Ever wonder what it would be like to be sitting in a canoe at two in the morning the middle of the Everglades? The river of grass as it is called is probably the last place you want to be stranded at, cold, wet and waiting for sunrise. Still, Rod Price remembers his several attempts to win the Everglades Challenge fondly as he retells in an entertaining first person narrative of this and so many of his Canoe racing adventures. Eventually, Rod and his partner for the race won the Everglades Challenge but not before a few tough efforts. Rod Price’s adventures in the the Everglades are just a few of the happy anecdotal rememberings shared in “Racing to the Yukon”.

Every year Rod Price travels away from his home state of Florida to the Adirondack Mountains in upper New York. It is as Rod calls it “One of the most beautiful places on earth” But Rod doesn’t go there for the change of seasons, he travels to upper New York just for one reason and that is to race in the yearly Adirondack canoe race. After several failed attempts Rod succeeded in winning the 90 mile three day race for three years in a row! His early attempts at this challenging race, along with Rod’s unique first person humor allow readers of “Racing to the Yukon” to truly enjoy the more “anyone can” aspects of canoe racing. A fine example of Rod’s early canoe racing occurs when he discovers during his first attempt at the Adirondack Canoe race that the overland portaging segments of the race were harder that the paddling. You will especially enjoy reading about the steps Rod takes to triumph in this race.

One would think that Rod Price would have enough seen enough adventure trekking through the Adirondack Mountains with a canoe hoisted over his head and fighting off alligators in the rivers of Florida. But for Rod the allure of a place unknown is just too irresistible. That is why Rod found himself once again sitting in wet shorts with a paddle in his hands as he joined three friends for the Great Amazon River Raft race. As a fun sidebar section of “Racing to the Yukon” Rod shares with us his trip down to Peru and into the heart of untamed South America for the Annual build it yourself balsa wood raft race. Contestants range from dedicated locals who need to win the race in order to earn a living to other traveling adventurers like Rod who are there for the challenge and the immersion into a different culture.

Rod Price’s trip down the Amazon paddling a water logged four man river raft was all part of his cross training in preparation for the Yukon 1000, “The world’s longest canoe race.” Aside from the obvious trial of paddling a canoe for a long 1000 miles, the Yukon 1000 presented Rod with obstacles such as rapids one moment and flat still lakes the next. While many of Rod’s competitors were content to literally “go with the flow” and let the current carry them, Rod and partner Ardie were bent upon two things. One was to win the race in record time. The other was to get to a warm bed and a hot meal ASAP.

Racing to the Yukon is an adventure in many exciting parts. While much of the book focuses on what it is like for a fellow as average as any of us to set a series of physical goals and achieve them, it is also Rod’s personal sharing of the world that passes before his eyes while exploring the Rivers, Lakes, and sometimes Oceans of the world. Most of this takes place from Rod’s familiar seat at the rear of a canoe. This 200 page chronicle includes 32 full color pages of photographs from Rod’s adventures throughout the years. When combined with Rod Price’s narrative, the pictures allow one to completely appreciate and enjoy Rod’s hobby of canoe racing and all of the wonderful sightseeing that accompanies it.

“Racing to the Yukon” begins with Rod’s realization at the age of forty that those feats of physicality that came so easily to him years before were no longer possible, that is, unless he dedicates himself to getting into shape Rocky Balboa style. Rod begins an often comical and always entertaining struggle to turn back the clock and once again return to winning racing form.

Racing to the Yukon certainly has lighter moments such as when Rod decides that a can of “Bear repellent” may not be up to the task of sending a Grizzly packing, but Rod’s book also takes the time to share with the reader the importance of protecting our environment.
Anyone who has ever paddled a canoe will appreciate and enjoy “Racing to the Yukon.” Anyone who reads Rod’s book and has never paddled a canoe will immediately want to do so.