In 2005, a few of us set out on a punk rafting adventure, building a raft out of found and scavenged materials and floating for a week, Huck Finn-style, on one of the largest fastest rivers on the continent, the Missouri.
Driving across county to float the Missouri RiverDriving across county to float the Missouri RiverDriving across county to float the Missouri RiverBuilding our first raft ever to float the Missouri RiverBuilding our first raft ever to float the Missouri RiverBuilding our first raft ever to float the Missouri RiverBuilding our first raft ever to float the Missouri RiverBuilding our first raft ever to float the Missouri RiverFirst raft we ever built on the Missouri River
We lived to tell the tale (barely), and so year after year, we’ve taken longer and longer adventures, floating many major American rivers on completely ridiculous homemade rafts. After that first single raft trip, we invited others, launching with whole punk raft flotillas. The experience has been life changing.
Building the raft in Red Bluff, California to float on the Sacramento RiverBuilding the raft in Red Bluff, California to float on the Sacramento RiverBuilding the raft in Red Bluff, California to float on the Sacramento RiverBuilding the raft in Red Bluff, California to float on the Sacramento RiverBuilding the raft in Red Bluff, California to float on the Sacramento RiverBuilding the raft in Red Bluff, California to float on the Sacramento RiverBuilding the raft in Red Bluff, California to float on the Sacramento RiverOccasional fishingWe built a ramshackle cabin to shade us from the sun and occasional rain.Snags made our passage difficult and excitingWe brought jugs of fresh water with us and occasionally refilled.I won’t drown. Our motto.On the Willamette RiverThe Willamette RiverRaft on the Willamette RiverOn the Willamette RiverWe occasionally fished (seldom successfully) off the raftSalem, Oregon docks on the Willamette River where we launched with a flotilla of 12 rafts, 20 people, and 3 dogsJasper the dogOn the Willamette River we launched with a flotilla of 12 rafts, 20 people, and 3 dogsOn the Sacramento RiverOn the Sacramento RiverWe often had to hitchhike back to our vehicles.
Below are two ‘zines created by the author:
The Good Ship Abandon
the story so far A graphic adaption of an adventure building a raft out of trash and floating more than a hundred miles on the perilous Missouri River, one of the fastest flowing rivers in North America.
