One Canadian couple is about to leave everything behind to go on the canoe trip of a lifetime.
Pierre Pepin and Jennifer Gosselin, along with their dog, Jasmine, will set out on June 6, embarking on an expected two-and-half-year paddling project.
During the first two seasons, the trio will explore the populated waterways of the United States, leaving from Quebec City and traveling the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and watersheds. The plan to paddle all year by overwintering in more temperate climates, such as Florida. During the third season they’ll paddle through northern Canada.
“We’re not interested in breaking any speed records,” says Pepin. “That’s been done before. We want to make a connection with people, to encourage them to get involved with the natural world and live simpler lifestyles.”
Sponsored by international service club Kiwanis, the interactive trip will include many stops with local chapters, paddling clubs and youth groups along the way to discuss waterway stewardship.
To get ready for the adventure the couple are selling all of their worldly possessions. “We have only the condo and one car still to sell. Everything else is gone,” says Pepin. He left his job in December and Gosselin will leave hers in April. All of the funds raised from selling their things will go towards funding two and a half years on the water.
No strangers to adventure, in 2010 the couple embarked on a 2,200-kilometer canoe expedition, tracing the route of the voyageurs of the North West Company during the fur trade. The trip garnered a lot of public interest, which Pepin chalks up to people being interested in their unique way of living.
“People are really interested in that lifestyle—that we’re willing to sell everything to go on an adventure,” he says. “The risk seems high and people get nervous about leaving their homes or jobs—but, for us, we cannot stay attached to material things.”
Starting over again is nothing new to the couple. They had to sell everything to embark on their 2010 canoe expedition and Pepin had made a similar decision before a 40,000-kilometer, multi-year motorcycle journey from Quebec City to Tierra del Fuego, on the southern tip of Argentina, in 2002.
The duo plans to update their blog with photos each week and also post daily updates from their InReach messenger. Stay up to date with their trip at www.wildravenadventure.com.
