SITE IS MOVING!

Richard's adventure is being moved to a new site located at http://www.riverventure.org/journal.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Riverventure

Departure

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Tomorrow is the big day!

Well, tomorrow is the big day. At 9 AM, I push my canoe into the Broad River at the N.C 150 Bridge and begin my journey downstream to the Atlantic Ocean. It's taken a lot of preparation, planning, and stress just to get to this point, and now I am just looking forward to a relaxing boat ride. Seriously, my primary emotion tomorrow will be relief as I finally put the oar in the water for the first time.

Last night I mapped every mile of the rivers and lakes I will be traversing on my map software, including all the twists and turns, and the exact distance I measured is 270 miles. Of those many miles, I have personally seen or experienced close to zero. This is a real exploration for me and I hope you get that same sensation of discovery as you follow me here.

One way we can truly share this experience together is by having you take advantage of the interactive features of this site. Even though I may be out on a remote river or lake, you can still ask questions of me and my trip by leaving a comment. I will answer as soon as possible through the site. If you have any additional information about a feature or place I have talked about or will eventually travel through, by all means, let us all know about it!

See you on the river!

Why?

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Introduction to Richard Bernabe's Riverventure Journal.

“The idea was hatched on Christmas Eve, 2006. Without much forethought, I boldly announced to my family and friends that I would paddle across the state of South Carolina in my old red canoe – from the North Carolina state line in the Piedmont all the way to the ocean. After spending the next several weeks convincing these same people that I was indeed sane, I began the research and planning that would make my very own “Riverventure” a reality.

As an outdoor photographer, writer, and adventure traveler, I have made countless trips into the wilderness. The joy of discovery, the opportunity to see a part of the landscape few have seen, and the challenge itself continue to send me back. This will easily be my most ambitious expedition yet!

The most frequently asked (and obvious) question is, “Why?” I don’t have one answer that fully explains all of my motives. The closest explanation might be one borrowed from Teddy Roosevelt before his expedition on the River of Doubt in the Amazon in 1913.

'It’s my last chance to be a boy again.'”

What does one bring on a one month long adventure down 250 miles of river? Richard's Equipment List

Want to see Richard's route? Bernabe Route


Ports of Call:

Before fiberglass and aluminum, wooden canoes were one of the few options for a trip like Richard's. Want to know about building a wooden canoe? Knowitall's A Natural State has the scoop! View videos at:
A Natural State.

The trip begins September 6th!

Stay tuned...

Richard's photos, video blogs, and field reports will soon populate the site!

The voyage begins September 6th at the border of South Carolina and North Carolina. Richard will travel down the Broad and Congaree Rivers, through lakes Marion and Moultrie, out the Tailrace Canal and into the Cooper River. If you see a small canoe amidst the enormous barges of the Charleston Harbor in early October, that may very well be Richard on the last leg of his trip!