Author reflects on journey along entire length of Mississippi River

For travel writer and photographer Gayle Harper, the journey of thousands of miles began with a single, imaginary drop of water.

Her book, "Roadtrip with a Raindrop," chronicles the 90-day journey Harper made following an imaginary raindrop on its course from the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Harper got the idea for the book from the National Park Services website, where she read how long it would take a raindrop to make the course. Reading that, Harper said, changed her life.

"Every cell in my body came to full attention," said Harper of Springfield, Missouri.

"Roadtrip with a Raindrop" recently was awarded the Clarion award by the National Association of Women in Communications in the category of nonfiction books. The book already had won the bronze category for travel writing in Forward Reviews' annual INDIEFAB Book of the Year competition.

Envisioning a 90-day excursion wasn't difficult for Harper, who had worked as a travel photographer and writer for 20 years, a job that had taken her around the globe.

Harper holds a baby alligator in XXXX (Photo submitted by Gayle Harper)

Gayle Harper

Executing the plan, however, was a different matter. Paying for lodgings for a 90-day trip would be difficult, so to avoid a bank-breaking travel tab, Harper drafted a letter, which she sent to chambers of commerce in states between Minnesota and Louisiana, explaining her mission and asking for help in securing lodgings.

Her request was simple: she asked only for a clean bed and, she hoped, Internet access.

"The invitations came pouring in," she said. "That amazing support made this possible."

She quickly had commitments for more than the 90 nights the trip required.

She spent day 57 of the adventure in Cape Girardeau, at Neumeyer's Bed & Breakfast, where she was hosted by Tom and Terri Neumeyer.

Part of the story of her local visit describes Cape Girardeau's rich history and the 24-panel River Walk mural.

Four of the 200 pictures in the book were taken in town, including one of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge at twilight.

The story of her overnight stay in Cape Girardeau is one of 55 vignettes that detail Harper's journey.

Harper said no interviews, were planned for the trip and everything she encountered came about naturally.

"I met people in cafes, and in their farm fields, and they took me into their lives," she said.

The spontaneous nature of the trip allowed her to see a perspective unique to the heritage and culture of each area, she said.

Harper made the trip in 2010, but it was several years before the book's release in November.

That time, she said, was necessary for the stories to coalesce.

"It took slowing down and letting the story reveal itself," Harper said.

When she returned from the trip, she had thousands of photos and many stories of encounters she had with people and places, following her imaginary raindrop, Serendipity.

The journey carried Serendipity 2,400 miles, but going by car, following its course required that Harper drive more than 7,400 miles.

A trailer for the book is available on Harper's website, gayleharper.com.

"Roadtrip with a Raindrop" is available on Harper's website for $39.99 plus shipping. It also is available in Barnes & Noble bookstores and at Amazon.com.

Harper, whose 2015 schedule is booked solid for the book's promotional tour, said one of the best things occurring in her life is the correspondences she receives from readers saying the book brought them joy.

"If I can spend my time making people happy, how can I not love that?" she said.