Trip of a Lifetime
In Brief — Our Story, Chapter by Chapter
By Tamia Nelson
tamia@paddling.net
A Note to the Reader
Whether you've been with Trip of a Lifetime since day one, or are stopping by for the
first time, these chapter summaries should help you follow the story. And if you're having
trouble keeping the characters straight, just take a look at Usual Suspects. Everybody
who's anybody is there. See you on the water!
Chapter 1:
Stirrings
It's March. Wild geese are flying over the upstate New York bookshop run by Brenna Trent and
her husband Ed Fletcher. Ed and Brenna have been dreaming about taking a long trip up North for
years. Now — with a little help from Henry Hudson — they decide that the time has
come.
Chapter 2: Cold Light
of Dawn
Trip of a lifetime? It sounded easy yesterday, but things don't look so simple the next
morning. Is Ed and Brenna's trip over before it begins?
Chapter 3: Something
Turns Up
The problems are multiplying. Brenna doesn't see how she and Ed can get away, but Ed keeps
telling her that something will turn up. Who's right?
Chapter 4: I've Got a
Little List
One problem's solved, but there's still a pile of gear to collect. Jack Van Dorn steps in to
help, but it's Brenna's lists that really save the day.
Chapter 5: On Snyder's
Pond
Ed's away at a book fair and Jack's tending the store, so Brenna takes a day off to go
kayaking at a favorite local pond. It's a welcome change from the endless job of getting their
gear together.
Chapter 6: Knotty
Problem
Brenna almost loses it on the way home from Snyder's pond. Luckily, Jack's around to show her
the ropes.
Chapter 7: Friends and
Lovers
It's show time! Ed and Brenna are getting together with some old friends. The object?
Seduction. There's safety in numbers, and our two heroes are looking for partners to share their
trip of a lifetime. But it's harder work than they'd thought.
Chapter 8: April
Fools
April Fool's Day finds Ed, Brenna, and the rest of the gang on the Battenkill. Everything is
looking pretty good so far, but Ken is dogged by a problem that he can't seem to shake.
Chapter 9: End of the
Trail
Doggone! The party's already over for one of the gang. So why do you think they call 'em
take-outs?
Chapter 10: Shooting
the Sun
Ed and Brenna's trip is going nowhere fast, and they've all but lost their bearings. Then
Jack steps in to put them back on course.
Chapter 11: A Foreign
Country
Fade to black, as Jack gropes in the dark and takes the lid off Ed's past.
Chapter 12: Everything
Was Wonderful
Jack's wondering if the Ed he knew is gone for good. Will he get the point?
Chapter 13: Looking
for a Boat
With the lid back on the box, Ed and Brenna are taking a drive to check out the canoe of
their dreams.
Chapter 14: Unlucky
Friday
A river runs through it, and that river's pretty lively. It has a few unpleasant surprises in
store for the gang, too.
Chapter 15: Three
Sisters
The casualty list grows, and Ed and Brenna trip the light fantastic.
Chapter 16: Stepping
the Mast
It's time to try sailing the big canoe, and what better place than Lake George?
Chapter 17: Old
Glory
Memorial Day weekend's always a busy time on Long Lake, but Deputy Sheriff "Bubba" Buck is
doing his best to keep the peace. Local radio host "Jerkin' Jake" Slaughter has other ideas,
though. Is the Hollywood Lady about to star in her last production?
Chapter 18: A Wink is
as Good as a Nod
The Memorial Day weekend cruise continues, as Ed, Brenna, Pete, and Karin are joined by a man
of mystery.
Chapter 19: James Bay
or Bust!
After months of preparation, Ed, Brenna, and the Nearys are on their way up North. Their
goal? Fort Albany on James Bay — and then on to Moosonee. But no river trip ever goes
exactly according to plan, does it?
Chapter 20: On
Different Wavelengths
Nobody loves headwinds, and the struggle to keep paddling is taking its toll. More and more
often, the two couples seem to be on different wavelengths.
Chapter 21: Between a
Rock and a Hard Place
Hurry up and wait. Sometimes that's good advice, but don't tell it to Pete Neary. He's had
enough. He wants out now, and he almost gets his wish.
Chapter 22: Billy
Swamp
A meeting at an island camp gives Pete the opening he's looking for.
Chapter 23: The End
of the Beginning
Alone, together. It sounds like a recipe for a romantic weekend, but Ed and Brenna aren't
sure it's what they want for their trip of a lifetime.
Chapter 24: Into the
Mists
Back in the States, Independence Day is a washout for Frontenac Lowlands University, and the
Reverend Jefferson Williams gets handed a sentence he can't appeal. Further north, Ed and Brenna
learn that taking the road less traveled by can make all the difference.
Chapter 25: Up the
Creek
Brenna's caught with her pants down, Nikolai makes a move, and Ed does his level best to get
his point across.
Chapter 26: In the
Same Boat
Ed and Brenna clean up and get ready to clear out — with two new partners. Now
everyone's in the same boat.
Chapter 27: On a Wing
and a Prayer
Jack Van Dorn is worried. There's been no news from northern Ontario, and he's beginning to
think that Ed and Brenna's "trip of a lifetime" might have gone terribly wrong. Then he decides
to stop worrying and do something. Has he left it too late?
Chapter 28: The Eagle
Has Landed
Ed and Brenna are back on the river, but Jack doesn't know that. He's already gone
underground to visit an old friend.
Chapter 29: Making
Connections
Traveling downriver with Sergei and Pavel, Ed and Brenna are wet, miserable, and on the run.
Their plan? Get back to the United States any way they can. Meanwhile, Jack's made a few plans
of his own
Chapter 30:
Upriver
The four members of the "northern alliance" have been attracting a lot of attention as they
travel down the Albany River. Now they're cooped up in a tiny fisherman's shack, while Jack
heads upriver on a fool's errand. Or is it?
Chapter 31: Freedom's
Just Another Word…
Only 700 miles to go! And Jack has his own ideas about the best way to bring his friends
home. Only one thing's certain — it's really going to be the trip of a lifetime.
Chapter 32: A Forlorn
Hope?
Ed, Brenna, and their companions missed a chance at a flight out of Fort Albany. Now Crazy
Dog's come through for them once again, and they hope they're on their way. But is it a forlorn
hope? And what about Henry Hudson?
Chapter 33:
Homecoming
Sometimes the last few miles of a trip are the hardest. At least it's…
THE END
Copyright © 2003 by Verloren Hoop Productions. All rights reserved.