NEAR THOMPSON, N.D. -- Sean Bloomfield cooked Rice-A-Roni on a little makeshift stove on the edge of the Thompson Bridge on Wednesday afternoon, taking a short break from an epic canoe trip.
Bloomfield and friend Colton Witte paddled through the area on the Red River as part of an attempt to travel the historic 2,250-mile canoe trip journalist and North Dakota native Eric Sevareid and Walter Port completed from Fort Snelling to York Factory, Man., in 1930.
The two 18-year-old buddies from Chaska, Minn., paddle as many as 13 hours a day, taking only short breaks to eat and go to the bathroom.
For awhile, they were taking turns paddling in 12-hour shifts while the other slept. But they have since started camping at night and paddling together during the day.
"Honestly, most people think we're crazy," Bloomfield said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Inspiration
Bloomfield and Witte, who have dubbed their journey the "Bloomitte Expedition," both read Sevareid's book "Canoeing With the Cree," their inspiration for the trip, in seventh grade. They said in 10th grade, they became more serious about actually taking the trip and have gone on several smaller canoe trips of as many as 400 miles together testing details like how much gear to take and how often to stop.
They both said their parents have been supportive of the trip once they realized their sons were serious, even though they have had some misgivings about it.
"The northern part is polar bear territory," Witte said.
Ahead of schedule
Wednesday was Day 24 of the trip. The teenagers originally expected it would take 70 to 80 days to get to this point, but now think it will only take 50 to 60 days to complete the entire journey. Sevareid and Port completed their journey in 98 days.
"It's the kind of thing that I'm glad I did it, but I don't want to do it again," Witte said.
The pair said their hands hurt and sport cuts and occasional blisters after paddling all day. Witte said he also has suffered from a swollen tendon on one wrist.
ADVERTISEMENT
It's also difficult to stay clean, especially on the mud-colored Red River.
"You get mud on everything," Bloomfield said. "Our canoe, the paddle, on your arms."
Meals consist of pancakes, cold pizza, sausage, chicken, rice, peanut butter and snacks along the way.
Their parents have arranged for care packages to be dropped off for them along the route.
The pair reports nonexistent to spotty cell phone service on the trip. They communicate with their parents by calling and texting.
Their parents also have set up a Web site (colton-seanhudsonbay.com), charting their progress. They say friends and former classmates back home have been following their journey.
Starting out
The trip began April 28 in Chaska on the Minnesota River. They then carried the canoe on land or portaged to the Bois de Sioux River.
ADVERTISEMENT
They plan to meet their parents for the third time on the trip this weekend and switch canoes before taking on Lake Winnipeg and the Hayes River in Manitoba.
Wednesday afternoon, the weary travelers silently pushed off from the Thompson Bridge before passing Grand Forks on Wednesday night in their canoe, adorned with signs proclaiming, "Minneapolis to Hudson Bay" and "Go big or go home."
They said they have gotten along well on their journey, although they sometimes go long periods without talking.
"That no talking thing probably helps," Bloomfield said.
Reach Schuster by phone at (701) 780-1107 or by e-mail at rschuster@gfherald.com .
