BATCHELOR, LA (WAFB) -
Three brothers with a lifelong dream to sail the Mississippi River by canoe got a taste of Baton Rouge on Wednesday. They left Lake Itasca, Minnesota on July 14, with their eyes set on Venice, Louisiana.
Way out on the murky Mississippi are four guys, rowing two bright yellow canoes.
"I had this idea when I was in high school," Peter Bragiel said.
Peter Bragiel and his two brothers, Paul and Dan, packed and paddled away from a very cold Minnesota. They anchored their 18 foot canoes in the Red Stick on Wednesday afternoon, marking another stop along their journey that has reached over 2,000 miles.
"We wake up at 4:30 a.m. every day. We have an hour or two of paddling before we see the sun rise," Dan Bragiel said.
The men have hit some trying times in their travels. Their biggest challenge has been the weather.
"Dodging all of the rain and trying to find camp sites," Peter Bragiel said.
But it has not been all work and no reward. The Bragiel brothers have met some interesting people along the way, folks who learned of their journey and wanted to give them something they will always remember.
"Well, it would probably be throwing out a first pitch at a minor league baseball game in Burlington, Iowa," Peter Bragiel said.
They have got quite a tale to tell, and their own personal photographer to capture every moment.
"Tony's been doing a good job being behind the scenes," Paul Bragiel said.
While the amateur adventurers might be having a good time, they say all that rigorous rowing has become a rather rough routine.
"It's been on my list of things to do forever. But I would never do this, again. That's for sure. It's a lot of work," Paul Bragiel said.
It is a once in a lifetime voyage centered on a lifelong dream, one the Bragiels say has kept them on course.
The brothers plan to wrap up their adventure in Venice, Louisiana on Monday.
Click here to see what they found along the way.
Copyright 2011 WAFB. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WAFB, a Raycom Media Station. 