A couple of guys from La Tech did this in 2018

'Riverdawgs' brave mighty Mississippi in summer adventure

A boat trip of more than 2,000 miles – with no engine, just paddles and determination – gave two Northwest Louisiana college students the adventure of a lifetime.

Louisiana Tech students Jacob Brister and James Davison kayaked the entire length of the Mississippi River earlier this year.

“It was 2,552 miles to be exact, from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico,” Brister said. “Took us 59 days total. We originally estimated about 60 so we were right on it with 59 days. We left just toward the end of May, all the way through the month of June then finished July 28."

“The ticks and mosquitoes, especially in the first part of the river, were pretty rough. They would hound you pretty good. You would wake up in the middle of the night with a couple of ticks trying to crawl, crawl around you,” he said.

Davison also shared a spiritual take away.

“Just the fact that we got to get up and (the) Lord gave another day to paddle and to breathe, that was enough for me."

Brister also touched on how the accomplishment affected him physically and spiritually.

“The hard part for me was the heat, especially when you got back down here in the South in the latter part of the trip,” he said. “We definitely both are Christians and believe in God, you know we really felt like he had a hand in it the whole trip. You know he was right there with us the whole time and that is what allowed to complete the trip."

The journey pushed the two guys to their bodies’ limit. Food and water were critical.

“We ate anything that would not eat us first, so whether that was canned beans or tortillas, or summer sausage, or whenever we could get into a town and get a big lunch,” Davison said. “Lots of good home cooking,” he said.

But they didn’t linger in towns.

“Most nights, I mean we were camping out we were in the sand or different camping locations along the river,” Brister said.

The pair offered some advice for anyone who wants to try a similar trip.

"I would say if you are considering to doing a trip like this or one similar to this to definitely go for it, prepare but go for it,” Brister said.

They say they’re glad to be home.

“We are back in ‘The Boot’ and I would say just keep on truckin',” Davison said.

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