Richard M. Donovan

Donovan has combined excerpts from a paddle trip down the upper and middle Neches River with east Texas hiatory as it applies to the neches drainage. This book excels at local history, especially hunting and fishing as it was practiced prior to about 1950. The excerpts from the travel log down the river are a little more average in interest and less detailed than the history. Nevertheless the trip account is still pleasant reading. Donovan's goal is to instill an appreciation of the natural flowing river and I believe he succeeds in that.

For equipment and paddling techniques though, other more technical books are a better source. The essence oth this book is the natural wildlife and plantlife along the river and the history of the woods and the people of the Neches drainage.… (meer)