Kayaker stops in La Crosse during journey down Mississippi River July 2, 2021 11:02 PM Leah Rivard LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) – La Crosse is just one stop on a 2,350-mile journey by an Ohio kayaker. Joe Solomon is taking a kayak trip down the Mississippi River to raise awareness about mental health and to raise money for support programs. Solomon had his own mental health journey after slipping into a catatonic state after surgery. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. After being heavily sedated with medication, Solomon decided that wasn’t how he wanted to live his life. He picked up a paddle in Cincinnati and started kayaking 8 miles a day, building strength both physically and mentally.