Jun 22, 2014

Now is the time to tell you why we are heading west on this particular route. As children we both grew up on western movies but were intrigued by the 'Wagon Train' series and after seeing the Interpretive Centre in Portland Oregon in 1998 were even more so and when we were looking at heading to the west coast this year the Oregon Trail, where the settlers heading to Portland and beyond to settle and farm the land had traveled seemed the obvious choice. Having said that we are more on the side of tourists than purists so will be making our choices to suit us which also includes zig zaging off the trail to see other things we want to see.

Independence MO was a jumping off point for the trip to start as the River boat captains didn't want to go further up the Missouri River to bring supplies for fear of running aground on shifting sands so a good landing site was found at Westport (eventually to be renamed Kansas City) so this was where people landed and others gathered as they prerpared for the trek. There are apparently 5 good springs surrounding the town of Independence and these were the areas the emigrants camped until they accumulated their supplies, fited out or purchased their Wagons and gathered together in groups to set off as a wagon train. The numbers were huge and a steady stream continued until the Central Pacific and Indian Pacific rail lines joined up to make it possible to cover the same distance in a week in greater comfort and safety and a whole lot less inconvenience.

There were another 2 trails which headed off from here over time and they went to Santa Fe and to California taking around 2 months each but the most arduous and dangerous was the Oregon Trail taking 5 months through rugged terrain and through often hostile Indian territories. From reports we have seen the Indians were generally not fussed with the emigrants while they stuck to the treaties organized but reacted swiftly and harshly when the treaties were broken. The wagon trains had to head off as soon as the grass started to turn green to have feed for animals, optimise chances of travel conditions and to have the best chance to make it through the mountain passes before the snows which would mean they would starve to death. High stakes! 

 

A wagon in front of the National Frontier Trails Museum which was the pick of what we saw today. We had a map marked up with a number of sites, most of which proved impossible to find in spite of the GPS. We also found most locals we asked couldn't direct us either so have made the decision (sort of) that when a site doesn't give us the actual address in our GPS rather than a choice of a few which might be close we won't bother especially if the weather remains hot and humid as it has been. Mid 80's today so more friendly than yesterday but trying and getting the bike gear on and off and slow travel searching without much air circulating to cool us down ..... puffing , panting etc.

 

This is the site of the original Westport Landing. The riverboats must have been powerful as the current today was very fast and they would have been coming up against it.

 

Wagon swales (tracks / ruts) still (just) in an area originally designated for a school to be built so has never been developed. We also checked out a CreekCreek crossing site and a camping area which would have been the campsite for the first night out.

 

From our walk last night, this is the Independence Courthouse which sits in the middle of the square which in the Oregon Trail days was surrounded by blacksmiths and all manner of suppliers of food and goods needed for the journey and local farmers were raising mules horses milking cows and oxen. Private enterprise at its best (one can only hope).

 

And this is the World Headquarters of the Community of Christ adjacent to the Mormon Visitors Centre. The sun glinting on the spire looked incredible. 

Bits and Bobs: 

 

We have encountered many of these particularly through the CBD areas of towns without many traffic lights. They mean that everyone at a crossroad must stop and you leave in the order you stopped in. The same applies to flashing red stop lights of which there were many in Jefferson City yestrday around the Capitol.

 

A ride on lawn mower with a difference for anyone who is old enough to remember the old push mowers. This one at the door of our hotel adjacent to the garden which didn't have any  grass to be mown apart from on the front street.