Dick was dressed in swim trunks, a sweat stained teashirt that said new orleans french quarter, and a life vest. Dick saw ben waving and called out that he was due for a good break. When he reached the shore, he dragged his boat on to the beach. And then he carefully stowed his paddle, knotting the handle to an empty detergent bottle. Watching this, ben thought, the sky does not mess around.
The Ohio, Hudson, Mississippi, and Yellowstone — Dick Conant canoed them all. And then he disappeared.
In his riveting new book, “Riverman,” journalist Ben McGrath tries to track down the man who may be the greatest American folk hero you’ve never heard of.
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