Lori, this is my favorite of all I have read of your work. A deft combination of economic history, male ego, and steamboat travel on the Inland Waterways. By 1856 the two cycle high pressure steam engines were reliable enough they "probably" wouldn't explode. 1832 was a critical date for Ohio R. transportation and you slipped that in quite nicely.
Thanks, @David! The timing of everything seemed too good to pass up 😉 and of course, 1883 was also the year Mark Twain send Life in the Mississippi out into the world so… expect him in the mix somewhere lol
I didn't know about Gardner or his epic canoe journey down the Mississippi. This is the stuff which inspired Eric Severaid to take a similar canoe journey in 1930. Before he became a CBS news reporter, he and a friend canoed from Minneapolis to the Hudson Bay after they graduated from high school and the Minneapolis Star Tribune sponsored their trip. His book is titled CANOEING WITH THE CREE. Such an interesting character you've written about with Gardner.
Another wonderful series for us to follow and immediately conjured up memories of Tom Sawyers stories. I am looking forward to following this epic journey
Somewhere in my mind I have a recollection of a similar river adventure by another set of middle aged men (or one man?)... around the same time period--maybe inspired by Twain? it's driving me nuts, I can't think of who this could be. I will keep reading to see if this story jogs my memory and I can remember who they were and what happened to him/them.
Is this the book/story you’re thinking of? The writer, Dr Charles Neide, and George were friends, and he did a similar bit longer journey the previous year, of which this book is about. Charles was president of the National Canoe Association at the time. He shows up later in the series 😉
Lori, this is my favorite of all I have read of your work. A deft combination of economic history, male ego, and steamboat travel on the Inland Waterways. By 1856 the two cycle high pressure steam engines were reliable enough they "probably" wouldn't explode. 1832 was a critical date for Ohio R. transportation and you slipped that in quite nicely.
Thanks, @David! The timing of everything seemed too good to pass up 😉 and of course, 1883 was also the year Mark Twain send Life in the Mississippi out into the world so… expect him in the mix somewhere lol
Nine years old when he ran away to join a ship’s crew!
I didn't know about Gardner or his epic canoe journey down the Mississippi. This is the stuff which inspired Eric Severaid to take a similar canoe journey in 1930. Before he became a CBS news reporter, he and a friend canoed from Minneapolis to the Hudson Bay after they graduated from high school and the Minneapolis Star Tribune sponsored their trip. His book is titled CANOEING WITH THE CREE. Such an interesting character you've written about with Gardner.
Another wonderful series for us to follow and immediately conjured up memories of Tom Sawyers stories. I am looking forward to following this epic journey
Somewhere in my mind I have a recollection of a similar river adventure by another set of middle aged men (or one man?)... around the same time period--maybe inspired by Twain? it's driving me nuts, I can't think of who this could be. I will keep reading to see if this story jogs my memory and I can remember who they were and what happened to him/them.
Is this the book/story you’re thinking of? The writer, Dr Charles Neide, and George were friends, and he did a similar bit longer journey the previous year, of which this book is about. Charles was president of the National Canoe Association at the time. He shows up later in the series 😉
https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/CANOE-AURORA-CRUISE-ADIRONDACKS-GULF-Neide/22885221963/bd
not ringing a bell. I will figure it out!