Trip Log of Robert Youens

[ifandango]

Just wanted to say thanks to Judy for doing such a fantastic job keeping us up with Robert's journey. Robert is lucky to have you as his sister.
Deborah

[robertyouens]

To those following "The Great Mississippi River Adventure", I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

"Life is like a box of chochlates, you never know what you are going to get", I got a sweet taste of Mid-America that I will never forget and far exceeded my greatest expectation. Around every bend in the river is another wonderful person, place and adventure.

Watching a river grow with each contribution, seeing the amazing wildlife, living in the wilderness, meeting the people the live along the river as well a those adventurous souls that venture out on the river has been a real treat.

It was not my Destiny to make it to New Orleans, it was my fortune to finish the trip safely and return to my family and for that I am thankful.

I appreciate the help and support I recieved by the many people that I met on the river and at the spur of the moment decided to become part of the wonder trip. I will contact each an every one of you by email, mail or phone. Some of the meetings were fleeting, but some will grow into lifelong friendships.

To Deborah, my bride; thank you for your support in living out my dreams. To Rachel, my daughter; you make me proud every day and my greatest adventure is watching you thrive in a challengeing world. To Tom, my brother; I am sorry for missing the Harvest Moon sail boat race, but will be back for many more, thanks for following along. To Ken, my partner for the first 500 miles; the foundation you layed made the rest of the trip possible, how would all of those long portages been possible without you. To Judy, my sister; wow, what can you say about someone that by thier choice has chosen to give of themselves so much. Judy has been with me every "paddle stroke" of the way. Many times my cheer leader, information source, weather girl, confidant, and friend. She listened to me and sorted throught the moans of pain, and moments of sheer extacy reporting to you clearly when I was any thing but.

Please say a prayer for those I believe to still be on the river living thier dreams, Tom (the fellow in a canoe with his dog) who I met in New Madrid, Lindsay and Hannah (the "Adventure Girls" I met in Quincy) headed to New Orleans on thier home made raft, and the unnammed coneist that remained ahead of me by several hundred miles and was headed to New Orleans.

To all I wish a good life and may all of your dreams come true.

Robert Youens

[Lee Schneidermann]

Robert,
Many thanks and best wishes to you and your "support staff". Soak up the warmth of clean sheets and a furnace my friend, you've earn them.
Trips like this take a long time to sink in. Even longer to take root and grow into recognizable foilage in the forest of life.
Your perspective has no doubt changed. I look forward to the coming years of seeing the fruit of this sowing.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Respectfully,

Lee Schneidermann