Hope on the River

A global pandemic, a leaky raft, and a captain completely

unqualified to navigate the Mighty Mississippi —

What could possibly go wrong?



Afraid of the dark, scared of wild animals, and with no actual mariner skills, Erich Mische traveled nearly 1,700 miles through ten states for two months on a leaky pontoon with a garden shed on top to save the nonprofit organization he leads, Spare Key, in the middle of the Covid-19 global pandemic. Mische quickly learned he was even less qualified for the trip than he imagined, or others had correctly discerned.



Braving brutal waves and wakes, navigating behemoth

barges the size of offi ce buildings, encountering a hurricane — plus flying carp (!) — all while keeping in touch with folks via live interviews, live-streaming, and blogging, Erich persevered in his quest to discover, and contribute to, Hope on the River at a time when hope was needed in our world more than ever.



The questionable decision to undertake the journey on one of the most powerful, legendary, and dangerous rivers in the world nearly cost Mische his life but never his belief that America remains the most indispensable nation filled with the most remarkable people on Earth.



100% of all profi ts from the sale of this book will be donated to Spare Key, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families facing a medical crisis avoid adding a financial crisis to their lives through its Help Me Bounce program. Learn more at: www.HelpMeBounce.org