In April, Robert Cowden, 52, set off on foot from New Haven, Kansas, on a two-stage journey across the United States. First, he planned to walk nearly 2,000km to Pittsburgh, then canoe 3,200km downriver to the Gulf of Mexico. With him is his dog, Enzo, a pointer-mix.
Robert Cowden and Enzo. Photo: Enzo The Great: An American Expedition
The walking stage
When he left New Haven with Enzo, Cowden was at a low point. His battle with alcohol addiction had cost him his job, car, and home. Entering a residential treatment program would leave Enzo with no place to go. Now sober and with housing waiting for him after the end of his journey, Cowden sees his expedition as part of the larger effort to rebuild his life.
During the walking stage, Cowden towed his camping gear and supplies in a cart, which Enzo could ride in to take a break from walking. Setting out with very little, Cowden has relied on the kindness of strangers, both online and on the trail, to continue his expedition.
“The number one warning you’re going to get on a walk across America is, ‘Be careful, there’s creepy people and bad people,'” Cowden recalled, speaking to a local KOMU 8 reporter while passing through Missouri. Instead, he’s been overwhelmingly met with generosity and helpfulness.
Cowden shows the wear on his trail shoes, as Enzo looks on. Photo: Enzo The Great: An American Expedition
The river stage
Cowden completed the walking stage in September. Now, he’s on the Ohio River and hopes to reach the Gulf by the end of 2026. While the second stage lets him and Enzo get off their feet, it has its own challenges. They launched the canoe into the Allegheny River at Pittsburgh. It soon joined the Ohio, and lengthy stretches of slow water pushed Cowden to paddle continuously.
It’s 1,579km down the Ohio to its confluence with the Mississippi in Illinois, which Cowden and Enzo aim to complete in under 40 days. They’re currently on pace, averaging about 20km a day.
Cowden posts regular updates on Facebook and on the expedition’s webpage.
