August 1st - Sandbar north of St. Joseph to Atchison, Kansas
Plans were to go to St. Joseph today and find a motel. I'm way ahead of schedule (as usual). If I keep going at this 60 to 70 mile pace I will be in Kansas City on Wednesday and my rental car ride back up to Yankton is scheduled for Saturday. So, I'm planning on spending a day in St. Joesph and visiting some of the historical sites. There are a number of neat museums in St. Joseph, including the Pony Express Museum and the Jesse James Home Museum.
As I approached St. Joseph I was surprised at what I saw. I was expecting this neat riverfront much like I saw in Sioux City. Instead all I saw was another casino and high freeway bridge that pretty much ran the length of the town.
I pulled over to what I thought was a boat ramp but turned out to be just an overlook. Up above were Robert and Kim Duncan and their little boy Dalton. They were from the Kansas City area and had spotted me paddling and wondered what I was doing. They were excited about my adventure and gave me their telephone number and said if I needed any help when I got to Kansas City to please not hesitate to call. Again, I'm just amazed at the willingness of people I meet to lend a helping hand.
I asked Robert if he could see a boat ramp and he said no, so I figured it must be ahead a little ways. I said goodbye to the Duncans, telling them I'd call when I reach Kansas City.
Couldn't find the boat ramp. It must have been the one I passed on the north side of town. So, my next option is to paddle downstream a couple of miles to a campground, which I did.
Found out there was no tent camping - only RV camping at the campground. The lady said I'd need to go back about three miles and I could get out at the Sunset Grill Ramp. Other option would be to paddle to Atchison, Kansas 25 miles or so downstream. Well, as most know I do not go back, so I was on my way to Atchinson, Kansas, the birthplace of Amelia Earhart.
Never fails, my short day paddling plans have turned into another 45-50 mile day!
Got to Independence Park in Atchinson around 3:30 and met Jon and Charlotte Angell and their children Emily and Rebekah. They saw me paddling up to the ramp and figured I was doing something out of the ordinary! Jon writes for a paper (I believe this is correct) in a small town in Kansas. They took pictures and listened to my story as Emily and Rebekah helped me put my trailer together. Jon was going to write an article for his paper.
After our visit, and once Emily, Rebekah and I had the trailer and bike put together I worked my way to town to find a motel. I'd heard Atchinson was a very paddle-friendly town and what I heard was right. People waved as I rode by. Many honked and gave me a thumbs up as they read the side of my canoe! Even got my motel room at a very nice reduced rate!
As I approached St. Joseph I was surprised at what I saw. I was expecting this neat riverfront much like I saw in Sioux City. Instead all I saw was another casino and high freeway bridge that pretty much ran the length of the town.
I pulled over to what I thought was a boat ramp but turned out to be just an overlook. Up above were Robert and Kim Duncan and their little boy Dalton. They were from the Kansas City area and had spotted me paddling and wondered what I was doing. They were excited about my adventure and gave me their telephone number and said if I needed any help when I got to Kansas City to please not hesitate to call. Again, I'm just amazed at the willingness of people I meet to lend a helping hand.
I asked Robert if he could see a boat ramp and he said no, so I figured it must be ahead a little ways. I said goodbye to the Duncans, telling them I'd call when I reach Kansas City.
Couldn't find the boat ramp. It must have been the one I passed on the north side of town. So, my next option is to paddle downstream a couple of miles to a campground, which I did.
Found out there was no tent camping - only RV camping at the campground. The lady said I'd need to go back about three miles and I could get out at the Sunset Grill Ramp. Other option would be to paddle to Atchison, Kansas 25 miles or so downstream. Well, as most know I do not go back, so I was on my way to Atchinson, Kansas, the birthplace of Amelia Earhart.
Never fails, my short day paddling plans have turned into another 45-50 mile day!
Got to Independence Park in Atchinson around 3:30 and met Jon and Charlotte Angell and their children Emily and Rebekah. They saw me paddling up to the ramp and figured I was doing something out of the ordinary! Jon writes for a paper (I believe this is correct) in a small town in Kansas. They took pictures and listened to my story as Emily and Rebekah helped me put my trailer together. Jon was going to write an article for his paper.
After our visit, and once Emily, Rebekah and I had the trailer and bike put together I worked my way to town to find a motel. I'd heard Atchinson was a very paddle-friendly town and what I heard was right. People waved as I rode by. Many honked and gave me a thumbs up as they read the side of my canoe! Even got my motel room at a very nice reduced rate!
posted by Coach at 1:29 PM
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