Devin Brown makes difficult decision to pause river journey
Devin Brown on the river at North Mississippi Regional Park. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson
Editor’s Note: Devin Brown hit an indefinite pause on her quest to become the first African American woman to solo kayak the entire length of the Mississippi.
A Facebook post from Brown over the weekend indicated she had to stop Friday evening because of dangerous conditions ahead caused by heavy rains swelling the river well past its banks in many parts. She was in Hannibal, Missouri, when she suspended the trip.
According to a message she wrote to North News, Brown completed more than 1,000 miles in 34 days.
“After making it to river mile 309 last night, I, like other paddlers, have decided that it’s no longer safe and the river will just continue to get higher,” she wrote. “More storms in the forecast; there was no sign or hope that it was going to get safer.
“I’m sad. I have a heavy heart; I’ll get to the ocean one day. It’s not over, it’s just paused.”
The story below appears in the current edition of North News, which was printed the day before her decision. It captures her stopover in Minneapolis on Day 13.
By Azhae’la Hanson, Reporter
Devin Brown, who is paddling her way into history as the first Black woman to solo kayak the length of the Mississippi River, docked in Minneapolis on June 9 and was in Missouri at press time.
Brown launched from the Mississippi headwaters in Lake Itasca on May 27 to begin her journey to become the first Black woman on record to solo kayak the Mississippi River. Source to Sea journey stretches the 2,340-mile river from Itasca to New Orleans.
Brown says “river angles,” people who live on the Mississippi, have been a huge support as she navigates the water. They’ve helped her with a broken rudder, lodging, hot meals, support when she needs to get through portage and sometimes a good long hug.
“The river angels are a wonderful group of super maternal women that spoil me,” she said. “It’s a bunch of grandmas and mamas just loving me for the last couple of weeks.”
Her first big hurdle was overcoming Lake Cass on Day 4, paddling 40 miles and persevering through 25-mph winds. Next was completing the MR150.
On Day 12, after already paddling more than 100 miles, Devin paddled upstream six miles to Brainerd to start the 150-mile race that she completed two days later in Champlin late Saturday night.
Sunday, she resumed her journey and made her way to Minneapolis, where she docked for the evening at Boom Island to rest at her North Minneapolis home.
Sierra Carter, owner of Heal MPLS, stood by the shore and waved to Devin with a plate of food. Others came out to see her float by the Northside. She stopped for some local favorites, coffee from The Get Down Coffee Co., and a movie with her son.
Brown hit the river again on June 13 and completed one-third of her trip on June 21st.
During the last 300 miles between her stop in the Twin Cities and onward to Wisconsin, Brown has cleared Lake Pepin with 15-20 MPH winds. She faces the ongoing rain that is raising the river's water levels, powering through three-foot waves.
As of June 21, Brown had completed 751 miles of her 2,340-mile journey and was out of Minnesota. For safety, she won’t share her exact location.
In an online forum, Devin took to social media to answer some questions from those following her journey. When asked what lessons she's learning on the river that apply off the river, she said:
“Someone told me that the river trains you for the river. While I started not liking open water crossings, after Lake Pepin, Lake Cass, and really hard crossings, I never understood how big the Mississippi is, and now I understand that it's going to get bigger,” Brown said.
As she overcame hard waters, she knew how to deal with the tougher times ahead.
“The struggles, trials and tribulations in life are only preparing us for the next phase.” She continued. ”So, having faith in those early days in Itasca, knowing I had the technical skills to get through that part of the river and knowing that I refreshed the skill to trek across really turbulent waters…As my legs are trembling in the boat because it gets scary…all those things in life no matter how much they suck, they're all attributable to your character… it’s all meant to be.”