Sunday, June 30, 2013

Day 1 Daunted Courage, June 30, 2013

We have officially begun retracing the Lewis & Clark expedition route at its start - the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers about 15 miles northeast of St. Louis.  Here's the route we will follow over the next two months:

Thanks to the many backers so far of our Kickstarter campaign! http://kck.st/14EqSIn.  The most popular award chosen has been the "Book Lover Extreme" -- an early manuscript of Daunted Courage: Cycling the Lewis & Clark Trail with Kids.  

Eiko, Sho, Saya and I left NYC by car two days ago and made it this morning to St. Louis, the official starting point of Lewis & Clark's expedition.  Our first stop was the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, a well maintained facility about 30 minutes outside of St. Louis that is designated, appropriately, as Trail Site #1 for those re-tracing the expedition route.  Near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, it includes a replica of the fort that Lewis & Clark's crew lived in during the winter of 1803 - 4 as they prepared for the start of their expedition in May 1804.  Brad Winn, the Site Manager, was generous with his time, giving us a personal tour and sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of the L&C expedition.

Here are some pics from the day:   
Cleverhood sponsored our trip with these stylin' rain capes

Brad Winn, Site Manager of the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, giving me tips on the route

Brad Winn re-traced the L&C Trail by car last year, documented here

Eiko, Sho and Saya at the L&C State Historic Site

Saya strolling by a reproduction of the keelboat used by L&C

Sho with "lamb's ear," a plant that can be used as a bandaid


The arch in St. Louis

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