Part 2
We departed Coopers Landing approximately 49 hours after beginning this adventure. At this point we had traveled 197 miles down the 19th century “highway to the mountains”. When we left Coopers we were definitely a different crew than the one that left Kaw point a couple of days ago. We were much more comfortable with the canoe, we had a rhythm going with our paddle strokes and I was figuring out how to guide the canoe by shifting my weight.
We were about to enter the boundary waters of The Kingdom of Callaway so we needed to be at our peek for the good of the Kingdom. I’m not exactly sure where we entered the waters of Callaway County but somewhere between Coopers and Jefferson City we made the transition. The water was pretty calm and it was becoming more scenic once we got away from the levies along the river. I’m sure we passed some scenic areas above this point but more than likely it was after dark.
As we approached Jefferson City we came upon a sand bar where we took a little break to get out and stretch our legs and take a leak. It’s a pleasure to stand up and take a leak after doing so while sitting in the canoe being careful to direct the flow into a container. Its like they say, “It’s the simple pleasures one misses”. With the water just a few inches deep it gives the appearance of walking on water as we drag the canoe to higher ground of the sand bar. We also met a sand barge in this area and instead to pulling to shore we just rode out the wake. The wake was mild and we managed it quite well. I’m confident a couple of days ago we would have swamped.
We arrived at Jefferson City at about 3:10. In 2005 when we were returning the Lewis and Clark Keelboat back to St. Louis we spent a night camped on the Keelboat at this exact spot. That night was a particularly cool night and the river rose about 3 feet during the night. At Jeff City, Casey, my son & Chad ’s brother who was the other survivor of terrifying trip on the Auxvasse Creek years ago, was waiting for us with his mother with fresh food. I can’t remember exactly what it was but it sure hit the spot. As usual we stretched our legs refilled our water jugs and cooler but this time we were walking on the good earth of Callaway County with a panoramic view of the state capitol across the river.
We heard from the folks manning the checkpoint there would be a huge asphalt barge coming up in a little while so we put back into the river to get a few miles in before the beast appeared. We did make it few miles when we saw the barge approaching so we pulled in on a island and let her pass. It did churn up the water quite a bit but once it was past we set of again. There was still some rebound wakes on the water but they didn’t pose a problem for us. We planned to take a break at Mokane which is about 20 miles below Jeff City . Mokane would be our last chance to resupply before Herman which was about 50 miles downstream.
My brother, Terry, operates “Wright Brothers Store” in Calwood which is about 15 miles from Mokane so I called in an order on my cell phone for one of their famous pizzas, Gatorade and ice to be delivered to the Mokane boat ramp at about 8pm. I’m not sure he believed me when I told him Chad and I would be arriving there by canoe but he was there with the pizza and drinks. We had a nice visit with Terry and his wife while eating the pizza. This was our last stop in the Kingdom. We iced down our cooler and packed up the left over pizza for later and slid “My Dianna” back into the murky waters of the Missouri and resumed our paddle strokes. Just as it was getting dark we passed the mouth of the Auxvasse Creek and with a solemn nod to her we passed into our 3rd night on the peaceful Missouri River.
For this is what the LORD says: I will extend peace to her like a river...Isaiah 66:12a
To be continued.
We departed Coopers Landing approximately 49 hours after beginning this adventure. At this point we had traveled 197 miles down the 19th century “highway to the mountains”. When we left Coopers we were definitely a different crew than the one that left Kaw point a couple of days ago. We were much more comfortable with the canoe, we had a rhythm going with our paddle strokes and I was figuring out how to guide the canoe by shifting my weight.
We were about to enter the boundary waters of The Kingdom of Callaway so we needed to be at our peek for the good of the Kingdom. I’m not exactly sure where we entered the waters of Callaway County but somewhere between Coopers and Jefferson City we made the transition. The water was pretty calm and it was becoming more scenic once we got away from the levies along the river. I’m sure we passed some scenic areas above this point but more than likely it was after dark.
As we approached Jefferson City we came upon a sand bar where we took a little break to get out and stretch our legs and take a leak. It’s a pleasure to stand up and take a leak after doing so while sitting in the canoe being careful to direct the flow into a container. Its like they say, “It’s the simple pleasures one misses”. With the water just a few inches deep it gives the appearance of walking on water as we drag the canoe to higher ground of the sand bar. We also met a sand barge in this area and instead to pulling to shore we just rode out the wake. The wake was mild and we managed it quite well. I’m confident a couple of days ago we would have swamped.
We arrived at Jefferson City at about 3:10. In 2005 when we were returning the Lewis and Clark Keelboat back to St. Louis we spent a night camped on the Keelboat at this exact spot. That night was a particularly cool night and the river rose about 3 feet during the night. At Jeff City, Casey, my son & Chad ’s brother who was the other survivor of terrifying trip on the Auxvasse Creek years ago, was waiting for us with his mother with fresh food. I can’t remember exactly what it was but it sure hit the spot. As usual we stretched our legs refilled our water jugs and cooler but this time we were walking on the good earth of Callaway County with a panoramic view of the state capitol across the river.
We heard from the folks manning the checkpoint there would be a huge asphalt barge coming up in a little while so we put back into the river to get a few miles in before the beast appeared. We did make it few miles when we saw the barge approaching so we pulled in on a island and let her pass. It did churn up the water quite a bit but once it was past we set of again. There was still some rebound wakes on the water but they didn’t pose a problem for us. We planned to take a break at Mokane which is about 20 miles below Jeff City . Mokane would be our last chance to resupply before Herman which was about 50 miles downstream.
My brother, Terry, operates “Wright Brothers Store” in Calwood which is about 15 miles from Mokane so I called in an order on my cell phone for one of their famous pizzas, Gatorade and ice to be delivered to the Mokane boat ramp at about 8pm. I’m not sure he believed me when I told him Chad and I would be arriving there by canoe but he was there with the pizza and drinks. We had a nice visit with Terry and his wife while eating the pizza. This was our last stop in the Kingdom. We iced down our cooler and packed up the left over pizza for later and slid “My Dianna” back into the murky waters of the Missouri and resumed our paddle strokes. Just as it was getting dark we passed the mouth of the Auxvasse Creek and with a solemn nod to her we passed into our 3rd night on the peaceful Missouri River.
For this is what the LORD says: I will extend peace to her like a river...Isaiah 66:12a
To be continued.
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