While crossing the Fort Madison bridge for the sixth time today (we go back and forth all day on one road for interviews, more running footage, or whatever most of the day) I glanced to my right and saw what was an unmistakable Huck Finn-style raft floating near the bridge. I knew exactly who was in there the moment I saw it. A free spirit (or spirits). Somebody who wanted to float the river in what was the most primitive of ways. We pulled around to the adjacent parking lot and I ran to the bank and waved to the skipper of the craft, a young woman trying to manuever into the channel for the drawbridge. She yelled if I could contact the bridge control to raise it for them. I yelled back "Yes, but can I interview you for our documentary first?" And she brought the raft into dock for us. We then spent a good two hours hanging out with Hannah and Lindsey, two twentysomethings who had a vision one morning while road-tripping alongside the Mississippi (we should be floating down this river!) and then made it happen over the next three years. They constructed their raft from salvaged materials (completely recycled) and put-in last June at the start of the river. They have a small motor (for emergencies) and use mostly human power to get down the river when the current is weak.
Their raft is a work-in-progress yet it is almost like a work of art. They've completely made it their own. It's a wonderful example of inventiveness and the pioneer spirit. Like us, they've met hundreds of people who have reached out to them, who they have effected. They told us that almost every other person they speak with says they've had a dream of floating the Mississippi.
Our interview with them was fantastic. They have an idea of what's going on, but not completely. When told that the economy was in the crapper and some people predicted a serious collapse they looked at us blankly: "Right. So...that's no surprise." They also had some interesting theories on what would happen if Obama was elected in November. Personally, I'm so glad I glanced to the right on that bridge, as we got to speak with (yet again) some people doing what they want to do, and really living their dream.
We were sad to see them go, and both Andreas and I admitted to each other a bit of melancholy as they paddled down the glittering water. Maybe it was a desire to throw work on the back stove and raft, boat, run, ride, climb (insert dream here) for six months or a year. So it goes - they paddle, we drive, Marshall and Charlie run.
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