Retracing the steps of your Norwegian relatives--the "Paddle Pilgrim" writes a book about his latest trip

Dave Ellingson's children have taken to calling him "Rock Star."  That's because--just like a rock star--Ellingson heads out on the road occasionally to promote the books he has written, including books recounting his paddling trips retracing the route his great-grandfather took to come to Winneshiek County.

Ellingson was on a book tour recently to places like Des Moines and Minneapolis--and Decorah, where he attended the memorial service for Weston Noble.

He also got a chance to talk with decorahnews.com about his newest book, "Paddle Pilgrim: Kayaking the Erie Canal and Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty," which describes his trip in a kayak to retrace that portion of the trip his great-grandfather took when coming to northern Winneshiek County, along Canoe Creek.  

The book is a follow-up to his first book in the set of three, "Paddle Pilgrim: An Adventure of Spirit and Learning Kayaking the Mississippi River," about his 2,300 mile kayak journey down the Mississippi in 2012.

He tells decorahnews.com the third book in the set will be written after he returns to Norway to kayak the Hardanger and the Sogne fjords--areas his relatives left to come to America.

Ellingson has taught courses in spirituality, environmental ethics, human development, and youth ministry at Trinity Lutheran College in Everett, Washington.  He is a Lutheran pastor, Master Gardner, former distance runner and triathlete, is married and the father of five grown children.  He now lives in Edmonds, Washington.

For more information about Ellingson and his books, visit: http://www.dellingson.com/books.html

Kayaking on the MIssissippi River