EVICTED From Campsite | 7 Kids + Mom Paddle The Mississippi – Day 50 #camping; #kids

Last night of our family canoeing and camping adventure was total chaos...flashlights, sleepy kids, and the sound of packing gear in the dark. After crossing into Illinois and finding what we thought was a safe campsite near Bellevue, a uniformed woman showed up in the middle of the night and told us to leave immediately.

It wasn’t safe to paddle in the dark, so we packed up our entire Mississippi River camp by headlamp and moved seven miles downstream to a remote Army Corps of Engineers recreation area below Lock 12.

By sunrise, exhaustion gave way to laughter, hot coffee, and gratitude. The kids reflected on what the night taught them about teamwork, trust, and staying calm when plans fall apart.

We’re a family of one single mother, Smoky, and seven kids canoeing from Minnesota to the Gulf. Some days bring milestones while others bring midnight chaos, but every day brings us closer together.