While I was out in my boat today, I had a crazy idea. It only got stronger when I got home and started to mow the yard. I am thinking about putting my boat in the Mississippi around LaCrosse and taking a trip down river to Dubuque! As it is just an idea at this point I havent started the planning stages yet, so fire away with information for me please. My son laughed and asked me if I thought about seeing a shrink.
Sounds like a good time. My wife, son, and I have made 2 trips from Hastings to northeast Iowa and back, and last year my wife and I and another couple went from Hastings to LaCrosse and back. Each trip was in a 19 foot I/O and we usually slept on board under a camper top, but many people do tent camp. There are many sandy shoreline places to overnight. Sometimes it is good to find a place off the main channel and out of the current, but not necessary. We took 3-4 days for each trip. Most of the time we didn’t hit it very hard. Fuel costs make it a little more expensive now, but its still not too bad. Fuel is readily available and so are hotels, marinas that have a shower, and sites to see. Oh, and you could probably find a place or two to drop a line. Watch the forecast and pick some nice weather, and go have a blast.
You’re not the only one who needs to see a shrink. I think its a great idea. I’ve always wanted to take a boat down the Mississippi. My guess is youre looking at a 2 day trip or so? I’d bring regular camping stuff, river navigation chart, all the state fishing licenses I would need, spare prop, spare battery, and possibly an extra gas can. And of course FISHING GEAR!
Someday I’m gonna do it. 
my brothers and I have thought about doing something crazy like that. It would be like huck finn and tom sawyer and some wild adventure. Sounds like fun.
This sounds like a great idea. Last year while I was out showing my daughter how to drive a boat (by trempealeau), we saw three regular Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn’s. They built themselves a boat, with a shelter on it. It was powered by a 25 hp moter. Looked like an overside dock going down the river – but those guys looked like they were having the time of their lives! Not a care in the world (except for the lack of money ;-). We towed them to the trempealeau lock. They were headed all the way down the river to New Orleans! Oh, the stories they could tell (if they made it all the way down). Something about an unlicensed boat might have gotten them in trouble 
. Good luck and I hoppe you do this!
I don’t think your idea is crazy. I hope to one year do a road trip and start from where the river starts in MN and ends down in the Gulf.
I cant wait! I was trying to figure out the logistics of how to get my vehicle to where I will end up and it brought up visions of Deliverance “This river don’t go to Antree”. Anyway, I am revising my idea to start at Dubuque and go up river to Lacrosse, then turn around and come back down to Dubuque. I get crazier by the moment! Woo Hoo! 
Not crazy at all, Lou. I used to work with a guy, who spent 2 weeks of vacation on the river. He and his wife went from their cabin at Guttenberg up river to the Twin Cities and back. They slept on their boat, and just had a blast! Hope you enjoy your trip 
dave
Your not crazy at all Lou, you’ll probabaly have the time of your life, just bring plenty of water. My grandmother had a sister that her husband, Lindly Reed was his name, took a canoe trip in the late 60’s from the twin cities to New Orleans, all the way by canoe, he was in a few newspapers around the country for doing this, i think even in the twin cities papers if i remember right. He bought one of those huge canoes that can hold three full grown moose and a tuba and packed everything he needed and camped all the way down. He came back and said it was one of the best trips he ever had including going to canada many times hunting from this canoe. Go for it Lou and take your camera.
Do what my neighbors are doing. They launched out of the 494 access and are drifting as far this weekend as the current will take them. When it gets dark, they are going to find a spot to camp, them get up the next morning and drift some more.
I agree with the rest of these guys, that’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid. If I had the boat, time, and money I’d go for it. Life’s to short to put things off..
No big deal and lots of fun. I am thinking about taking my boat from Winona to Dubuque in 2 weeks for the festival and dog driving contest. In 1974 my ex and I took a 16 feet Glastron with an 85 Johnson from Minneapolis to St. Louis. We did not go beyond that because there was flooding that year and the lock and Dam system ends.
Bottom line is LaCrosse to Dubuque is an easy trip.
Have Fun!
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