I have read both Blue Highways and River Horse. Liked both books, using a road atlas to trace the journeys as i read each chapter. I know enough about writing to be dangerous, so I can't make any comments as to if it is good or bad writing. For me, the value of these books was following the journey and looking forward to making similar treks (both by boat and RV) when I retire.
"River Horse"
- Thread starter Barry Rietz
- Start date
RogerJuntunen
New member
The feel of River Horse is of a guy who pretends he is a boater getting into situations he should not be in, and somehow trying to make himself look brave and competent. He said he came down the Snake in Idaho if I remember right. Well I live on the Snake River and have been active in canoe clubs and with the white water community. What about the waterfalls, and what about Hells Canyon? And what about the Murtaugh stretch and many more - too many to mention. I think Moon and his boat were trailering 98 % of this. If he was on the water I would have heard about it. Anyway, he is a guy trying to sell a book, which I understand, but I think the book and writing style is off the mark. Roger
journey on
New member
Roger, I thought about coming down the Snake and Columbia in Journey On. After looking at it, my conclusion was that the Snake was either impassable or dammed and essentially a pond.
I also beleive that Lewis and Clark came to the impassable conclusion for the first part of the Snake.
Do you have a different opinion? I've only driven by it on the highway. Did spend a couple of days at Clarkston, watching the grain barges go through.
Boris
I also beleive that Lewis and Clark came to the impassable conclusion for the first part of the Snake.
Do you have a different opinion? I've only driven by it on the highway. Did spend a couple of days at Clarkston, watching the grain barges go through.
Boris
WARNING -- HYJACK IN PROGRESS
I was at the wash rack in Port Townsend today, minding my own business, cleaning the boat and ------ guess what? Behind me I hear, "Hey, I used to have a C-Dory, How do you like yours"
Well, you know where that goes.
Applicable point here is, He took his 22 Cruiser from where the Snake and Columbia Rivers diverge, up to Lewiston Clarkston (Washington/Idaho boarder.) Up through the locks, and back. And up past Lewiston a ways to Grey's Bar, I think he said. I have also been on that section of the Snake, in my Montgomery 15 sail boat. Mostly pools and locks and big tug and barges. Above that, it would be really scary in a prop driven outboard. I have been through Hells Canyon, but that was on a jet sled, and is a whole different ride.
I never go that far in River Horse. If I had, maybe I would have liked it better. Some day I will try again. Mean time it keeps m,y other 2 books on the shelf from rubbing together :lol:
Now back to the regular programming.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
PS From Jay and Jolee
Jay, we are glad too. We would all have missed out on a lot.
HH
I was at the wash rack in Port Townsend today, minding my own business, cleaning the boat and ------ guess what? Behind me I hear, "Hey, I used to have a C-Dory, How do you like yours"
Well, you know where that goes.
Applicable point here is, He took his 22 Cruiser from where the Snake and Columbia Rivers diverge, up to Lewiston Clarkston (Washington/Idaho boarder.) Up through the locks, and back. And up past Lewiston a ways to Grey's Bar, I think he said. I have also been on that section of the Snake, in my Montgomery 15 sail boat. Mostly pools and locks and big tug and barges. Above that, it would be really scary in a prop driven outboard. I have been through Hells Canyon, but that was on a jet sled, and is a whole different ride.
I never go that far in River Horse. If I had, maybe I would have liked it better. Some day I will try again. Mean time it keeps m,y other 2 books on the shelf from rubbing together :lol:
Now back to the regular programming.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
PS From Jay and Jolee
Jay, we are glad too. We would all have missed out on a lot.
HH
Chuckpacific
New member
I’ve read quite a few books about boat trips and invariably they end up being about that author’s reflections on life. Not every author is a heroic boat-savvy captain. In fact the more flawed the writer the more interesting the tale. The most disappointing reads are those in which too much planning or preparation minimizes the unexpected.
The best part of River Horse for me was about doing the undammed parts of the upper Missouri River. From navigation, resupply and maintenance standpoints they stand out as the most challenging.
The best part of River Horse for me was about doing the undammed parts of the upper Missouri River. From navigation, resupply and maintenance standpoints they stand out as the most challenging.
journey on
New member
OK, Hardee, where is Greys Bar? I found Greys River, but that's above a bunch of reservoirs. So how far up the Snake did that darn hijacker go?
You know, I thought getting a boat (or several) across the USA must have been a great experience, and I enjoyed the description. Also enjoyed reading about Lewis and Clark, sent out by Thomas Jefferson.
Boris
You know, I thought getting a boat (or several) across the USA must have been a great experience, and I enjoyed the description. Also enjoyed reading about Lewis and Clark, sent out by Thomas Jefferson.
Boris
Boris,
I don't know for sure, I believe it was only a few river miles, maybe 4-5 river miles, if that far. I remember going past a gravel bar, up river a ways but we were on the jet sled and it was back when I was in college. (late 70's) so memory is a bit foggy.
I just recognized the name when he mentioned it.
Harvey
SleepyC:moon
I don't know for sure, I believe it was only a few river miles, maybe 4-5 river miles, if that far. I remember going past a gravel bar, up river a ways but we were on the jet sled and it was back when I was in college. (late 70's) so memory is a bit foggy.
I just recognized the name when he mentioned it.
Harvey
SleepyC:moon
El and Bill
New member
We paddled a double kayak down the Upper Missouri for 2 ½ months -- marvelous trip. Had a sail for the lakes and camped ashore at night. Then took our c-d down the lower Missouri some years later. A fine cruise.
Also came down the Columbia from headwater lakes in BC to the ocean. Another great cruising river.
Also came down the Columbia from headwater lakes in BC to the ocean. Another great cruising river.
Our first 'River Horse' book was a gift from one of our customers back in 2000. He'd been to our shop several times and noticed our 1985 C-Dory which we kept parked in the chain-linked compound at the back of our property.
I (Joe) tried to read 'River Horse' two or three times and never got beyond the second chapter. Some years passed and after a short time in retirement I decided I would make it through that book from cover to cover---AND I DID! I do agree with Pat and some of you that it is a hard read. So just to be ornery and test some of our shipmates = C-Brats, Ruthie and I bought and have given away at least ten copies. Some at the Bellingham CBGTs, a couple were donated at one of Barry & Patti's earlier FH CBGT's. Ruthie likes to shop for these 'River Horse' books so the blame falls on her....
Ruthie's story: I'd never heard of 'River Horse' until this guy came into the shop with the book. He was so excited because he said he'd heard that a C-Dory was mentioned in the book and he was sure we'd enjoy it. We thought how nice is that! A brand new book! What a nice gift! That very night when we got home I started to read it, only got as far as page 3 and that was it for me! I've read 'Gone With the Wind' at least twice in my life time (once when I was fifteen), even 'Exodus' and the 'Grapes of Wrath'! I could not get into 'River Horse'
We currently have two copies of 'River Horse' of which one was supposed to go with us to the 2014 FH CBGT but in a senior moment I didn't remember to take it with us. So maybe at the next CBGT we attend, someone will be the new owner of a copy of 'River Horse'
Ruth and Joe, C-Brats #22
R-MATEY
I (Joe) tried to read 'River Horse' two or three times and never got beyond the second chapter. Some years passed and after a short time in retirement I decided I would make it through that book from cover to cover---AND I DID! I do agree with Pat and some of you that it is a hard read. So just to be ornery and test some of our shipmates = C-Brats, Ruthie and I bought and have given away at least ten copies. Some at the Bellingham CBGTs, a couple were donated at one of Barry & Patti's earlier FH CBGT's. Ruthie likes to shop for these 'River Horse' books so the blame falls on her....
Ruthie's story: I'd never heard of 'River Horse' until this guy came into the shop with the book. He was so excited because he said he'd heard that a C-Dory was mentioned in the book and he was sure we'd enjoy it. We thought how nice is that! A brand new book! What a nice gift! That very night when we got home I started to read it, only got as far as page 3 and that was it for me! I've read 'Gone With the Wind' at least twice in my life time (once when I was fifteen), even 'Exodus' and the 'Grapes of Wrath'! I could not get into 'River Horse'
We currently have two copies of 'River Horse' of which one was supposed to go with us to the 2014 FH CBGT but in a senior moment I didn't remember to take it with us. So maybe at the next CBGT we attend, someone will be the new owner of a copy of 'River Horse'
Ruth and Joe, C-Brats #22
R-MATEY
I read River Horse after hearing it was about taking a 22 clear across the country by water. I finished the book but it was a chore. I got into it and grew frustrated with the author's wilful ignorance, manipulation of others, and foolishness. He did not cross the country by water. He did not even use his 22 for all of the on-water travel, a jet boat as I recall on the snake and...most frustrating to me he hired a boat to cross the Columbia bar. The author himself didn't even make it across the country by water. The boat is/was on display somewhere in the midwest as this great expedition boat. Ego, Ego,Ego...self-promotion. I try to pass it on with no commentary but this thread gives me a chance to express how disappointed I was.
Marco Flamingo
Active member
I read River Horse years before I got a C Dory. I didn't even notice the three syllable words. It wasn't the reason I got into the C Dory idea. It was the couple who boaterhomed in a CD 16 (don't remember the names). The only part of River Horse that I remember is the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. The author kind of zipped through that part. Beth and I are planning to go the other direction in a few days in the Limpet if the river stays low.
MartyP,
Just read in the thread that you were a friend of Micheal Schwerner. Beth and I have boated extensively in Europe and the South Pacific with Rita Bender (Micky's widow). Small world.
Mark
MartyP,
Just read in the thread that you were a friend of Micheal Schwerner. Beth and I have boated extensively in Europe and the South Pacific with Rita Bender (Micky's widow). Small world.
Mark
We, my wife Dotty, Mickey, and I were all members of the Cornell Committee Against Segregation. Dotty and Mickey were in the same class, '61, at the Ag school. They would often study together in Mann library, . The class of '61 donated a stained glass window to Sage Chapel dedicated to the Mississippi Three.
Pat Anderson
New member
A LONG time ago I knew a lawyer named Rita Bender, I THINK mainly domestic relations - same one possibly?Marco Flamingo":3vif9omw said:
Pat Anderson
New member
dotnmarty":21088ifu said:
For those interested, here is the Wikipedia article. While Rita and Mickey were going to Mississippi as civil rights activists, I was still a senior in high school. Here is the Wikipedia entry on Rita. She was, and apparently still is, a fine lawyer. Wow. Marco, at the next CBGT please pull me aside, I would love to hear what you know about the Mississippi Burning murders.
Marco Flamingo
Active member
Bill and Rita Bender still haven't completely retired though now mid to late 70s. My wife was a partner in the law firm before going off to be a judge. Rita is still very much involved in the good fight. The murder of her first husband turned her into the Obi Wan Kenobi of civil rights. The pictures in my photo album on boating the canals in France (2017) was a trip with the Benders.
Mark
Mark