Category: Uncategorized (Page 3 of 5)

Zebras and Jesse James

April 12, 2016 / Bruce "Buck" Nelson / 0 Comments

My laundry dried out well. I watched the news as I sorted and packed my gear, looking for any bits of trash to throw out.

It was another chilly morning. Excelsior Springs is a nice town. The part of town I walked out of had a medical theme, clinics, pharmacies, a hospital.

Zebras

Walking cross country with a pack is apparently an unusual thing to do, cattle notice, horses notice, dogs, people. I was really surprised to see these zebras, and the seemed just as intrigued to see me. They had to come over to check me out. I’m unsure why they were in that field.

I exchanged texts with old Alaska Smokejumper Sean Phillips. We are going to meet tomorrow. That will be fun. He mentioned to watch for the Jesse James Farm turnoff and it turned out to be not far away. Historically interesting, but I’m not a fan of that thief and murderer. (Jesse, not Sean.)

The rout passed under I35, the same interstate that runs past my home town of Rush City. I stopped nearby for a burger.

It was a beautiful day for hiking but this has been my least favorite stretch of road to walk. The shoulders are so narrow I often have to walk down in the ditch when a car comes. Fortunately the ditch right-of-way is wide and often mowed. I found a nice place to camp at about 6pm. Several deer trotted away as I approached.

Clark

Sunday June 24th...I joined the Boat theis morning with a fat Bear & two Deer, last evining I Struck the river about 6 miles (by land) abov the Boat, and finding it too late to get to the Boat, and the wind blowing So hard Down the river that She could not assend, I concluded to Camp, altho I had nothing but my hunting Dress, & the Musquitors Ticks & Knats verry troublesom, I concid to hunt on a Willow Isd. Situated close under the Shore, in Crossing from an Island, I got mired, and was obliged to Craul oat, a disegreeable Situation & a Diverting one of any one who Could have Seen me after I got out, all Covered with mud, I went my Camp & Craped off the Mud and washed my Clothes, and fired off my gun which was answered by George Drewyer who was in persute of me & came up at Dark we feasted of meet & water the latter we made great use of being much fatigued & thirsty…

Trip overview and route map with position updates:

https://bucktrack.com/Lewis_and_Clark_Trail.html

Thunder and Rain

April 10, 2016 / Bruce "Buck" Nelson / 0 Comments

I like to set up my shelter on well drained, flat spots. Yesterday evening I was forced to compromise with just a slight slope. When the lightning begin flashing and the thunder begin blooming and I heard the rain hitting the tent I looked to make sure everything was underneath the fly. One side of the tent is about two thirds open and that was on the downhill side, what that meant is that I was partially sliding outside of the tent. I came up with a solution that worked pretty well: I took my firmly inflated sleeping pad and laid it on its side up against the tent pole, so that kept me in the tent. The ground was soft enough so I slept quite well the last couple of hours until morning.

The weather was hard to dress for when I began walking, it was fairly warm but still trying to rain. When I put on my rain gear, with the warmth and the 100% percent humidity I was too warm and clammy, but I also didn’t want to get soaked, especially that early in the day.

I took another look at the map and decided to skip my next resupply which was going to add maybe 2 miles. Much to my delight I ran across a totally unexpected gas station, a double-score as they also served hot food, so I had coffee, biscuits and gravy for breakfast. That was a big bonus.

Again today I walked through some fairly rundown areas and some real fancy areas. There was a reasonable amount of topography which actually is good for the legs I think.

I saw what I think were the first gold finches and blue wing teal I’ve seen, also some big frogs and a profusion of flowering trees.

Red Bud Trees, I believe

Looking ahead it looked like the end of the day would bring me near Excelsior Springs, so I found a motel room. It’s great to get cleaned up again and do a little bit of laundry. Chinese-food room delivery was a treat as well.

Clark,

23rd June Satturday Some wind this morning from the N. W. we Set out at 7 oClock, and proceeded on to the head of a Island on the S. S. the wind blew hard and down the river which prevented the Pty moveing from this Island the whole day, Cap. Lewis had the arms examined &c. at the lower end of this Island I got out of the boat to walk on Shore, & expected the party on Shore would overtake me at the head of the Island, they did not & I proceeded on round a round and extensive bend in the river, I Killed a Deer & made a fire expecting the boat would Come up in the evening. the wind continueing to blow prevented their moveing, as the distance by land was too great for me to return by night I concluded to Camp, Peeled Some bark to lay on, and geathered wood to make fires to Keep off the musquitor & Knats. Heard the party on Shore fire, at Dark Drewyer came to me with the horses, one fat bear & a Deer, river fell 8 Inches last night

Trip overview and route map with position updates:

https://bucktrack.com/Lewis_and_Clark_Trail.html

Corn and the Confederacy

April 9, 2016 / Bruce "Buck" Nelson / 0 Comments

It froze again last night, but I like sleeping when it’s cool. I decideded I had little choice but detour off the route, adding a couple of miles, to go into Higginsville for resupply and to rewater. It’s true there are streams in this farm country but I don’t care for the looks of them, drinking-wise.

I walked the seven miles or so to Higginsville straight through. At the detour turnoff was the Confederate Memorial State Historic Site. The Civil war must have been especially terrible in these border states where it was often neighbor against neighbor. How did they ever get over it and be neighbors again?

In Higginsville I ate a late breakfast, followed an hour later by an early lunch. Then I walked across the street to resupply at a store.

I walked out of town with two days of supplies including 5 quarts of water. It’s a bit frustrating knowing I’ll be walking past countless hydrants and faucets whose owners would usually be happy to let me have some for the asking. That’s still a Plan B if I come up short of course.

Quite windy again in the PM. My alternate route took me down a quiet gravel road. I was the highlight of the day for many farm dogs. None wanted trouble. All doing their duty. Saw a just-born all-wet calf. He’ll dry quickly in the wind!

Decided to “call it a day” a bit early to rest a sore right shin. My theory: I often get what might be mild shin splints while road walking, and as I recall it tends to be my right leg. My theory is the the road crown (slope) tends to exacerbate pronation on my right foot. Any informed opinions? Colter

Clark June 18th Monday Some raind last night, Sent out 6 Hunters to day across the R. they Killed 5 Deer & Colter a Bear verry fat we continue to repare our ropes & make oars all day, heavy rain all the fore pt. of the day, the party Drying meat & greesing themselves, Several men with the Disentary, and two thirds of them with ulsers or Boils… Mesquetors verry bad we finish our Cords & oars this evening Men in Spirits

Trip overview and route map with position updates:

https://bucktrack.com/Lewis_and_Clark_Trail.html