Paddling the length of the Mississippi River is a grand adventure
Shawn Hamerlinck on his kayak during the journey. On the side are some of the signatures of the 119 people he met along the way. (Courtesy of Shawn Hamerlinck)
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Mississippi River Basin Ag and Water Desk
This story is a product of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an editorially independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri School of Journalism in partnership with Report For America and funded by the Walton Family Foundation.
“The big alligators will swim about 20 yards from you, parallel to you, and they’ll stay right next to you for about half a mile,” said one paddler. “What they’re trying to do is figure out who’s bigger — you in the kayak, or them.”
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Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk Mississippi River Invasive carp Shawn Hamerlinck Charles Lampman Drift South ExpeditionMississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk
The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk is an independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri, in partnership with Report For America and the Society of Environmental Journalists, funded by the Walton Family Foundation. The Daily Memphian is a member of the reporting network.
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