After completing the paddle in around 5 months, after paddling through 14 states for almost 4,000 miles, paddlers Joe Zimmerman (above, right) and Nick Caiazza shared their top four highlights via their website, Blackwater Drifters. Check them out:
1) Bismarck Friends– One of our favorite receptions was in Bismarck, North Dakota. We didn’t know where to camp in town, so we pulled over to ask at a restaurant and bar called Captain Freddy’s. As we approached the owner met us and said, “I saw you guys floating past and I was hoping you’d stop. Where the heck are you going with all that gear?” After hearing our story he agreed to let us camp right next to the bar! Thank you to Rick, Lannon, Lindsey, Brie, Meghan and everyone else at Captain Freddy’s for the warm welcome. The next day we met up with a reporter and photographer (Brian and Tom) from the Bismarck Tribune and had a great time telling them about our misadventures and favorite moments.
2) Visiting Fort Union– Just as we crossed the border of Montana and North Dakota, we stopped at Fort Union, an old trading post during the frontier days. Not only did we receive the VIP tour, but we were also treated to fruit cobbler and ribs they had cooked as a team earlier that day!
3) Mud Jumping (below)– The mud was pervasive on the Missouri just after the Yellowstone River confluence, so instead of letting this be one of our lowlights we jumped right in!
Yellowstone River Confluence from BLACKWATER DRIFTERS on Vimeo.
4) Hanging out with Ben and Hannah– Nick’s brother (Ben Caiazza) and Ben’s girlfriend (Hannah Greenberg) drove 23 hours from Portland, Oregon to hang out with us before we started Lake Oahe. The sunflowers, burgers and laughs were a wonderful way to rest up, and Nick was heart-warmed to have his brother support him in such a way.
