Kim Friederick and her dog, Maya, began a 2000 mile journey on July 13th when she eased her small boat into Lake Itasca, Minnesota where the headwaters of the Mississippi River begins and her journey ending down two rivers almost to the Gulf of America. Kim and Maya were welcoming and kind by people living near the banks of the river throughout her journey including from Minnesota to Ciro, Illinois, Vicksburg Mississippi and finally reaching the Old River lock and dam structure located in the vicinity of Lettsworth, La. It is there where she entered the Atchafalaya River.
Once in the Atchafalaya she would eventually meet up with Vaughn Goueau, a “river angel” who resides in Melville and is acutley aware of the river. She arrived in Melville on a cold and rainy day, the first real cold spell of the year in St. Landry Parish that would last for at least three days, She paddled up to Goudeau who had just arrived on the river bank to do some fishing. Knowing the weather would remain cold and rainy Goudeau offered Kim a place to stay for two days and assisted her in getting supplies for the rest of her journey. Kim mainly exists on beef jerky and granola bars so having hot meals for two days was a welcomed treat. Once dthe weather cleared Goudeau helped load her boat with supplies and got her back on the river on to her next destination, Burns Point Park near Franklin, La. Kim had heard of others taking this journey and decided to do it also dedicating the trip to her grandmother, who passed away from caner, and out of respect for others who had lost loved ones.
There were a few snags along the way such as her boat springing a couple of leaks which she took care of and Maya getting bit by an Otter on one of their rest stops along the river bank. “Maya would chase squirrels, ducks and other wild animals during our rest stops,” Kim said. Photos and text courtesy of Vaughn Goudeau Music
