Growing up on the banks of the Tallapoosa River, Harold Banks tumbled head-first into a life of outdoor adventures, tackling rapid runs and long-distance canoeing with a boy's unbridled enthusiasm, if not necessarily an abundance of preparation. While he honed his skills and knowledge over decades, that boyhood curiosity never wavered. Where does the Tallapoosa's water come from, and where is it headed? In his sixties, Harold would become the first to find out first hand, navigating those waters from their origins in North Georgia all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Part travel journal, part adventure story, part guide to one of Alabama's most beautiful waterways, By Paddle and Pack brings you along for this epic solo canoe trip with vivid daily details of the journey and dozens of full-color photographs showcasing the river's stunning scenery and wildlife. Insights into the area's history-from tales of the Muscogee Creek Nation and the early days of the United States to smaller, more personal stories of the people who lived and worked along these banks-prove just how vital the river is to both our past and our future. By Paddle and Pack is the perfect read for anyone who ever dropped a stick into a creek and wondered where it might end up.