Thurston says thank you to those who followed 'The Old Men and the River' (2010/03/10)
(Editor’s note: The Broadcaster's trout fishing columnist Jay Thurston recently completed a 436-mile canoe trip down the Wisconsin River. He wrote this thank you regarding that trip.)

Canoe’s wake passes with sense of accomplishment (2010/03/10)
Seven days on the river. The wear and tear on Jay Thurston’s body wasn’t evident, Friday, although he had just finished a 436-mile canoe trip. In the final two full days, Thurston, 75, Viroqua, and his canoeing partner, Mike Kinziger, 60, Moscow, Idaho, paddled an astounding 164 miles. They finished paddling the length of the Wisconsin River in seven days, three hours and 27 minutes.

POSTSCRIPT 6-20-08 (3 p.m.) Thurston thankful for completing trip; staying fit (2010/03/10)
The wear and tear on Jay Thurston’s body wasn’t evident, Friday, although he had just finished a 436-mile canoe trip in just over seven days.

COMPLETE! 6-20-08 (8:45 a.m.) The Journey's end comes at the Mississippi River, Friday, at 7:45 a.m. (2010/03/10)
Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger reached the Mississippi River, Friday, after seven days, three hours and 45 minutes of paddling.

ASHORE FOR THE NIGHT 6-19-08 (9:10 p.m.) Thurston, Kinziger have about 20 miles left to paddle early Friday (2010/03/10)
The swollen Wisconsin River allowed Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger another opportunity to log plenty of miles in their canoe "Inspiration," Thursday, but it also made the flooded boat landings hard to find.

PADDLING 6-19-08 (5 p.m.) Thurston, Kinziger to finish earlier than expected, but landing area is unknown due to high water (2010/03/10)
There may be no “grand landing” when Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger finish their 436-mile trip down the Wisconsin River, presumably sometime Friday morning. In fact, due to a swollen Mississippi River, the pair will eventually end their journey at a yet undetermined spot.

PADDLING 6-19-08 (2 p.m.) High water creates hazards near bridges as pair make progress (2010/03/10)
A railroad bridge over the Wisconsin River east of Lone Rock just about spilled Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger in the water early Thursday afternoon.

PADDLING 6-19-08 (8:30 a.m.) Another beautiful day greets Thurston and Kinziger as they make final portage (2010/03/10)
Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger are in the home stretch now of their 436-mile canoe journey down the length of the Wisconsin River.

Portage Daily Register features Thurston, Kinziger (2010/03/10)
(Editor's note) This story was printed in Friday's edition of the Portage Daily Register.

Wisconsin Dells Events newspaper features Thurston, Kinziger (2010/03/10)
(Editor's note) This story was printed in this week's edition of the Wisconsin Dells Events newspaper.

ASHORE FOR THE NIGHT 6-18-08 (9 p.m.) Thurston and Kinziger paddle longest single-day stretch ever, 78 miles (2010/03/10)
They started Wednesday in the shadow of the Petenwell dam, then with favorable winds and conditions, canoed an amazing 78 miles down the Wisconsin River.

PADDLING 6-18-08 (2:30 p.m.) Thurston and Kinziger pick up speed heading into Portage (2010/03/10)
It’s been a day of redemption for intrepid canoeists Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger.

PADDLING 6-18-08 (8:45 a.m.) Winds die down and current picks up as canoeists pass over Castle Rock Flowage (2010/03/10)
The weather seemed to be on the side of Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger for the first time in their six days on the Wisconsin River.

NEWSPAPER'S STORY FOR (6-19-07): Canoeists strive to persevere in the teeth of the wind (2010/03/10)
Mike Kinziger said Tuesday morning that his canoe trip with Jay Thurston down the Wisconsin River would likely be defined by one major factor -- the wind.

ASHORE FOR THE NIGHT 6-17-08 (8:45 p.m.) Thurston, Kinziger conquer Petenwell; look toward Castle Rock on Wednesday (2010/03/10)
The wind finally started to die down on the Petenwell Flowage, Tuesday afternoon, allowing Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger to portage at the Petenwell dam.

PADDLING 6-17-08 (5:30 p.m.) Petenwell Flowage tests canoeists with wind, waves (2010/03/10)
Picking their lines along the shore, Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger were canoeing down the length of the Petenwell Flowage late Tuesday afternoon.

PORTAGING 6-17-08 (8:30 a.m.) Thurston, Kinziger reach Port Edwards as wind picks up (2010/03/10)
Mike Kinziger said Tuesday morning that his canoe trip with Jay Thurston down the Wisconsin River would be defined likely by one major factor -- the wind.

ON SHORE 6-16-08 (9 p.m.) Punished by the wind, canoeing pair reach half-way point (2010/03/10)
Will… Sometimes in the face of a great challenge, you must muster the will to go on.

PORTAGING 6-16-08 (4:30 p.m.) Kinziger, Thurston hope a long walk will let them paddle (2010/03/10)
They couldn’t get into Stevens Point on the water, Monday afternoon, so Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger picked up their canoe for a two-mile portage to reach the Hwy. 10 bridge.

ON SHORE 6-16-08 (Noon) High waves force Thurston and Kinziger off Wisconsin River just north of Stevens Point (2010/03/10)
Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger made it across Lake DuBay Monday morning and were crossing the Wisconsin River Flowage north of Stevens Point when whitecap waves whipped up by a strong northerly wind forced them off the river.

PADDLING 6-16-08 (8 a.m.) Canoeing partners crossing Lake DuBay; Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids on today’s itinerary (2010/03/10)
Mike Kinziger and Jay Thurston pushed their canoe into the water at about 5 a.m. this morning intent on crossing Lake DuBay, south of Mosinee.

ASHORE FOR THE NIGHT 6-15-08 (9 p.m.) Thurston, Kinziger put 67-mile stretch under their belts on Sunday (2010/03/10)
They pulled into shore Sunday night about three miles past Mosinee, feeling good about a productive day paddling the Wisconsin River.

PADDLING 6-15-08 (4:30 p.m.) Thurston, Kinziger make Wausau portage as wind picks up (2010/03/10)
The Mosinee dam was the next stop for Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger after they portaged their canoe at Wausau on the Wisconsin River, Sunday at about 4 p.m.

PADDLING 6-15-08 (8:20 a.m.) Thurston, Kinziger get an early start and, hopefully, a break in the weather (2010/03/10)
Their eagerness flew in the face of what Mother Nature had thrown at them the day before.

PADDLING 6-14-08 (6 p.m.) Windy reception near Tomahawk sets canoeists back by four hours (2010/03/10)
Whitecap-covered Lake Alice was giving Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger fits late Saturday afternoon.

PADDLING 6-14-08 (noon) Thurston feeling better, but the southwesterly wind returns (2010/03/10)
"We're making some progress, but with this wind the only thing missing is the 'F' word, and by that I mean, 'fun,'" Mike Kinziger said from south of Rhinelander, Saturday at noon.

PADDLING 6-14-08 (6:45 a.m.) Canoeists make it through Rainbow Flowage; Thurston battles stomach problems (2010/03/10)
They paddled into a stiff headwind entering the Rainbow Flowage, Friday night, but Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger made it across, reaching their completion point for the day an hour-and-a-half overdue.

PADDLING 6-13-08 (4:30 p.m.) Strong winds from southwest make for tough going (2010/03/10)
Just west of Eagle River, near Hwy. 70, Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger battled a strong headwind on the first day of their of their 436-mile canoe trip down the Wisconsin River, Friday, at about 4:30 p.m.

PADDLING 6-13-08 (11 a.m.): Thurston, Kinziger in the water and heading south against gusting winds (2010/03/10)
Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger had reached Conover on the first day of their 436-mile canoe trip down the Wisconsin River, Friday, at about 10:30 a.m.

Itinerary for June 2008 Wisconsin River trip for Thurston, Kinziger (2010/03/10)
436 MILE WISONSIN RIVER TRIP SCHEDULE

Day 1, Friday, June 13; 2 Portages; 64 Miles; Mile 0 to 64.

Thurston, Kinziger confident about Wisconsin River canoe trip a day before entering the water (2010/03/10)
Optimism reigned Thursday as Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger considered their chances of sticking to the itinerary for their 436-mile canoe trip down the Wisconsin River, which is to begin Friday morning.

Pair anxious to start long-awaited river voyage (2010/03/10)
When planning to travel 436 miles by river in less than seven full days, every minute is important.

Trips marked by changes in training, technology (2010/03/10)
Having reached the age of 75 it’s understandable that Jay Thurston is concerned about how his body might react to being asked to paddle a canoe for 16 hours a day.

Just getting down the river is a goal in itself (2010/03/10)
Sometimes you spend so much time with your paddle in the water that it feels like you've become one with the river.

Pair hoping to do what’s ‘probably impossible;’ set new speed record canoeing the Wisconsin River (2010/03/10)
There's more bringing Jay Thurston and Mike Kinziger to the Wisconsin River this June than a handshake and a promise.

Six-week series on canoeing the Wisconsin River begins (2010/03/10)
Jay Thurston, 75, and Mike Kinziger, 60, intend to start a journey canoeing the Wisconsin River on June 13.