Within minutes of arriving at the town docks, we have visitors. Our conversations usually follow a typical pattern:
Q: Are you going all the way?
A: No, we aren’t going to New Orleans. But we have limited time on the river, so where we end up is where we end up.
Q: Did you make that yourself?
A: Yes, with the help of lots of friends.
Q: Where are you coming from?
A: Well, we are from California, but we launched in Minnesota.
Q: Really? How did you get it here?
A: We towed it here.
Q: [shakes head in disbelief] What you got under there? Pontoons?
A: It’s an actual wooden-hulled barge-bottom flatboat with fiberglass over plywood.
Q: I love your rig, man. It’s awesome.
A: Thanks.
Q: Wow, I’ve always dreamed of doing that, just floating down the river.
A: You totally should.
