Part history book, part travel book, part natural science and a whole lot of wonderful reminiscences of a place he came to love, John Madson eloquently recounts his years on The Father of Waters. That mighty river which flows from its orgin in northern Minnesota all the way to the Gulf. And more specifically that portion which ends near St. Louis. The Upper Mississippi is encompassed within a broad and beautiful valley created at the end of the last ice age....
Wide river. Big valley.
And what a story it is populated with all sorts of interesting people and places. I grew up on the bluffs lying above the river overlooking the city of St. Paul. Down below were the tracks of several major railroads heading east and west. an airport and many barges busily moving up and down the river. Much later, when I had to give up fly fishing in the southeast (Bluff County) portion of the State, there was a boat in which I spent many happy hours fishing the river and its myriad backwaters.
The walleyed pike. Lots of them in these waters.
Madsons stories can draw you into a great place whether you are familiar with it or not. A place in the past and the present full of enjoyment and wonder.
Troutbirder and sons prepare to jump over the Mississippi at iconic Lake Itasca where the Mississippi begins to wind it way to the sea. 
Lovely series of photos.
ReplyDeleteWell I greet you from the banks of a much smaller, but quite lovely, Mississippi.
ReplyDeleteThis author sounds like he is able to cover a wide territory and do it well.
ReplyDeleteThat must be a beautiful place to live. I grew up in Michigan, but live in Iowa. From your pictures, it looks like you may have a mixture of the good features of both.
ReplyDeleteThis will sound arrogant but thanks to Samuel Clemens and other southern authors, we tend to forget and think the river is all ours. Truthfully, your end, or rather beginning, is so much prettier.
ReplyDeleteJust love that last photo! I guess if you couldn't jump over it maybe you could throw a silver dollar across? ;-)
ReplyDeleteNice set of photos - you look happy when you're fishing!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book! I enjoyed all your old photos, the Headwaters are a wonderful place to visit, I see you have the boys well in hand so they didn't get wet! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good book. We have walked across the Mississippi as well. Sort of a requirement for those living in WI or MN.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting. Place makes such a difference in how we see our world and influences how we think about ourselves and others.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a cool book that might interest my outdoorsy daughter. I love how you illustrated your review with your photos. Nice catch!
ReplyDeleteTroutbirder -- thanks for the mention of this Mississippi book. Rivers hold such history and natural beauty. I believe that the more folks read about our wonderful rivers the more they will respect and care for them. -- barbara
ReplyDeleteLake Pepin... Of Laura Ingalls Wilder?
ReplyDeleteGreat snowy photo! It's been That kind of Winter!
My enjoyment of your review of what seems like an intriguing book was enhanced by the personal photos. Makes me want to travel.
ReplyDeleteMaking note of this book.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up on 80 acres upstream, the Mississippi will always carry a bit of my heart.
I enjoyed the fishing photos, too!