We left Chester and rode to what we thought was going to be a diner, but turned out to be a chi-chi place with over priced coffee and egg sandwiches. Sat and talked to a guy with a nice Corvette and saw a group of hot rod guys roar off from the parking lot. Then off to St Louis where the journey began and begins for us. Today we officially start the Lewis & Clark Trail.
There is an interpretive center at the site that the prepared the boats and supplies and men for the journey. They were here from December until when they left on May 14th, 1804. The interpretive center has recreated their boats, supplies and everything they needed for the trip. The statue is of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and Capt Lewis' dog Seaman.
We are going to follow their trail up the Missouri River and try to find any accessible spots where they may have stayed. The park service has many places to stop and learn about where they were and what they were doing.
The left with one large keelboat and two perouges (small dugout like canoes). They keelboat was loaded with supplies for the 15-40 men that went (some went part way and returned with specimens and notes so the number varies). They also packed lots of trinkets to trade with the Indians along the way.
Today we made it far as Jefferson City, where they stopped on June 3rd. So we rode the distance in one day that they took 20 days to sail, pole or pull their boats upstream (repeat, upstream). Look at the size of that keelboat and imagine getting it upstream using only people power.
The keelboat was built in Pittsburg and the floated and dragged down the Ohio River to St Louis, so that poor boat had seen some rough times.
Ended the day in the state capital, next door for dinner (and a piece of coconut cream pie (my first this trip)).
Odometer: 3544-3297=247 miles
It took you that long to get to pie? Are you well? A-hahaha -- Loving your posts -- the Hoover
ReplyDelete