Join us on a captivating historical journey, Afloat on the Ohio, where we embark on a thousand-mile pilgrimage down the iconic Ohio River in a skiff. Accompanied by my wife, our adventurous ten-and-a-half-year-old son, and our insightful doctor friend, we set out not just for leisure, but to immerse ourselves in the rich tapestry of Western history. As the Ohio River played a crucial role in shaping the West, I aimed to intimately experience its many facets—witnessing the landscapes that early settlers encountered and, in my imagination, reviving the spirit of the pioneers. (From the Preface)