This book is derived from journals kept by Allan and Dianne Roden as they paddled down the entire Mississippi River in their home-made cedar-strip canoe. Accompanied by their Australian Cattle Dog, Annie, they started at the source of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota where the river is a small stream. Most of the way they camped in a tent on the banks of the river, as they followed it 2,500 miles all the way to New Orleans. They experienced many adventures, like getting lost in a large swamp, battling 4-foot waves on a huge lake, getting stuck on wing dams, and dodging barges. They also saw an abundance of wildlife and met many interesting people that represented a cross-section of the United States. It was an opportunity to reconnect with each other and rediscover their inner selves.