A float trip for beginners and the U.S.'s longest off-road cycling route

IT'S BACKROAD WEEKLY'S BIRTHDAY!

The Emotional Gush-Fest

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to gush gratitude and disbelief. How has it already been a year? When I started Backroad Weekly, I didn't know what to expect. Often, writing a newsletter feels like screaming into the void: therapeutic, but there's little feedback. You just have to send it and pray it resonates. I have been absolutely overwhelmed with how much local travel has resonated with you.

Thank you for everything.

Every issue you read, every email you send (Yes! I love hearing from you!), every encouraging comment you leave on social, every shirt you wear, every friend you tell, every time you tune in, every destination you suggest...it means the world and it motivates me to keep screaming, um, I mean...going. Keep going.

Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you thank you. Thank you. ❤️

Exciting Achievements from Year 1

Here is the humble-brag achievements list that nobody asked for but it's too good not to share. Just look at what you've helped us do!!!:

🥾 Grew to 2,200+ newsletter subscribers and maintained an average 50% open rate
🥾 Published 52 consecutive weekly newsletter issues
🥾 Built a community of 28,000+ Backroaders on Facebook
🥾 Worked with a local designer and screen printer to launch our first t-shirt
🥾 Started a weekly segment on KRCU Public Radio, and partnered with dozens of local businesses and the tourism bureau VisitCape
🥾 Featured in Cape Living and the Cash-Book Journal
🥾 Explored dozens and dozens of trails, eateries, small towns, and historic sites to help thousands of Southeast Missourians enjoy places close to home

My travel-publication-baby is growing up 🥹...and I only had to sacrifice one whole year of sleep.

I hope you finish each issue feeling prouder to be in Southeast Missouri. That has always been the goal.

Get Outside

A Current River Float Trip for Beginners
(And you don't need to own any gear)

I avoided covering this excursion because it's such a Missouri summer tradition, I assumed everyone was going to be like, "Been there, done that, SNOOZE FEST." Then, in my imagination, you give my logo the middle finger and slam your laptop shut.

But I remembered a few things, 1) You're not a-holes, 2) Many of my readers just moved here from other states, and 3) Statistically, there have to be Southeast Missourians who haven't done a float trip but would like to. It would be a huge mistake not to encourage folks to experience the crystal-clear waters of the federally protected Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

I recently took three wonderful people who had never been. I'll admit that for once, I didn't do any research. I took my friends where all of my friends had taken me. And I let the outfitter take it from there.

My friend and goddaughter floating the Current River, July 2026

The Process:

We used The Landing - Current River, in Van Buren, MO. Their system lets you turn your brain off because the staff walk you through everything.

When you pay, the cashier gives you all your instructions (it's like herding cattle). They send you to the river's edge where you select your tube, leave your keys at the kiosk (lest ye sacrifice them to the River God), and then, you wait on your name to be called for your shuttle to take you up stream and drop you off in the river.

It's extremely easy to know when your float is over, too. It's after the only overpass. There'll be a big lodge and folks in uniforms waving you in.

In levels of difficulty, the river is class 1, the easiest class to float. It's often so shallow, you can see the gravel bottom like in the photo above. There are occasional stumps and root wads to paddle around. But you'll see them in enough time to navigate.

The Good-to-knows:

This is not an adrenaline pumping/thrill-a-minute deal. It's like the water park's lazy river, but with less chlorine, more fish, and a much better view.
Summer weekends are PACKED. If you're going on a weekend, I highly recommend calling and making a reservation. You can also expect much longer wait times for your shuttle upriver.
If a tube feels a little bare bones, consider renting a single-person kayak or a multi-person raft. Check out the vessel options. I love the raft because I can pack a bunch of crap like snacks, my birding binoculars, and SPF 4,500 sunblock to reapply ever 15 minutes.
For first-time floaters, I highly recommend the 4-mile float (the shortest option). It might not sound like it, but 3 hours is a long time to be on the river, directly under the sun. It'll be even longer if you pull over and hang out on gravel bars to go for a swim (which you totally should).
Take alllllllll the sun protection.
If you go in a group, DO NOT TIE YOUR TUBES TOGETHER. You can get tangled in a root wad. It's dangerous. The river runs slow. It's easy to stick together.
Don't take anything you don't want to get wet. I just had to replace my bird ID book.

Make It a Day Trip

When you get off the water, dry off, get changed, rub on some aloe vera, and check out Van Buren, Missouri. Here's our Van Buren day trip itinerary and it's more than worth it to swing by Big Spring.

I'll leave you with this sentence swiped from The Landing's website:

"Float past towering bluffs, gravel bars, and through some of the most unspoiled wilderness in the Midwest."

SIGHTING: The American Goldfinch. We hit the goldfinch jackpot in the fields of Ball Mill Resurgence Natural Area in Perryville last Saturday.

I don't remember this scene from Hitchcock's classic

LOCAL TRAVEL RADIO: Big Spring (2-minute listen)

TO THE SOURCE: Ever wondered where I get all my info? I've decided to start revealing my sources. On the Visit Missouri page, under "Events", you can filter for events in Southeast Missouri.

VIDEO SHORTS: Visit Dexter, MO

The U.S.'s longest off-road cycling route starts in Cape G:

The Golden Gravel Trail

Adventure Cycling Association announced its new long-distance, off-road cycling trail this year, and Cape Girardeau, MO is the launch point...or finish line...either way, we're on the map in adventure cycling!

The Golden Gravel Trail is a cycling route that stretches 3,805 miles from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, spanning eight states.

Created for long-distance bicycle tourists, it follows "well-maintained gravel roads and low-traffic paved roads, making it relatively accessible while still demanding strong fitness, careful preparation, and resilience."

Just four weeks ago, Canadian ultra-endurance cyclist Meaghan Hackinen started her journey from downtown Cape.

"Much of the route is extremely remote, but resupply points are intentionally spaced, with distances between services increasing as the route moves west. Riders should be prepared to carry two to three days’ worth of food across some of the most isolated sections, and up to a day’s worth of water—or more—through the more arid stretches."

It is the longest off-road cycling route in the U.S. and Southeast Missouri gets to be part of that.

*Sponsored by VisitCape

Want to share an upcoming event with 2,200+ Southeast Missourians looking for things to do? Read more about how to add an event to Backroad Weekly's 'This Weekend's Happenings'.

This Weekend’s Happenings

*But first, where's the rodeo? I didn't include the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo because tickets are sold out for Friday and Saturday. You're going to have to hurry up and go tonight!

Fri, Aug 07

Wild Edibles: Ice Cream, Cape Girardeau, MO - Add flavors from nature to your favorite frozen treat. Attend a naturalist-led presentation and learn about safe and common wild edibles. Then, try a sample! 5-7:30pm.

Tunes at Twilight, Cape Girardeau, MO - Hope you kept your lawn chairs and picnic basket in your trunk 'cause Cape's summer concert series is back. 6:30pm. See link for rain relocation info.

Friday Night Dance with Waltz Lesson, Cape Girardeau, MO - Go twirl your way around the room. Bridgerton fantasy date night idea? $5 per person at the door. Cash only. 7-9pm.

Mix Tape Music Bingo at the Riverhouse, Scott City, MO - Musical bingo! Registration required. Free. All supplies provided. 6:30-8:30pm

Small Town, Big Scenes: First Friday Art Walk, Piedmont, MO - It's Piedmont's biggest art walk yet! With 18 artists displayed throughout downtown: painters, photographers, sculptors, woodworkers, potters, and more. Start at the library and continue along Main St. 5-8pm

Cobden Peach Festival, Cobden, IL - Day 1 of delicious food, live entertainment, carnival rides, and community events. An 89-year-old local tradition. Go buy some peaches.

Wicked Paducah, Paducah, KY - A red light district, moonshiners, unsolved murders, and shady characters. Learn all about the city's unsavory past on this walking tour. 16+, $13, 7pm.

Sat, Aug 08

Outdoor Preparedness - Topography, Shuttle from Cape Girardeau, MO - Learn to read topographic maps. Then, use maps to navigate the forests of Tywappity Community Lake. No experience required.

Cape Riverfront Market, Cape Girardeau, MO - Locally grown produce, crafts, artisan goods, live music, and tasty treats. Also super cute.

Jour de Fete, Ste. Genevieve, MO - "The streets of historic Ste. Gen transform into a vibrant marketplace" with over 200 vendors. You can expect "artisan craftsmanship, food, live entertainment, and historic charm." Day 1. 10am-6pm.

Twilight Sip & Swim, Farmington, MO - "Enjoy a kid-free evening at the water park." 7-10pm. Concessions & adult beverages will be available. $10-15. 21+

Cathedral Cave Off-trail Tour, Leasburg, MO - Go beyond the traditional cave tour. Go no-rails and no-trails on a wild caving excursion hosted by Missouri State Parks. Led by an experienced guide. You'll climb, crawl, and get muddy. $75. Must register. 10am.

Catalyst Mountain Bike Race, Makanda, IL - Race the professional MTB trails at SIU Touch of Nature Education Center. "One of the fastest and most flowy in all of Southern Illinois." Racing starts at 10am.

Cobden Peach Festival, Cobden, IL - Day 2 of delicious food, live entertainment, carnival rides, and community events. An 89-year-old local tradition. Go buy some peaches. (And forgive me that I just copy/pasted what I wrote above)

Pickle Fest, Marion, IL - A festival dedicated to the mighty pickle. Get pickle-themed food and pickle-themed cocktails. Check out live music, games, pickle tattoos, vendors, and a costume-contest. All hail the pickle. "It's a big dill" 11am-5pm.

Sun, Aug 09

Reynold's House TEA Talks, Cape Girardeau, MO - Brenda Newbern, Cape Girardeau's Tourism Manager will be presenting, "Finding the Blues Highway in my own backyard". Free admission. Donations accepted for the ongoing historic preservation of the Reynold's House. 2-3pm.

Jour de Fete, Ste. Genevieve, MO - It's "Southeast Missouri's largest outdoor craft fair." Shop handmade arts and crafts, stop at the food booth and beer garden, shuttle on the trolley, and dig the live entertainment. 9am-4pm.

Onondaga Cave Photo Tours, Leasburg, MO - Finally, there's a tour for people who love to take photos but feel too rushed on the regular tour. This is a slowed-down tour built for those who want to capture the cave on camera. Purchase ticket in advance. $23

Plan Ahead - The Fun You Can't Improvise

Explore the Endangered Sand Prairie, Shuttle from Cape Girardeau, MO - Visit and hike at Sand Prairie Conservation Area. Wedn, Aug. 12, 5:30-7:30pm

Beer, Germans, and Methodism, Jackson, MO - A St. Louis historian and author will be speaking about German Americans in St. Louis from the 1840s to 1920s. Wedn, Aug. 12, 5:30-6:30pm

See the Perseid Meteor Shower at Giant City State Park, Makanda, IL - "This year the meteor shower coincides with a new moon which will provide an excellent viewing opportunity". Night walks will also be offered. Wedn, Aug. 12, 8:30-10:30pm. Call to register.

Intro to Wild Caving, Perryville, MO - Learn the basics of caving and explore a real, wild cave with expert guides. These sessions only run a handful of times each year and spots are limited. No experience necessary. No squeezing through tight spaces necessary. Info session August 13. Cave exploration August 15.

Singo, Cape Girardeau, MO - "It's like Bingo, but we swap the numbers with song titles." Doors open at 5:30pm. Games start at 6:30pm. Free to play. Outside food is cool, outside drinks are not. Thurs. Aug 13

Wild about Watercolor: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Puxico, MO - "Learn watercolor techniques and create nature-inspired artwork." No experience required. 12+. Mon. Aug 17, 9am-12pm

Shawnee Hills Trail Races, Ozark, IL - One of the Midwest's premier trail running events returns with distances from a half marathon to 100 miles, passing through some of Southern Illinois' best scenery. August 22-23. Registration closes August 15.

Green-Corn Moon Paddle, Ullin, IL - Join kayak guides for a nocturnal excursion on the water. "Set out from the docks and paddle out to Button Land Swamp and enjoy the peace and sounds of Illinois' hidden bayou under moonlight." $65.

City of Roses 5k & Half Marathon, Cape Girardeau, MO - "Run along a paved trail through residential Cape and out into the beautiful county. Wind around paved roads, past farms, tree-filled woods, and beautiful homes." Sunday, September 27.

Tour de Cape, Cape Girardeau, MO - A charity ride that takes off from downtown Cape Girardeau, MO with 15, 30, and 60-mile routes. Saturday, October 3rd.

Devil's Toll Race, Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park - A 13-mile event "across one of the most scenic & rugged landscapes Missouri's Ozark Trail has to offer" with a hike option and a run option. Proceeds benefit the Ozark Trail Association. Saturday, October 3rd.

For each event, you’ll find more info at the link.
*Because these events are upcoming, they have not been vetted. That would require a time machine, and we don't have the funds. Party at your own discretion.

Hey cutie, you new here?

Whenever your restless soul wants to get out of the house, but you're not sure where to go, remember you can visit the archives of BackroadWeekly.com and browse all the previous issues. They're all on the main page. You just have to scroll down. Each issue will take you to a different day-trip-able destination.

To raise adventure funds (and keep this show on the literal road), we made t-shirts! (The 't' stands for turtle...western alligator snapping turtle)

The Explore Southeast Missouri shirts are a custom design by a local graphic designer at Surefire Studio printed on Comfort Colors. They come with a 100% guarantee that you'll look cooler, catch more fish, and never get another blister from a hiking boot ever again. Shop the shirt.