July 31st North of Brownville to a sandbar north of St. Joesph
Great day today. I even stopped and visited with people! Just short of the Nebraska - Kansas border on the west side of the river, a boat came over to me. This is one of the few times a boat has actually stopped. Usually they just go by and wave and look back to see how I'm handling the wake they created. The person stopping worked for the Nebraska Dept. of Natural Resources and was surveying fishermen. We had a nice talk and just before I pushed off he asked where I was from. I told him Superior, WI. He said,"Is George Austreng still there?" I said, "How do you know George?" He said, "I taught school with George back in the early 70's." Well, it turns out it was Walt Belding who I also had taught with!
After recalling old times with Walt I was on my way. Walt is working two or three days for the Nebraska DNR and lives back upstream in Nebraska City. Nice man and he really enjoys being on the river and meeting folks. Back in 2004 he met the person I mentioned before who used the same canoe as I, while doing the Lewis and Clark journey. Small world!
Around 2:30 I came to the small town of White Cloud. White Cloud is right on the river so I pulled in with the hope of getting something to eat. No such luck. All that was left in the town was a plumbing business, post office and the White Cloud Grain Elevator.
I walked over to the office of the grain elevator with the hope of getting my phone charged and maybe getting out of the heat for awhile. Gary Ramey was in the office and has happy to let me charge my phone and relax for awhile. I also met Charliss Krothanke and Shirley Jones. Shirley grew up in the area and filled me on some of the history of White Clould. At one time White Cloud was going to be the St. Joseph of Nebraska because of its location to the Missouri, but politics and the dams upstream changed all that. If it weren't for this elevator and the casino about 7 miles away it would be a ghost town.
Also learned from Shirley that there are three endangered species along the river since the dams were built. They include the Pallica Sturgeon, Piping Plover and the Least Tern. It cannot be proven this happened because of the dams, but it all started at the same time they were built. Another interesting note is that on top of the high bluff north of town is the original survey marker for plotting the western states.
Very enjoyable and interesting visit and the melon was good too! I need to do this more often!
Continued down the river with the idea of finding a campsite within 30 miles of St. Joesph. I found a nice spot about 20 miles away at around 8:30 on a sandbar. Made camp, went for a swim and just lay in my tent looking up at the stars, just wrapped up in my own thoughts. One of my better days. Even though it was close to a 70 mile day I really enjoyed the visits I had today.
Time to look for the Big Dipper!
Note: For those who have not read my PCT journal, I always look for the Big Dipper before I fall asleep. Each star represents meaningful people in my life. If you are interested you can find that description in my PCT journal at http://www.pctlarry.com/trail_notes It is called "Seven Stars" and it was posted on 8/23/03.
After recalling old times with Walt I was on my way. Walt is working two or three days for the Nebraska DNR and lives back upstream in Nebraska City. Nice man and he really enjoys being on the river and meeting folks. Back in 2004 he met the person I mentioned before who used the same canoe as I, while doing the Lewis and Clark journey. Small world!
Around 2:30 I came to the small town of White Cloud. White Cloud is right on the river so I pulled in with the hope of getting something to eat. No such luck. All that was left in the town was a plumbing business, post office and the White Cloud Grain Elevator.
I walked over to the office of the grain elevator with the hope of getting my phone charged and maybe getting out of the heat for awhile. Gary Ramey was in the office and has happy to let me charge my phone and relax for awhile. I also met Charliss Krothanke and Shirley Jones. Shirley grew up in the area and filled me on some of the history of White Clould. At one time White Cloud was going to be the St. Joseph of Nebraska because of its location to the Missouri, but politics and the dams upstream changed all that. If it weren't for this elevator and the casino about 7 miles away it would be a ghost town.
Also learned from Shirley that there are three endangered species along the river since the dams were built. They include the Pallica Sturgeon, Piping Plover and the Least Tern. It cannot be proven this happened because of the dams, but it all started at the same time they were built. Another interesting note is that on top of the high bluff north of town is the original survey marker for plotting the western states.
Very enjoyable and interesting visit and the melon was good too! I need to do this more often!
Continued down the river with the idea of finding a campsite within 30 miles of St. Joesph. I found a nice spot about 20 miles away at around 8:30 on a sandbar. Made camp, went for a swim and just lay in my tent looking up at the stars, just wrapped up in my own thoughts. One of my better days. Even though it was close to a 70 mile day I really enjoyed the visits I had today.
Time to look for the Big Dipper!
Note: For those who have not read my PCT journal, I always look for the Big Dipper before I fall asleep. Each star represents meaningful people in my life. If you are interested you can find that description in my PCT journal at http://www.pctlarry.com/trail_notes It is called "Seven Stars" and it was posted on 8/23/03.
posted by Coach at 12:55 PM
2 Comments:
On the PCT I usually went to sleep before the Big Diupper came out --so I woke up at night and sought it ;-) coach #2
The information here is great. I will invite my friends here.
Thanks
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