Expedition underway · Est. 2026

An American
Expedition

A 2026 journey through America by foot and canoe, documenting recovery, faith, endurance, and the people and places found along the way.

Enzo The Great expedition emblem showing Robert and Enzo between a road and river
Current chapterPhase One · Eastbound
StartedLate April 2026
Target completionEnd of 2026
Next chapter2,000 NM by canoe

This is bigger than a walk across America.

It is an unfolding American expedition by road, trail, and river.

Robert Cowden and Enzo set out from central Kansas in late April 2026. The mission is one continuous expedition: walk approximately 1,200 miles to Pittsburgh, launch on the Ohio River, and paddle America's inland waterways toward the Gulf near New Orleans before the end of the year.

Every mile documents the landscape, history, wildlife, communities, hardship, grace, and unexpected kindness of the country in between.

Phase 01

Land · 2026

Kansas to Pittsburgh

Approximately 1,200 miles on foot through America's heartland, recording the trails, towns, people, wildlife, and daily realities of life on the road.

Mode
On foot
Distance
≈ 1,200 miles
Direction
Eastbound
Phase 02

Water · Next chapter

Pittsburgh to the Gulf

A river craft chosen for Robert and Enzo. A Pittsburgh launch. Roughly 2,000 nautical miles through the Ohio and Mississippi river systems to the Gulf near New Orleans.

Mode
Canoe
Distance
≈ 2,000 NM
Direction
Southbound

One expedition.
Two ways forward.

Completed walk Remaining walk River expedition
Actual route walked

Robert and Enzo's route to date

Open full map
Phase One 1,200 miles on foot
Started · April 2026New Haven, Kansas
Latest trail reportKaty Trail, Missouri
Walk destinationPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Phase Two 2,000 nautical miles by canoe
Ohio River launchPittsburgh
Ohio RiverLouisville
Mississippi RiverMemphis
Gulf destinationNew Orleans

The embedded Google My Map is the current route record. Major future expedition waypoints are shown separately below it.

Rock bottom became a place to stand.

I started walking because I had lost nearly everything to alcohol, and I did not want to lose my dog too.

During the first weeks of the expedition, I reached rock bottom. On May 13, 2026, I found sobriety. Along the way, I also found peace through Jesus Christ. My faith became the foundation beneath every mile that followed.

This expedition does not hide the hard parts. It is an honest record of addiction, recovery, rebuilding, and the daily choice to keep moving forward.

Read the journal

The reason the first step happened.

Enzo is a spotted pointer mix, expedition partner, camp companion, morale officer, and the dog Robert refused to lose. He has remained beside him every mile.

“I lost almost everything and didn't want to lose my dog too, so we started walking.”
Enzo standing on a wooden play structure during a trail stop
Trail partner Every mile since Kansas

Dispatches from the road.

View all entries

June 5, 2026 · Appleton City, Missouri

Appleton City, Haircut Day, and Word Before World

Prayer before scrolling, sobriety, wrestling with faith, and a haircut day on the road.

Previous dispatch · June 1

Broken Cart Handle and a Day of Gratitude

A reset day where the miles slowed down, but kindness and connection got louder.

Read entry

From the journal

“Pray and move my feet.”

Robert reflects on sobriety, faith, peace, and looking for the fruit of a changed life.

Read full entry

Watch the expedition

The road, unfiltered.

Real trail danger, hard-earned recovery, faith, and life on the road with Enzo. New dispatches follow the walk to Pittsburgh and the river expedition beyond it.

Faith, Recovery & The Next Expedition

Robert shares the full story and reveals the canoe expedition to the Gulf.

Read the expedition journal

Enzo Meets Baby Goats

Enzo's sweet first meeting with baby goats during the walk across America.

Meet Enzo

Wearing the mission. The Enzo The Sinner Tuesday drops help carry Roads, Rivers & Recovery forward.

Shop Enzo The Sinner

Help carry the mission forward.

The expedition is building long-term relationships with organizations aligned with outdoor travel, recovery, faith, dog care, navigation, safety, and American storytelling.

Outdoor gear Recovery Dog care Navigation Safety Media
Explore River Data

Put your name behind the next mile.

Support helps cover food, dog care, safety equipment, campsites, media costs, gear repairs, and the canoe needed for the river chapter.

$10Trail meal

Fuel for a day on the road.

$25Enzo's pack

Food, care, and trail supplies.

$100River fund

Equipment for the canoe chapter.

Wear the mission.

Roads. Rivers. Recovery. Shop Robert and Enzo's shirts through Fourthwall. Every purchase helps move the expedition forward.

View all merch Secure checkout handled by Fourthwall

A living story of recovery, faith, and endurance.

For interviews, documentary opportunities, speaking requests, local coverage, or expedition collaboration.