A rainy morning in Nebraska. A good time to do my laundry. Woke up at my usual time, saw it was raining and went back to sleep until 7am. That felt pretty good. It has been a long, active but exciting first week of the journey. Each day I am getting emails from students, friends, and even total strangers that have somehow heard about the website and my journey. Everyone is very encouraging and enthusiastic. Thank you so much. Tonight, I am sitting in a motel room in Vermillion, South Dakota and watching the weather channel because of some pending problems. Something called Winter Storm Walda. Whatever that is. It seems that over the next 2 or 3 days I will be facing at least 8 inches of new snow and possibly double that. My plan is to keep a watchful eye on the weather, play it safe and possibly find a motel that will suit me while I sit out “Walda’. I have promised my wife that I will “BE CAREFUL” and I will do that. My schedule is flexible so I can sit it out if I need to. Daily data: Beginning odometer was 27,035 at Omaha, Nebraska Ending odometer is 27,196 at Vermillion, South Dakota Best Western. Meals cost for the day is $17. Lodging cost for the night is $86.79. There was a $1.00 bridge toll Spent $6.00 for laundry. + April 07,...
This is a private, non-profit cultural complex on the Missouri Riverfront. The beautiful center opened in 2002 in time to commemorate the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in 2004. It expanded even further in 2007 to include an “Encounter Center”. The original wing is dedicated to Lewis and Clark and has some very unique displays that I thoroughly enjoyed. One is an animated Seaman barking at a prairie dog. The other is a very dramatic burial ceremony for Sgt. Floyd which includes Lewis and Clark paying tribute to their friend and fellow soldier. To think that this facility is privately funded and non-profit is almost unbelievable. Very well done and my thanks to the Missouri River Historical Development, Inc. Visit their website at siouxcitylcic.com [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5864255302497275185″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”80″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
By seeing a small sign on the side of the road indicating a Lewis and Clark Historic Marker, I decided to follow the signs. They led me into a very small town named Elk Point in South Dakota. The signs led through the two block downtown and into a city park with ball diamonds and a small pond. At the end of the circle drive in the park I saw the two signs. No big monuments or structures full of artifacts, just a small town that is proud of the fact that lewis and Clark camped there. I think I would be proud too. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5864253877280483841″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”80″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
This memorial marks the grave of the only member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to die during the historic journey. Sergeant Charles Floyd was a young man from Kentucky and he kept a journal on the expedition for ninety-nine days until he died on August 20, 1804, near the present day Sioux City, Iowa. On the afternoon of August 20, 1804, Corps of Discovery soldiers accorded their deceased comrade all the honors of war. All the soldiers were in full dress uniform for the burial high on a “handsome spot on the bluff” overlooking the Missouri River. The monument is a 100 foot sandstone obelisk and it was dedicated in 1901. In 1960 it became the first National Historic Landmark registered by the Natinoal park Service and U.S. Department of Interior. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5864237548225712737″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”80″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
Full size replica of the keel boat used by the Corps of Discovery. Fifty-five feet long and about 8 1/2 feet wide. The Corps took this boat as far upstream as possible and as you will find out later in the adventure, they sent it back downstream. This park was totally empty– I was the only human there___. Maybe that is because of the time of year, but all the buildings were locked up and dark. I have heard that during the summer, the keel boat is put into the water here and gives short rides. Sure no sign of such activity now. [alpine-phototile-for-picasa-and-google-plus src=”user_album” uid=”117292386093793315084″ ualb=”5864236892074472417″ imgl=”fancybox” dltext=”Picasa” style=”floor” row=”4″ num=”80″ size=”220″ border=”1″ highlight=”1″ align=”center”...
