I have been blessed to be part of a local, Catholic writers’ group for the past few years called the Minnklings — Minnesota Inklings, get it? (If only!)

A dozen-or-so of us get together a few times a year, read our stories to each other, give each other constructive criticism and ask for writing advice.

A few months ago, Gary Hoffman, a 60-something guy sitting next to me, presented the book he wrote about his canoe trip down the ENTIRE Mississippi River — from its beginning at Lake Itasca (pictured) to its end at the Gulf of Mexico — with his son.

Truth be told, I thought this guy was NUTS for doing such a dangerous thing. As a coxswain with my university’s rowing team I’ve done battles with the barges on that river, and I couldn’t imagine being in such an insecure vessel as a canoe doing the same. In addition, the water quality is so poor and volatile that it used to stain and eat away at our clothes when we got splashed with it while rowing — and that’s just a few hundred miles from the river’s birthplace. Just think of what it could do to your health if you were in it every day for months, as the pollution got worse with every city southward?!

My fears were well founded; Gary shared some harrowing stories of his adventures, including a few near-death experiences.

I cannot understand why people choose to risk their lives to do things like climb Mount Everest just because it’s there — this definitely is not my bag. But I do have to admire Gary’s courage, his vision and his perseverance; he’s a pretty amazing guy to have accomplished this feat.