Belfast Free Library Presentation: Discovering Wilderness on the Mississippi River with Chris Battaglia

Four voyageur canoes transport 22 passengers on the largest and most widely attended portion of the Rivergator Celebratory Expedition, the group is seen here departing the launch at Helena, Arkansas, in April 2017. (Photo by Chris Battaglia)

BELFAST - The Winter Adventure Series continues at the Belfast Free Library on Tuesday, February 19 at 6:30 p.m. with “Discovering Wilderness on the Mississippi River” presented by Chris Battaglia. The talk, co-sponsored by Come Boating! Belfast’s Community Boating Organization and the Belfast Free Library is free and open to all.

Battaglia spent six weeks paddling and documenting the Lower Mississippi River from St. Louis to the Gulf of Mexico in a 30-foot voyageur canoe. The expedition celebrated the completion of  “The Rivergator,” a paddler’s guide to the longest stretch of free-flowing river in the continental United States.

During the expedition, Battaglia paddled 20 to 60 miles per day, camped and cooked over open fires, met interesting people, weathered storms, survived trees falling and more.

Experience the wilderness between the levees with this presentation of photographs and video clips from Battaglia’s documentary which is currently in production.

Battaglia , a Belfast resident, is the owner of Village Vitals, a resource for interdisciplinary creative, collaborative and community-focused work. He is currently producing a feature-length documentary about the Lower Mississippi River and the 2017 Rivergator Expedition.

For more information please call the Belfast Free Library at (207) 338-3884 ext.10.

Link to article on PenBay Pilot

UPDATE: Thanks to all who came to the presentation! Packed house, I am very grateful for all the local support and interest in the two intersecting projects.

Photo: Chris Battaglia

Photo: Nicole Littrell / Come Boating!

Photos: Nicole Littrell / Come Boating!