Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic

Adventure stories never get old, this ones a goodie

This was by far my favorite book this year. It is extremely well written. Having grown up, and still living in Minnesota, I know much of the area personally. It is quite beautiful and extremely challenging in a canoe. I have purchased four copies of this book. One for my self and three for friends and family. I will probably buy and send more as gifts, Sincerely John Gallagher

I wish I could take an adventure like this. Two young seasoned paddlers get the bug to “Canoe with the Cree” as Eric Sevareid and Walter Port did in 1930. They paddle over 2000 miles from Minneapolis, MN to York Factory on Hudson Bay. Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho are the first two women to complete a 3-month expedition recreating this historic route. The plan is to start the expedition after college graduation. The trip is not about the clothing, gear, the paddles, the food plans, or the weight of the boat, although, I did learn that the canoe was made of Kevlar and they had an instrument called a “travel” guitar (until it swam). Instead, the narrative focuses on their friendship. Teamwork, and their highly competitive spirit fuels Natalie and Ann for 85 days of paddling, and that is what makes this story a standout. Chapter by chapter, you meet many communities extending hospitality. The facts and personalities come and go quickly. Contemporary and historical issues stand out without bogging the reader down with complex analysis. As the wind and current get physically demanding, conflicting decisions start to erode the teamwork. It is fun to see how they react to “lectures” from naysayers. Or, when crossing the Canadian border with a shotgun. It was unusual to read about crying, which has been associated with weakness. Yes, women do cry out of victory, hurt feelings, and joy. So, get over it. The hardcover book has 224 pages in 20 chapters, a small well-drawn map of the canoe route, and 22 black and white photos.

I loved the entire trip and the philosophical interpretations of the gals who shared their experiences. Even though the telling is repetitious , it is exciting. Yet it did not encourage me to consider trying it myself, even though I am much older than they were when they did the trip. What fun they had! What a life changing experience they had! I encourage anyone to read this book to follow them on their journey and applaud them in their success.

What a fun ride this one was! Its equal parts adventure story, a journey of self discovery, an examination of the pollution and abuse of our beautiful rivers, a declaration of the horrible injustices done to Canadas Indigenous People, and hey - throw in a cute dog too! Thank you Natalie an Ann for taking me along on your historic journey. You allowed me to escape for awhile. It was wonderful! Anyone reading this book will feel the same way. Kudos!!

I dont dream about going on expeditions, but I do love reading about them. Hudson Bay Bound is no exception. I usually have two or three books going at a time, but as soon as I cracked this one open I put my other books aside. Its packed with adventure, suspense, and humor, but theres so much more. I like that Natalie didnt shy away from writing about the environment, water quality, or the people who live along the various water bodies she and Ann paddled. I was particularly moved by the caring way in which she wrote about Princess Harbour. Hudson Bay Bound was a fun, insightful read that I look forward to sharing with others.

This was a very interesting book to me. My son had canoed the Mississippi, so I was interested in these girls experience. I loved it!

Sometimes, I just want to be entertained... Frivolously entertained. I get enough angst on the evening news, social media, and even most TV programs. I read to get away from all of that. This title had all the makings of a great adventure book. Two young women paddling a canoe all the way to Hudsons Bay, on a variety of rivers and lakes, retracing the travels of previous adventure seekers. most notably Eric Sevareid and Walter Port in Canoeing with the Cree. It was extremely well written, for the most part. It also provided some of that adventure. The key word being some. But, alas, as with far too many other forms of entertainment today, this book came with a heavy dose of virtue signaling and chastisement about myriad issues plaguing the world. Pollution, the environment, the plight of indigenous people, how all the evils of the world can be blamed on white men, and how taking a three-month long, well-sponsored, well-publicized, canoe trip is somehow symbolic of strong women. For example, too many interactions in the book are sprinkled with phrases like, I wonder if he would say that if he were talking to two males. As if a misogynist is hiding behind every tree. Beyond that, about two-thirds or more of the book was spent chronicling the portions of the trip that could hardly be classified as wilderness. The Minnesota River to lower Lake Winnipeg, is well-populated. This was evident by the number of peoples homes the canoeists stayed in and the amount of meals they ate in town. I wanted to hear about the really dicey parts once they crossed over to the true wilderness. There was some of that, but it felt sped-up and rushed with fewer details. This is a pattern I see with a lot of books today. Its almost as if the author(s) are either coming up on a tight deadline or just kind of get bored with writing and want to get it over with. Im sure Sevareid and Port would have loved to have eaten a cheeseburger at the local greasy spoon while on their epic canoe trip. If the author wanted to relive the experiences of Canoeing with the Cree, perhaps she and her partner should have resisted the temptations of the very indulgences and modern comforts she criticizes throughout the book and stuck to the tent and provisions they brought with them. Overall, this isnt a bad book, just not as exciting as I would have hoped.

This book was so much more interesting than I thought it would be. I learned so much about rivers, lakes, farming communities and First Nation people. I didn’t know that the Minnesota river was once the most polluted river in the US. Farming is dumping tons of harsh chemicals directly into the river. Our politicians don’t seem to care about water pollution. As water becomes more and more precious and climate change is happening faster and faster our country and world will soon face a water crisis. This book really opened my eyes.

“Hudson Bay Bound” was a memorable & absorbing story of 2 women who canoed all the way from Minnesota, up through Canada, to Hudson Bay. I enjoyed reliving their trip as they told their story.....