April 27, 2016 – Outdoor Adventures

Progress Map

Showers early, becoming a steady rain for the afternoon. Windy. Thunder possible. High 54F. Winds E at 25 to 35 mph.

That was today’s weather report. It was pouring rain outside and the wind was slamming rain into the window. At breakfast I checked other weather websites. It is really easy to think of excuses to take days off, but I’ve only had one full day off in over a month. This would be a good day for another.

With most of my chores done yesterday evening, I dedicated the day to goofing off, eating, channel surfing and researching the route ahead, including my route to visit the Sergeant Floyd monument tomorrow, and a place to camp later, without having to over 25 miles or so.

I also went on Facebook to the Missouri River Paddlers group to ask about the best route through the braided River above Lewis and Clark Lake, likely the most confusing part of the river. Several people were kind enough to respond.

The storm let up this afternoon, but it’s raining and thundering again this evening. I’m planning an early start tomorrow. Colter

9th Augt Thursday 1804…Musquetors worse this evening than ever I have Seen them. Clark
August 11th Satturday 1804 about day this morning a hard wind from the N. W. followed by rain, we landed at the foot of the hill on which Black Bird The late King of the mahar who Died 4 years ago & 400 of his nation with the Small pox was buried (1) and went up and fixed a white flag bound with Blue white & read on the Grave which was about 12 foot Base & circueller, on the top of a Penical about 300 foot above the water of the river, from the top of this hill may be Seen the bends or meanderings of the river for 60 or 70 miles round… Clark

Trip overview and route map with position updates:

https://bucktrack.com/Lewis_and_Clark_Trail.html

roadside break

It was dewy in my camp near the pond. When I started walking to the main road a cottontail ran ahead of me, trapped between the pond on one side and a flooded ditch on the other. He stopped and looked at me, deciding I wasn’t a threat. He dashed right by me, white tail bouncing, heading for the brush.

Onawa had an open cafe. I asked for a table with an electrical outlet so I could do some charging. The waitress asked where I was walking and was very interested with lots of questions. I could hear her telling other people as she made the rounds. Many people wished me well as I left.

There are occasionally abandoned farmsteads along the way. I have been puzzling about low concrete “bunkers.” Root cellars? Or more likely tornado shelters in a place where basements would flood?

The gas station in Whiting had BBQ sandwiches. I’m in! The guy at the counter said they’d recently gotten a rain of 2″ in 20 minutes. That sounded familiar. He also confirmed my tornado shelter theory.

The road to Sloan was straight as an arrow. I could see a giant grain elevator directly ahead for at least 5 miles.

A road grader had pulled sod up onto the shoulder so I was walking a spongy obstacle coarse whenever there was an oncoming car.

I was going to end up near Sloan at the end of my day, with a bad storm predicted. Two motels were full, but I found one with a room.

I grabbed a sub sandwich then headed to my room for a good cleanup, including laundry. The predicted storm arrived hit hard. Nice to be under a roof! Colter

Trip overview and route map with position updates:

https://bucktrack.com/Lewis_and_Clark_Trail.html

Clark

August 3rd, Friday 1804 …made up a Small preasent for those people in perpotion to their Consiqunce. also a package with a meadile to accompany a Speech for the Grand Chief after Brackfast we Collected those Indians under an orning of our Main Sail, in presence of our Party paraded. Delivered a long Speech to them…

Clark

7th August Tuesday 1804 …at 1 oClock dispatched George Drewyer, R. Fields, Wm. Bratten. Wm. Labieche back after the Deserter reid with order if he did not give up Peaceibly to put him to Death

Lewis

August 8th 1804…I saw a great number of feathers floating down the river those feathers had a very extraordinary appearance as they appeared in such quantities as to cover pretty generally sixty or seventy yards of the breadth of the river. for three miles after I saw those feathers continuing to run in that manner, we did not percieve from whence they came, at length we were surprised by the appearance of a flock of Pillican at rest on a large sand bar…The beak is a whiteish yellow the under part connected to a bladder like pouch…I measured this pouch and found it’s contents 5 gallons of water…