Bluffs to Bayous [Paperback]

Byron Curtis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 2003

Bluffs to Bayous is a book about a solo kayak expedition down the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. During his 42-day journey, Byron turns age 39 on 9-11, the day of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. GPS coordinates are given for each campsite along the way. An equipment and supply list of the self-supported trip is added.

Included is an epilogue of the Eye to Eye Expedition. Byron helped to navigate ultra-marathon swimmer Martin Strel of Slovenia down the entire length of the Mississippi River for a world record swim.

This book is great for anyone who loves the river, enjoys adventure travel or may be planning a trip down the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. It's more than just another story. It's an informative chronicle of Byron's journey to the Gulf of Mexico. If you ever wanted to or dreamed about paddling the Mississippi River, Bluffs to Bayous will give you a feeling of what its like.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Byron Curtis is a seasoned kayaker, born in a small town in west central Wisconsin, where his love for paddling began. Besides kayaking over 5,000 miles on the Mississippi River, Byron has paddled as far north as Alaska and as far south as the Yucatan.

Byron is an ACA certified kayak instructor and expedition paddler. His hope is that others will find joy in paddling waters near or far from home.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Great Rivers Printing (April 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974015202
• ISBN-13: 978-0974015200
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,429,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bluffs to Bayous, June 8, 2003

By 

Debra J. Huppert (Hager City, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bluffs to Bayous (Paperback)

Byron Curtis fulfilled a dream by kayaking solo down the Mississippi River starting in Prescott, Wisconsin. After being on the river for one week, Byron learns that terrorists chose his birthday, September 11th to attack the United States East Coast. His descriptions of those he encountered and the challenges the river provided along the way make for entertaining, suspenseful reading. Byron has an adventurous spirit and is thankful for each day. His love for his family and the support they give him is evident throughout the book. His journey is complete when he is reunited with his wife and son at Morgan City, Louisiana 42 days after his journey began. Whether on land or water, it is clear that Byron is a man of integrity and character.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Handy guide, not great reading, March 12, 2006

By 

kjz - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bluffs to Bayous (Paperback)

This book provides an excellent guide to the Mississippi River, and I liked the list of supplies at the end as well as the daily lat/longs indicating his starting locations. The story itself is a quick read, not very deep, but more of a narrative of simple experiences that occurred on the trip.

I would suggest the book for anybody preparing to canoe or kayak the Mississippi, but not for anybody looking to get a deeper meaning of life on the river.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a thought-provoking read, August 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Bluffs to Bayous (Paperback)

This would be a great read for book clubs! The author does a nice job of providing a frank, honest perspective on not only life on the Mississipi, but the personal struggles he faces as well. The narrative style of the journal leaves you peeking around each bend and cautiously navigating through the thick fog right with Curtis. In our fast-paced, rush to get-ahead world, it was refreshing to read about someone who took the time to do something he always wanted to.