Peter -

Are you gonna invite Old Jim and Tom with you on the raft?

- Pam

-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Krugman [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 10:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: a question from Peter Gray, son of Christopher


In a message dated 1/16/2002 9:51:49 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:




This coming summer, between my senior year in high school and my freshman
year in college, I have a plan brewing. I want to drift down the Mississippi

River on a wooden raft.



Peter,

Not to throw cold water on this idea, but I have to agree with Ralph. How
about a two-day trip canoe trip on a smaller river -- with a stopover at a
public wilderness area? How about an Outward Bound program ... they have
rafting trips. Keewaydin in Vermont has all-summer canoe/hiking trips --
they go for weeks at a time in the Adirondacks. Don't even consider going
alone ... whatever you choose. Stay in contact and take a 2-way radio. What
about shelter in storms? Also imagine that there would be few places to go
ashore, since every blessed inch of this country is now papered with "NO
TRESPASSING"  signs. And.... If you have been watching the Rick Burns series
on Mark Twain, you may have some inkling of the treachery of the Mississippi
currents and the scurrilous characters that hung around the river ... even
in 1858! Besides, isn't building a raft part of the fun? Ask Tom Hanks.

A nice dream. But best it remain a dream.

Sign me,

A Worried Mom