TributeLifeAccomplishments: ARE2017

For the latest updates and complete story, go to www.rokhamr.wixsite.com/website

"I was partially inspired to do this by a beautiful country song, but for me the meaning was a little different than the song lyrics.  The song is "live like you were dying".  The part that inspired me was the thought that both Raider and Raven, so young, so full of promise, cut down before their lives came to full bloom, could have done so much, now they're gone, it falls to me to do what I can for them, in their stead, so to speak."

                                               The Mission

To make solo kayak expedition (record setting attempt, 1 man, age 56) on the Arkansas River from the foot of the Rockies to the Gulf of Mexico.  The only company on this expedition is kept with my two dogs (Cuda and Cragar). 


        Any donations will be very much appreciated, and will be used to buy food, water, and any other supplies needed by myself or my two K9 companions to complete this journey, which is already under way and only possible through continued support.  Thank you in advance. 

Camp in La Junta, CO the morning of 4-25-2017 


                 Inventory of supplies on April 26, 2017

                                              The Journey

The Expedition began on Sunday, April 9th, in Boone, CO.  The transportation is a kayak with an air raft trailer to carry supplies.  The dogs are following on the shoreline for most of the trip, so the journey is slow (approximately 5-6 miles/day in the beginning).  At times when the shore is too difficult to traverse, or the dogs are to tired to continue, they are/will be riding in the raft trailer or on the kayak with myself. 

      The expedition rig and a camp set along the way.


                                            Progress so far:

Began expedition at Boone, Co. 04/09/2017

Fowler, Co. 04/13/17

Manzanola, Co. 04/18/17

Rocky Ford, Co. 04/20/17...layover...checkpoint

Swink, Co. 04/23/17

La Junta, Co. 04/25/17...layover...checkpoint

Las Animas, Co. 05/01/17...layover(resupply/create website)...checkpoint

***John Martin Reservoir, Co. 05/10/17

Lamar, Co. 05/16/17...layover...checkpoint

Carlton, Co. 05/26/17

Granada, Co. 05/27/17

Holly, Co. 05/30/17...layover...checkpoint

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.........................COLORADO/KANSAS LINE................................

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Coolidge, Ks. 06/09/17

Syracuse, Ks. 06/10/17...layover...checkpoint

Kendall, Ks. 06/13/17

Lakin, Ks. 06/14/17...layover...checkpoint

Deerfield, Ks. 06/16/17

Holcomb, Ks. ...excluded...deemed non-navigable

Garden City, Ks. ......checkpoint, excluded, deemed non-navigable

Pierceville, Ks. ...excluded, deemed non-navigable

Charleston, Ks. ...excluded, deemed non-navigable

Ingalls, Ks. ...excluded, deemed non-navigable

Cimarron, Ks. ......checkpoint, excluded, deemed non-navigable

Howell, Ks. ...excluded, deemed non-navigable

Dodge City, Ks. ......checkpoint, excluded, deemed non-navigable

Fort Dodge, Ks. ...excluded, deemed non-navigable

Ford, Ks. ...excluded, deemed non-navigable

Kinsley, Ks. ......checkpoint, excluded, deemed non-navigable

Garfield, Ks. ...excluded, deemed non-navigable

Larned, Ks. ......checkpoint, excluded, deemed non-navigable

Pawnee Rock, Ks. ...excluded, deemed non-navigable

Great Bend, Ks. 06/18/17...layover...checkpoint

Ellinwood, Ks. 06/21/17

Raymond, Ks. 06/22/17

Alden, Ks. 06/22/17

Sterling, Ks. 06/23/17......checkpoint

Nickerson, Ks. 06/23/17

Willowbrook, Ks. 06/24/17

Hutchinson, Ks. 06/24/17 ...layover...checkpoint

Elmer, Ks. 06/26/17

Yoder, Ks. 06/26/17

Haven, Ks. 06/26/17

Mount Hope, Ks. 06/27/17...layover...sponsor package

Maize/Wichita, Ks. 06/29/17 ...layover...(weather & family business)...checkpoint

Derby, Ks. 07/03/17

Mulvane, Ks. 07/04/17

Oxford, Ks. 07/05/17

Geuda Springs, Ks. 07/06/17

Arkansas City, Ks. 07/07/17 ......checkpoint

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..........................OKLAHOMA/KANSAS LINE...................................

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Newkirk, Ok. 07/09/17

Kaw city, Ok. 07/10/17

Ponca City, Ok. 07/13/17......checkpoint

(Cuda & Cragar lost chasing deer 07/15/17), continued on alone

Ralston, Ok. 07/17/17

Blackburn, Ok. 07/18/17

Cleveland, Ok. 07/18/17

Osage, Ok. 07/21/17

Westport, Ok. 07/21/17

Prue, Ok. 07/21/17

Shady Grove, Ok. 07/22/17

Lotsee, Ok. 07/22/17

Sand Springs, Ok. 07/23/17

Tulsa, Ok. 07/24/17 ......checkpoint

Jenks, Ok. 07/24/17

Bixby, Ok. 07/24/17

Haskell, Ok. 07/26/17

Taft, Ok. 07/27/17

Muskogee, Ok. 07/27/17......checkpoint

Webbers Falls, Ok. 07/29/17

Gore, Ok. 07/29/17

Tamaha, Ok. 07/31/17

Sallisaw, Ok. 07/31/17...layover...checkpoint

Fort Coffee, Ok. 08/03/17

Moffett, Ok. 08/04/17

..........................OKLAHOMA/ARKANSAS LINE................................

Fort Smith, Ark. 08/04/17...layover...(resupply & family business)...checkpoint

Van Buren, Ark. 08/17/17

Webb City, Ark. 08/21/17

Ozark, Ark. 08/21/17...(resupply)

Morrison Bluff, Ark. 08/23/17...checkpoint

Piney, Ark. 08/28/17

Delaware, Ark. 08/29/17...layover (resupply, design & install solar lighting system for Theriot Marina)

Dardanelle, Ark. 09/07/17

Morrilton, Ark. 09/11/17...checkpoint...layover(resupply & web updates)

Bigelow, Ark. 09/16/17

Fourche, Ark. 09/16/17

Maumelle/Little Rock, Ark. 09/18/17 ......checkpoint

Wrightsville, Ark. 09/23/17

Woodson, Ark. 09/23/17

Hensley, Ark. 09/23/17

Wright, Ark. 09/23/17

Jefferson, Ark. 09/26/17

Pine Bluff, Ark. 09/26/17...layover (resupply, web updates & upgrade gear)...checkpoint

Noble Lake, Ark. 10/03/17

Moscow, Ark. 10/04/17

Grady, Ark. 10/04/17

Pendleton, Ark. 10/07/17

Yancopin, Ark. 10/12/17

Arrived Mississippi River at 11: 45am, Tuesday, October 17, 2017- Day 192

...........................ARKANSAS/MISSISSIPPI LINE.........................

Rosedale, Miss. 10/16/17

********Added and tested prototype out-rigger...10/18/17

Arkansas City, Ark. 10/20/17

*********Added twin out-rigger...10/20/17 

Greenville, Miss. 10/21/17...checkpoint

For the latest updates and complete story, go to www.rokhamr.wixsite.com/website