Jacob van der Merwe has successfully completed a solo kayak trip down the Mississippi River.

It took him 59 days to paddle the 1,704 mile stretch from Minneapolis to New Orleans.

Van der Merwe posted a message on the Backcountry Blog, stating:

"I reached New Orleans Wednesday, July 11, at 1:30 pm CST. My journey ended at Audubon Park, a few miles from downtown and the French Quarter. I paddled a total of 2,742 km (1,704 miles) in 59 days.

"It was quite the adventure, and a wild ride at times. I did 1,467 km (912 miles) in the last 23 days, without a break. Between Cairo, IL and Baton Rouge, LA the Mississippi is a big, wild river with nobody around, and very few towns on or near the river. It is wilder in some places now than it was 100 years ago.

"It certainly is one of the more challenging things I've ever done, but also one of the most rewarding. And I'll do it all again."

More information is available on his website, crazykayaker.com.