River Days: Exploring the Connecticut River from Source to Sea

by Michael J. Tougias

“As a boy, I had the Huck Finn dream that many do of letting the river carry me to adventure.” Now, some 30 years later, award-winning outdoor writer Michael Tougias lives that dream. Trading Huck Finn’s log raft for canoe and kayak, Tougias journeys the length of the Connecticut River—from its source near the Canadian border through four New England states to where it meets the sea in Connecticut. Recently designated an American Heritage River, the Connecticut provides the perfect setting for Tougias’s narrative—a wonderful blend of adventure, fishing tales, history, and literature.

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

About the author

True Survival, rescue and history is the topic of most of my books. that runs through most of my books. My latest book is with St. Martins Press and is titled In Deep Water: A True Story of Sharks, Survival and Courage. Other nonfiction sea survival and rescue books include Overboard! A Storm Too Soon, Rescue of the Bounty, Fatal Forecast and Ten Hours Until Dawn.
Disney made a major motion picture of my book The Finest Hours: The Trues Story of the Coast Guard's Greatest Rescue (Disney kept the same title). The movie stars Chris Pine an Casey Affleck and is a fantastic film.
My co-written history books include So Clost To Home (about surviving a Uboat attack in the Gulf of Mexico), Above & Beyond (the untold story of the Cuban Missile Crisis) King Philip's War (Native Americans vs Colonists) Abandon Ship (wwii) and several more
Another adventure for me is publishing a funny family memoir with my daughter, called The Cringe Chronicles (Mortifying Misadventures with my Dad).
My friends were been asking if I'll write a sequel to There's a Porcupine in my Outhouse (2003 Outdoor Book of the Year) and I suprised them with another book of misadventures titled The Power of Positive Fishing: A Story of Friendship and the Quest for Happiness. Also in the same category is The Waters Between Us: A Boy, A Father and Outdoor Misadventures.

Reviews

[Suzanne]

The Connecticut River is the longest river in New England (400+ miles). It begins in Northern New Hampshire near the Canadien border and travels between New Hampshire and Vermont, through Massachusetts into Connecticult ultimately emptying into Long Island Sound near Old Saybrook.
I keep this book on my sailboat because I have enjoyed my sails up the river to Essex, Hamburg Cove up to Haddam near the Opera House. (the bridge prevents me going further)
The author explored the river by canoe and kayak and his observations are keen and informative. The area is rich in wildlife and remains a vibrant habitat for the bald eagle. If you visit Essex be sure to stop in at the Connecticut River Museum. It was there I learned that Essex and Deep River once had a thriving ivory cutting business and produced "piano keys" for many of the world's most famous piano manufacturers.

[Joey Anthony]

Picked this up at a book store in Bethlehem, NH - Legacy Used Books. Loved the story and details of his section paddling out the Connecticut River. I want someone to write a book about my favorite rivers here in central Illinois - the Sangamon and Kankakee.

[Charlie Zegers]

Informative read... would like to re-trace his steps some day.

[Doreen]

The book is a relaxing, enjoyable read as the author travels down the Connecticut River. I felt like I was the author's friend; listening to him tell of his trip.

[Ann]

Loved the canoe trip down the Connecticut River. We were so inspired by this idea that we went to the 4th Connecticut Lake in Pittsburg NH.