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A Winding Stream: The Handy-Hudson Canoe Trip, 1924
In June of 1924, friends Earl Handy and John Hudson embarked on a two-week canoe and camping trip that took them from Rhode Island into Connecticut and back into Rhode Island.
Along the way, Earl kept a journal of their travels (and meals!) and both men took photographs. This book chronicles that long-ago adventure.
Along the way, Earl kept a journal of their travels (and meals!) and both men took photographs. This book chronicles that long-ago adventure.
56 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2016
7 people want to read
About the author
Martha Reynolds
12 books219 followersI am the author of eleven novels, including the Amazon bestsellers CHOCOLATE FOR BREAKFAST and BITS OF BROKEN GLASS.
My writing has appeared in Magnificat magazine and my very short poem was read by journalist Connie Schultz during National Public Radio's "Tell Me More" poetry challenge.
I live in Rhode Island, never far from the ocean.
My novel VILLA DEL SOL won the 2018 Book Prize in Literary Fiction from the Independent Publishers of New England.
Check out my newest novel - I WISH I HAD A RIVER, available now!
My writing has appeared in Magnificat magazine and my very short poem was read by journalist Connie Schultz during National Public Radio's "Tell Me More" poetry challenge.
I live in Rhode Island, never far from the ocean.
My novel VILLA DEL SOL won the 2018 Book Prize in Literary Fiction from the Independent Publishers of New England.
Check out my newest novel - I WISH I HAD A RIVER, available now!
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 17, 2023
Two men, two weeks, and a canoe to take them through the waters of two states a hundred years ago. To those who kayak (and even most who canoe) little of how Hand and Hudson did their trip will seem very familiar. They carried, in their canoe, a large milk can for fresh water (and replenished it from springs and streams). The carried their tent and camping equipment and a lot of canned goods….and they did about 30 portages with all of this stuff.
Their journey took them into narrow streams and rivers as much as a mile wide. They ventured out into the Atlantic for a day or two and they made their way through a swamp where dead trees and roots impeded their ability to stay in the canoe and paddle. They had some mini-adventures:
"While eating breakfast, we noticed that the water had risen a little due to the mills operating at Central Village, just above us. We were on the bank packing up when suddenly I heard John shout, “There goes the canoe!” Sure enough, the rising water had floated the canoe which we left pulled up on shore. John hopped over the fence and caught the canoe just as it was drifting off. We then packed the canoe and pushed off, leaving our camp under the oaks at eight-thirty."
But most of the time it was merely observing nature or becoming a part of the natural scene. They fished, sometimes successfully. They ate what they were able to catch (unless it was too small and those were returned to the water). They stopped at a few places to replenish and/or talk to the locals but mostly kept to themselves.
One of them kept a diary and photographs and these were discovered much later by Martha Reynolds, a relative.
It was a delight to read this journal, which takes barely an hour, and feel how different that New England was from present day.
Their journey took them into narrow streams and rivers as much as a mile wide. They ventured out into the Atlantic for a day or two and they made their way through a swamp where dead trees and roots impeded their ability to stay in the canoe and paddle. They had some mini-adventures:
"While eating breakfast, we noticed that the water had risen a little due to the mills operating at Central Village, just above us. We were on the bank packing up when suddenly I heard John shout, “There goes the canoe!” Sure enough, the rising water had floated the canoe which we left pulled up on shore. John hopped over the fence and caught the canoe just as it was drifting off. We then packed the canoe and pushed off, leaving our camp under the oaks at eight-thirty."
But most of the time it was merely observing nature or becoming a part of the natural scene. They fished, sometimes successfully. They ate what they were able to catch (unless it was too small and those were returned to the water). They stopped at a few places to replenish and/or talk to the locals but mostly kept to themselves.
One of them kept a diary and photographs and these were discovered much later by Martha Reynolds, a relative.
It was a delight to read this journal, which takes barely an hour, and feel how different that New England was from present day.
December 13, 2019
Nearly 100 years ago, in 1924, Earl Handy and John Hudson took a bucolic canoe trip through rivers and streams in Connecticut and southern Rhode Island. In A Winding Stream: The Handy-Hudson Canoe Trip of 1924, her slim volume based on her grand-father's lovingly preserved notes and photographs, Martha Reynolds recreates that trip, carrying modern readers into a quieter, gentler age.
Mr. Handy recounts the beautiful sites and sounds he and his companion encounter on their June excursion. He tells of the many fine meals they created and of their fishing expeditions. His story reflects an appreciation of nature as well as his sense of humor.
"Prepared breakfast of bacon and eggs, coffee, toast, and cookies."
He speaks of a farmer they meet in their travels and from whom they purchased fresh milk.
And this from the perspective of a twenty-three year old:
"He is about sixty years old and getting feeble."
A Winding Stream is enhanced by several well-kept black & white photographs.
Highly recommended for an hour of serenity.
Mr. Handy recounts the beautiful sites and sounds he and his companion encounter on their June excursion. He tells of the many fine meals they created and of their fishing expeditions. His story reflects an appreciation of nature as well as his sense of humor.
"Prepared breakfast of bacon and eggs, coffee, toast, and cookies."
He speaks of a farmer they meet in their travels and from whom they purchased fresh milk.
And this from the perspective of a twenty-three year old:
"He is about sixty years old and getting feeble."
A Winding Stream is enhanced by several well-kept black & white photographs.
Highly recommended for an hour of serenity.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews