Ranson skillfully recreates his northern experience in strong, crisp stories that are humorous, quirky, and unique. Working North makes it clear why Ranson was moved to "pity the southerner who has never seen an arctic sun skipping along the earth, gathering all the colours of the prism and turning the land a warm purple." Working North is an engaging and entertaining read for inexperienced southerners and northern travellers alike.
In the Fall of 1969, Rick Ranson and John Van Landeghem, both barely out of high school, took on the might of the Red and Mississippi Rivers to paddle a canoe from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to New Orleans, Louisiana. Combining high drama with hilarity, Ranson tells how the duo, ducked bullets in St. Louis, avoided a whirlpool, worked on a Mississippi tow boat, sailed a yacht through a barge congested Cairo, IL, and spent a few days in the Fargo City Jail, while meeting an eclectic array of unforgettable characters. Paddling South tells the incredible tale of how they survived the three month trip on the often treacherous rivers, beset by snow storms, hurricanes, monstrous waves, and unseen dams.
The narrative takes readers into the heart of Fort McMurray, a pivotal site in Canada's oilsands industry, through Rick Ranson's firsthand account of a 24-day shift during a shutdown. He introduces a colorful cast of characters, including a welding couple, a strict safety inspector, and a resilient secretary, revealing the dynamics and challenges of life in this often-misunderstood environment. Ranson's storytelling offers a unique perspective on the human experiences behind the headlines, blending humor and insight into the gritty realities of the oilsands.
Kaum der Highschool entwachsen, beschließen Rick Ranson und John Van Landeghem von Winnipeg, Manitoba, nach New Orleans, Louisiana, zu paddeln. Auf ihrer dreimonatigen Kanutour auf dem Mississippi trotzen sie Schneestürmen, meterhohen Wellen und Ungetümen von Flussdampfern, nächtigen im Gefängnis und entkommen den Schießübungen selbst ernannter Revolverhelden. Kraftvoll und voller Dialogwitz erzählt Rick Ranson von den skurrilen menschlichen Begegnungen, den Abenteuern auf dem Fluss und der Herausforderung kameradschaftlicher Zweisamkeit. Ein Buch zum Einsteigen, Mitpaddeln oder Treibenlassen.