“When you are in a kayak, you are like a little toothpick at the hands of Mother Nature.”
This was the analogy used by James Bauer to emphasise the enormity of the challenge facing his brother when he took on the Mississippi River.
Randy Bauer’s incredible kayaking journey on the longest river in North America is brilliantly told in a newly relaunched book, entitled “Kayaking the Great Circle Trilogy: Down the Mississippi River, Around the Intercoastal Waterways and Across the Great Lakes”.
It’s a little over 50 years since Randy travelled more than 7,500 miles in the space of two years to complete his Mississippi mission but this book ensures his story can continue to live on and inspire other adventurous paddlers.
Randy’s story is in his own words with the help of James who edited the book following his brother’s death at the age of just 58 in 2007.
“It's a nice legacy to my brother which people can enjoy,” James told the ICF.
As James writes in the book’s summary, Randy’s story “brings to the forefront the resiliency, tenacity and goodness that exists in us all, as well as the quiet voice ever present in the back of our minds that entices us toward adventure”.
Randy’s quiet voice to take on such a mammoth challenge in a kayak grew louder while he was serving in the United States Military during the Vietnam War in the early 1970s.
“His motivation was planning this journey, it kept him sane,” said James.
“He had a stressful job as he was a nuclear arms expert stationed in Germany.
“He was always looking for an outdoor adventure. Kayaking and canoeing was where he found nature spiritually.”
It wasn’t long after he returned home from his military service that he launched his quest to paddle the Mississippi River.
On September 8, 1974, Randy teamed up with two of his friends, Jerry Mimback and Tom Anderson, as they took to the waters of Lake Itasca in Minnesota where the Mississippi River begins.
It was the start of an epic adventure that lasted over two years with Randy and Jerry staying the course after Tom dropped out when they reached New Orleans.
During the trip down the Mississippi River, Randy encountered frightening reptiles including rattlesnakes as well as blood-sucking insects, known as No See Ums, that cause red welts.
He also battled against winds strong enough to sink a ship.
“There were so many dangers,” said James.
“One of the biggest challenges was the Intercoastal Waterways.
“If the wind is going against you that can really be the most terrifying thing to happen.
“When you are in a kayak, you are like a little toothpick at the hands of Mother Nature.
“In the end, it took two years to complete it.
“They had a layover in November 1975 when they reached Lake Superior and faced the same storm that sank the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.
“They had to park their kayaks and layover until the spring.”
For all the troubles that were endured, they were countered by the fantastic people Randy met along the way as he kayaked the five Great Lakes of North America – Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario.
“He had to make stops for supplies, but he was always amazed by how many people he met who were telling him to stay and share their food,” said James.
On August 19, 1976, the mission was completed.
Many decades have since passed but Randy’s boat remains sporting the battle scars from this remarkable trip.
“When we cleaned out his estate underneath the storage area, I pulled out the kayak,” said James.
“It was a cruising kayak, fabric covered.
“There were over 200 patches in the bottom of this kayak from this trip.
“Inside, we found a sketch of the kayak and where everything went, so supplies were there, clothing was here and extra paddles were there.
“I thought I would just have a Viking funeral for it, so I’ll burn it at the lake but when I went to the local historical society and told them the story, they said they would love to have it.
“Recently we had the relaunch of his book where we were able to put his kayak out on display and do a little tribute to him.
“It’s a story for people that love an adventure.”
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