Ramsey County History – Fall 2022: Retracing the Red River Trail

Volume 57, Number 3: Fall 2022

A Man, a Woman, an Ox, and a Cart: Retracing the Red River Trail
Author: Terry Doerksen

Remember your teachers assigning the annual class essay, What I Did on Summer Vacation? Canadians Terry and Patty Doerksen were kind enough to share Terry’s one-of-a-kind “essay” and Patty’s phenomenal photos of their recent summer trek from Winnipeg to St. Paul via a creaky wooden oxcart and a two-year-old, strong-willed beast named Zik. Terry’s journaling of his recreated 500-mile journey along one of the famed Red River Trails and his humorous and sometimes introspective and spiritual reflections give readers insight into the history of two countries and early fur traders and the obstacles those long-ago travelers encountered. The Doerksens completed their ambitious adventure (with a little hitchhiking thrown in) thanks to the kindness of strangers who provided food, shelter, company, medicine, a variety of creative ox shoes, blessings, stories, and a continuous cheering section all along the way. (138)

PDF of T. Doerksen article