DUBUQUE, Iowa (KWQC/Gray News) – A Virginia mother who loves a good adventure wants to teach her children to have that same type of spirit. She and seven of her children are now paddling along the Mississippi River with a plan to conquer the whole thing.
Nikki Bettis, a single mother of 15, calls the outdoors her family’s greatest teacher. She and her seven youngest children — ages 6 to 14 — are paddling the entire length of the Mississippi. It’s a 2,350-mile journey from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
“I love geography. So, I teach them a lot about geography, but reading in a book is not the same as being out here doing it,” Bettis said.
Before setting out, Bettis says she spent time making sure her children felt safe on the water.
“It was getting them comfortable in boats, getting them comfortable with tipping, should they tip, so there’s no fear involved. A lot of what we did before we left was education at home, learning about the water, watching videos, what do you do and basically creating a comfort level for them, so they don’t panic should something go wrong,” she said.
For Bettis, the trip is about more than miles. After surviving domestic violence and rebuilding her life in Virginia, she says adventure became a way to heal and reconnect with her children.
“Nature in general is very gentle, so when you get out there in a space that’s conducive to letting you just be at peace with yourself, I think it facilitates that. So, we’ve come a long way,” Bettis said.
Last year, Bettis and 13 of her children hiked the entire 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail.
“It was like, ‘Let’s just hike, and we don’t have to go home. We don’t have to worry about it.’ That was such a great experience, being out there. It took us seven-and-a-half months,” Bettis said. “Your world begins to open up because I spent so many years pregnant and at home because of my upbringing and my past that I’ve never really seen the world either.”
This summer, the family traded mountains for water, hoping to reach the Gulf of Mexico by Thanksgiving. Along the way, each stop — including a recent one in Dubuque, Iowa — gives Bettis a chance to watch her children come alive as they connect with locals.
“Watching them flourish with real people, real life, outside, doing real things makes my heart happy,” Bettis said.
With hundreds of miles left in the journey, Bettis says the finish line will be proof that family can overcome anything.
The family, known online as “32 Feet Up,” shares daily updates on YouTube about the joys and challenges of life on the Mississippi.