Take a journey down the river with us

By Kenneth Boone (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Saturday, May 30, 2009

This week you’ll be hearing a lot about Harold Banks.

In fact, the same could be said for next week, too.

Banks, a 61-year-old Dadeville man who spent 11 days paddling the length of the Tallapoosa River alone in a canoe last month, is on the cover of the June edition of Lake magazine. On Wednesday, The Outlook will begin publishing Bank’s journal in an 11-part series that’s well-written, interesting and reads a bit like Lewis and Clark’s diaries. It’s full of adventure, misadventure, wild animals, storms, mud, personal doubts and victories, and sketches of the historically significant sites he passed as he paddled from Georgia to the intersection of the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers near Wetumpka.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Harold and writing about his excellent adventure through the heart of Central Alabama. And I’ve got to say, I was a bit envious after hearing about what he experienced.

If you know Harold, the husband of Dadeville realtor Amy Banks, you probably aren’t surprised that he hatched a plan to do something epic, something that no one else had ever done. Then he thoroughly researched and meticulously planned his journey.

I asked what he packed in his canoe. Harold e-mailed me a list that’s, well, meticulous.

Here’s part of it:

• Blue Waterproof Duffel – in front

• Collapsible Fishing Pole – attached with small bungees to right gunwale

• Thwart Bag & Map Case – attached to front thwart

• Compass – Attached with elastic cord to far left of front thwart beside Map Case

• Water Bottles – attached with carabineers to foot brace

• Lexan Waterproof Box – Secured with nylon strap on left side of seat

• Large Sponge – held with elastic cord on right side of seat

• Rain jacket – secured with elastic cord under seat

• Waterproof Gear Pack – in back

• Spare Paddle – held with elastic cord behind seat

Being a bit of a traveling gear-head myself, I’m filing his packing list for future reference. It’s an excellent example of how to get organized for an extended expedition.

But the real pleasure of talking with Harold was on a more spiritual level. When you boil it all down, it comes to this: Banks had a dream and he lived it.

So many of us have dreams of doing something unique, something challenging, something that is truly our own … and so often those dreams get lost in the every day routine of clocking in at work or raising a family.

Banks’ canoe trip down the Tallapoosa River was a personal quest developed over years of dreaming. He worked his vision into a reality with sheer will power, exhausting effort and a healthy dose of plain old good luck – at the young age of 61. It’s one of those hard-fought victories, like playing on a championship football team or building a business from scratch, that defines and changes a man. I’m sure this successful expedition will be a source of strength, hope and self confidence for Banks for many years to come.

As Harold said, “It wasn’t some outstanding feat. There are plenty of people who could have done it. And there have been lots of more amazing journeys. But this was my journey.”

I hope reading about Harold Banks’ expedition down the Tallapoosa River in Lake and The Outlook will inspire you, like it has me. It’s a fascinating testament that dreams can come true … at any age.

Kenneth Boone is the president and publisher of The Alexander City Outlook. His column appears each weekend edition.

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