Worth a Listen

Mississippi River at Memphis (pmPilgrim photo)

I keep getting behind on listening to one of the best shows on Public Radio ever since my station dropped it from its Saturday evening time slot. So the other day I put my iPod on and listened over WiFi while working out.

Nick Spitzer and American Routes never disappoints. This one is particularly good, considering my being a water baby and river rat.

It's called Wade in the Water and follows the Mississippi from up north at Lake Itasca all the way to the end in New Orleans. From their web page:

January 8th, 2014 ~ As the muddy Mississippi winds its way past us in New Orleans, we're reminded of the power and place of these waterways in American culture. First, we seek the source of the mighty river at the headwaters in Minnesota. Then listen to stories of steamboat captains, riverboats and rural fisherman. And learn about New Orleans own relation to the river with Tulane professor Richard Campanella. Plus river tales from Captain Doc Hawley, Aaron Neville and Al Green.

As Nick Spitzer said at the intro to the show:

Rivers are a kind of natural and historical bloodstream of American culture and music. They’re sources of life for water and baptism, and death by floods and drownings. Rivers are lazy and romantic, dangerous and polluted.
--Nick Spitzer, American Routes

As usual,Nick ties lots of threads together musically and in interviews. Take the listen.

LINK

Shadows and Silhouettes

Mississippi River

Memphis, TN

2/17/2003

A Picture for (and from) Today

The Mississippi River at St. Paul from the Wabasha St. Bridge

October 30, 2012

Sacred Waters 3

West Branch Susquehanna River

Lock Haven, PA

Flowing for Life

The West Branch of the Susquehanna River at Jersey Shore, PA.

Where one is born, will always leave some impression for one's life. 

When it is the power of flowing waters, it may have some unique impact.

Pine Creek just west of Jersey Shore, PA.

The Muddy River

Stopped by Locks and Dam #1 on Saturday in Minneapolis. The river is still muddy and quite high from the rains the past few weeks. Made for an interesting bridge and reflection.
Date: 6/30/2012

A 40-Year Memory: Water, Water, Water

First it came from the sky- inch upon inch falling over the hills and valleys of Pennsylvania. Then it came from the tributaries overflowing with all the water coming off the mountains into the narrow stream valleys. Finally it came from the Susquehanna River, the big eastern river that feeds Chesapeake Bay.

Sirens went off as my wife and I, 3 blocks west of high water, rolled over and I simply said to her, "The river is over the banks."

Water, water, water.

Tropical Storm Agnes turning square mile upon square mile of Pennsylvania into a Federally-declared disaster area.

Here's a link to a good summary of those days 40 years ago this week.

Here's a link to the NWS page on this 40th Anniversary.

SITE                RIVER OR TRIBUTARY  CREST     FLOOD STAGE
                                        (FEET)    (FEET)

BLOOMSBURG          SUSQUEHANNA         31.20     19.00
DANVILLE            SUSQUEHANNA         32.32     20.00
SUNBURY             SUSQUEHANNA         35.80     24.00
HARRISBURG          SUSQUEHANNA         32.57     17.00

RENOVO              WEST BRANCH SUSQ    26.56     16.00
LOCK HAVEN          WEST BRANCH SUSQ    31.30     21.00
JERSEY SHORE        WEST BRANCH SUSQ    38.40     26.00
WILLIAMSPORT        WEST BRANCH SUSQ    34.75     20.00
MILTON              WEST BRANCH SUSQ    34.55     19.00
LEWISBURG           WEST BRANCH SUSQ    34.23     18.00

CEDAR RUN           PINE CREEK          16.00     12.00

A Link to article in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

For many of us, the flood of a lifetime.

Where Two Become One

Rivers, that it.

Photograph by b k on Flickr

Twisted Sifter posted a series of pictures of two rivers of completely different make-up join together. The one above is from the Ilz, Danube, and Inn Rivers in Passau, Germany. (Yes.I know that's more than two becoming one. I just love the picture!) There are nine more at the website.

Early Spring

April 2, 2010

April 1, 2012

Made my first visit this year to my favorite place in God's house- Whitewater State Park. We've all been hearing about the early spring and wondrous weather. These two pictures taken just 2 years apart show in quick review what's been happening in 2012!

I wandered in the glory of the day and looked for signs of spring. 

I found what I have not seen before so early in the season.

Color! Green color! 

BLOOMING GREEN!

Not necessarily a total good thing, but I think the turtle liked it.

White


flowers


abounding!






Spring has come early to Minnesota. What will the rest of the season bring?

I can hardly wait to see.

Riverwalking 3

The River itself has no beginning or end.

In its beginning, it is not yet the River; in its end, it is no longer the River.

What we call the headwaters is only a selection from among the innumerable sources which flow together to compose it.

At what point in its course does the Mississippi become what the Mississippi means?
--T. S. Eliot

Along the Mississippi again, this time at Red Wing, MN, on a beauty of a summer day in 2010.

It isn't always necessary to look out at the river. Take a look up and over and you will very seldom be disappointed.

Not far from the riverfront by the old train depot.

Well, I guess there are also times to look away from the river and look down.

Along a river like the Mississippi there needs to be the places to keep the boats.

This was actually at the mid-point of a bike ride along the Cannon River Trail. 

The old faithful Trek 7000 has to get into a picture.

So Close

The trees reflected in the river -- they are unconscious
of a spiritual world so near to them. So are we.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

Riverwalking 2

Time for the next installment of river pictures I have taken which I am calling "Riverwalking." This time we head to the Mississippi River near LaCrosse, WI and Winona, MN on a beautiful July day in 2010.

A man of wisdom delights in water.

Confucius, Analects

Bald Eagle enjoying a catch.

Barge traffic passing LaCrosse

The wonder of water lilies

Bald Eagle! It deserves center place. Always an awesome sight.

Two Columbus replica ships- the Nina and the Pinta were visiting Winona that day. 

How small they were and the great ocean so large. What an amazing accomplishment his travel was.

Riverwalking 1

I had forgotten about some river pictures I took a year ago along the Cannon River in Northfield, MN. As I was looking at them I realized that I have done a lot of river picture-taking over the years. So I thought it might be fun to put some together on an irregular basis from some of the Riverwalking I have done. So, without any further delay, I might as well start with those pictures from last summer.