Meckling – Outdoor Adventures

Sunrise, the building I camped behind

There was a heavy dew last night. It LOOKED like frost on the grass but I wasn’t sure until I started packing up my tent. At that point I saw considerable frost flying when I shook it.

I got a cup of coffee at a gas station 5 miles later, but I was focused on reaching Yankton today.

About 1 I walked into town. It’s a nice setting and seems prosperous. I stopped for lunch. My burger had a large piece of burnt plastic in it. The were kind enough to replace it and give me a coupon for free food.

It was a thrill to see the Missouri from a high spot. Next time I saw that water I’d be in my kayak.

It was easy finding Chuck, the River Angel’s, place. A beautiful house up against the woods. I used his key to get into his big shed. There, neatly stacked was my kayak and all the other gear and mail he had been holding for me.

Kayaking gear

It must have taken at least 20 minutes to unwrap the kayak. I was holding my breath that it was OK, and it was.

I spent hours with various chores: figuring out and testing the cart, checking out the kayak, drying my backpacking gear, going through my mail and the various items I’d ordered and much more. I’m mentally exhausted this evening.

Tomorrow I need to buy groceries, figure out my packing system, decide on a launch point, mail some backpacking gear home, etc. With luck I will launch tomorrow.

Reaching Yankton and finishing up this first long segment of my journey is a big milestone. I look forward to the next.

Lewis, Friday, August 24th This day the Chronometer stoped again just after being wound up; I know not the cause, but fear it procedes from some defect which it is not in my power to remedy.-

Clark 25th August Satturday 1804 a Cloudy morning Capt Lewis & my Self Concluded to go and See the Mound which was viewed with Such turrow by all the different Nation in this quarter, we Selected Shields J. Fields, W Bratten, Sergt. Ordway, J Colter, Can, and Corp Worbington & Frasure, also G. Drewyer…from the top of this Mound we observed Several large gangus of Buffalow & Elk feeding upwards of 800 in number Capt Lewis being much fatigued and verry thursty obliged us to go to the neares water which we Could See…

Lewis Orders August 26th 1804. The commanding officers have thought it proper to appoint Patric Gass, a Sergeant in the corps of volunteers for North Western Discovery…The Commanding officers have every reason to hope from the previous faithfull services of Sergt. Gass, that this expression of their approbation will be still further confirmed, by his vigilent attention in future to his duties as a Sergeant. the Commanding officers are still further confirmed in the high opinion they had previously formed of the capacity, deligence and integrety of Sergt. Gass, from the wish expresssed by a large majority of his comrades for his appointment as Sergeant.

Trip overview and route map with position updates:
https://bucktrack.com/Lewis_and_Clark_Trail.html

Another chilly, breezy, rainy morning, but nothing like yesterday. Still, I wore my jacket and rain gear.

Lewis and Clark Sign

Ahead about five miles was the tiny crossroads of Burbank. One thing I’ve found on this trip is most of these smallest “towns” have lost their cafes and gas stations and the like. I didn’t have much hope of finding anything here.

Just as I was passing a building a guy stepped out and I saw a bar/grill sign. I got coffee and an omelette. A nice bit of luck.

In Vemillion I took an alternate route, a bike path, along the Vermillion River. That was a nice route. I saw wild turkeys and a very high river.

The rain stopped and off went my rain gear. I was eating some crackers leaning back against my pack in a wide, grassy ditch when a Trooper stopped. Someone had called me in. I cheerfully answered all his questions. But after he asked for my license so he could call it in I said:

“Am I legally required to?”

“You are supposed to when asked,” he said. Legally of course, that was a no.

“Am I doing something illegal?”

“No.”

“Am I suspected of something?”

“No.”

“Then why would you run my license?”

“If there was a BOLO later for a murder I could get in trouble if I didn’t.”

I disgustedly handed him my license. I still think it’s pathetic that walking cross country is suspicious behavior. As a matter of fact I think it is illegal to demand ID in South Dakota, under those conditions .

If the person is not reasonably suspected of committing a crime, they are not required to provide identification, even in states with stop and identify statutes.

There were very long stretches with nowhere to camp. In Meckling there was a place called Toby’s, famous for its chicken. It’s a town long past its heyday, but Toby’s was hopping. I ordered some chicken and asked about camping.

“You can camp right across the street there, we own that land,” said the waitress cheerfully.

The chicken dinner was great, as was the hot fudge sundae.

I called Chuck, the “River Angel” that has been holding my kayaking gear, then set up my tent in the grass. It was 6:30 and the sun was out.

Chuck showed up right on time. He gave me keys to his pickup and to his shed with all my gear. Chuck also shared a vast amount of knowledge on the river. I plan to make it there, Yankton tomorrow. Thanks Chuck!

Chuck and Max

Clark August 23, 1804 23rd August Thursday 1804 Set out this morning verry early the two men with the horses did not Come up last night I walked on Shore & Killed a fat Buck—J. Fields Sent out to hunt Came to the Boat and informed that he had Killed a Buffalow in the plain a head Cap Lewis took 12 men and had the buffalow brought to the boat in the next bend

24th August Friday 1804…I killed a Deer which york Packed on his back In the evening I Killed two Buck Elk…Capt Lewis and my Self Concluded to visit a High Hill Situated in an emence Plain…this hill appear to be of a Conic form and by all the different Nations in this quater is Supposed to be a place of Deavels ors that they are in human form with remarkable large heads and about 18 inches high; that they are very watchfull and ar armed with Sharp arrows with which they can kill at a great distance; they are said to kill all persons who are so hardy as to attemp to approach the hill; they state that tradition informs them that many indians have suffered by these little people and among others that three Maha men fell a sacrefice to their murceyless fury not meany years since—

Trip overview and route map with position updates:

https://bucktrack.com/Lewis_and_Clark_Trail.html