Hi y’all!
Welcome to River Runs Full, a 2025 source to sea journey from the headwaters of the Mississippi River to the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. The trip is expected to last from August 1 to September 30, 2025 and take us through 10 different states.
To donate, visit our GoFundMe page.
Still Have Questions? We *Might* Have Answers!
How long is the Mississippi River?
The whole river is 2,340 miles, but we will be taking the Atchafalaya exit, which is about 2140mi (just under the length of the Appalachian Trail).
There are a few main reasons to take the Atchafalaya exit:
1) The Atchafalaya has lots of alligators - on the scale of passing 60 gators per day.
2) There is a stretch of the Mississippi river between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, known as Cancer Alley - so named because the carcinogens in the water and air exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's acceptable limits. It probably won't hurt us in the week we'd be there, but better safe than sorry, right?
3) The guidance of those who have come before - some people really liked the finality that comes with actually passing mile marker zero on the Mississippi River, but many find the Atchafalaya just an overall more pleasant experience.
So does that mean other people have done this before?
Yes, lots of people! There's a register of about 50-60 people per year, tracked by the Mississippi River Paddlers Facebook group, and that's just the ones we know about - it's probably more. We checked out a water sports shop in Savannah, Georgia one day, and learned that the couple who ran the place paddled the river back when they were first married.
How did you get 2 months free to kayak the river as 20-somethings?
Sydney is between law school and starting work, and Leah's company has a very flexible vacation policy. Honestly, two months is a bit tight for this trip, but it's the time we have, so it's the time we'll use.
Are you going to sleep in your boat?
No. That sounds uncomfortable. Most days we're going to be camping, but we're going to stay in a hotel every now and then to remind us what having a real bed and a shower feels like.
Are you going to drink from the river? Do you have a LifeStraw?
No, but yes. We're bringing LifeStraws but plan to never use them - the Mississippi River is very polluted, and the LifeStraw can only do so much.
Do you have to pack all your food and water for the whole trip?
No. We'll resupply water every 3-4 days, and food once a week. Sydney has done a ton of prep work to dehydrate meals in advance, then we're mailing them to friends and post offices that we will stop at along the way. We will supplement with food from grocery stores and convenience stores. The great thing about the Mississippi is that even today, it's a major transportation route, so there are many many cities and towns built right along the river - close enough to walk to for resupply.
How will you go 2 months without a phone or contact with the outside world? Isn't that scary?
We won't be! We both have solar panels that attach to the deck of our kayak, which allows us to keep our phones and external battery packs changed. We have 2 different cell carriers, and we'll each have a marine radio to contact each other, the locks, and boats and tows. Plus there are frequent towns with public libraries, restaurants, and other places to recharge devices, so we won't be completely cut off from the outside world.
What if stuff gets wet?
We will suffer... but seriously things are going to get wet a lot. We will be grateful for those rare days when everything is dry. Drybags will help protect our electronics and things that cannot tolerate any moisture. Some days, we’ll be able to stop while the sun is still up. When that happens, we’ll hang our tent and clothes in the waning sun to dry before dark. However, the early morning dew will make everything damp again if it wasn't packed up the night before... so there's only so much we can do.
Aren't you going to be bored?
We'll listen to audiobooks, music, chat about whatever, discuss goals and philosophies, watch the river, get lost in our own thoughts, call friends and family, and yeah, probably be bored sometimes, but it helps that we aren't doing this trip alone. We'll have someone else to check in with and keep us in the right headspace, so we think we'll be just fine.
Will you still be friends at the end?
That remains to be seen, but we sure hope so!
Stay up-to-date
Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. We’ll be sharing pictures and details of the trip along the way, as well as featuring interviews with community leaders from Feeding the Future Mississippi and Blessings for All, Empowered by Faith.
Join the crew
Be part of a community of people who care. Participate in the trip by donating to support the fight against childhood hunger in North Mississippi. $180 covers a child’s meals for an entire school year.
To donate, visit our GoFundMe page.
