachia and taking time to explore relics of The James River and Kanawah Canal.  West of Lynchburg, we are finally in the waters Marshall surveyed in 1812. We spent much … Continue reading →

After a day of rest in Lynchburg we loaded the Mary Marshall onto the trailer for her 23 mile portage around the seven dams that lie between Lynchburg and Snowden, where we would begin the most challenging portion of the … Continue reading →

Last night at nine o’clock an exhausted but excited Marshall crew poled into Lynchburg where we were greeted at the James River Float Company by a dedicated group of friends and family.  Four of the six crew are Lynchburg natives; all eagerly devoured the pot luck meal … Continue reading →

We departed Cartersville early Saturday morning revitalized by dinner and company the night before and a strong cup of coffee in the morning care of Betsy.  Again a headwind made carrying a straight line difficult as we tracked upriver toward Elk … Continue reading →

This morning we woke up with the sun, heated water for oatmeal, cleaned the boat and set off with the ambition to make about twenty miles to Cartersville.  We were motivated by the promise of a hot dinner waiting for us provided … Continue reading →

After writing this post yesterday evening on the river we lost internet before we were able to post. After months of paperwork, long hard hours building and planning we have finally begun our journey.  Yesterday was full of last minute errands, … Continue reading →