NATCHEZ &045;&045; For college students Nikki Olson and Kate Forsman, perhaps the most useful life lessons &045;&045; not to mention killer tans and a load of river tales &045;&045; have been gained as they make their way down the Mississippi River.

For the last eight days, the 23-year-old former roommates have been canoeing 50 miles a day down the Mississippi, sleeping mostly on sandbars and sampling river life.

On Wednesday, they arrived in Natchez, staying that night at the Mark Twain Guest House at the Under-The-Hill Saloon before leaving at noon Thursday. With any luck, they’ll arrive in New Orleans on Monday.

For Olson, of Oregon, and Forsman, of Minnesota, the trip was a chance to brainstorm what careers they would like to pursue in life and to take on a new challenge.

&uot;Why did we do this? We’ve been asking ourselves that every day,&uot; Olson said, laughing.

&uot;And we’re not super outdoorsy people,&uot; Forsman said. &uot;I mean, we’ve canoed, but never anything like this. Our outdoorsy friends thought it was great. But others were like, ‘Why are you doing that?’&uot;

But in a little over a week, the pair have come up with a host of tips future canoers should keep in mind, among them:

4Keep an eye on your belongings. &uot;Our stuff got stolen in Cape Girardeau, Missouri &045;&045; just came back and it was gone,&uot; Olson said. &uot;We had to get clothes from the Salvation Army.&uot;

4Bring a radio &045;&045; something the two finally invested in just four days ago.

After a day or two, even the closest of friends cycle through their repertoire of conversational topics, Forsman said.

&uot;I’m still trying to brainstorm a career, so I that kept me occupied for a while,&uot; she said.

&uot;We couldn’t think of anything to say after a while. We just sat there,&uot; Olson said. &uot;We were like, ‘Is this what being married’s like?’&uot;

4Never miss an opportunity to try new experiences. For example, on Wednesday, Forsman and Olson tried frog gigging for the first time just south of Vicksburg.

4Trust your intuition. Along the way, the two have met some questionable characters, Forsman said. &uot;If they’re so insistent that you stay at their house, you know something’s not right,&uot; she said.

4At the same time, never underestimate the kindness of strangers.

For example, when the two arrived in Natchez, it was a stranger who paid for their room at the Mark Twain Guest House.

And during an interview with a local radio station on Thursday, someone called in to offer them a free tent to replace the dilapidated one they mentioned on the air.

&uot;As you go down the river, people just get nicer and nicer,&uot; Forsman said.

And an oil rig worker they met near Vicksburg offered to give them his frequent flier miles so they could fly back home.

&uot;We were so excited,&uot; Olson said. &uot;We didn’t know until then how we were going to get back home.&uot;

Although the two said they’re unlikely to make the same trip twice, they next want to take a scooter trip to some of America’s most famous tourist sites after saving up some money.

&uot;Like the Grand Canyon,&uot; Olson said.

&uot;And she really wants to see Graceland,&uot; Forsman said.