My First
Canoeing Adventure
Randy
Bublitz
Hello again friends. I
mentioned my first canoe trek in our last talk. I figured I would
go into a little more detail this time about my Grand Adventure on
the Missouri River in Missouri. It all started back in 1993. A
friend of mine (Bill Patterson) contacted me with the proposition
that we take a canoe trip together, one he’d learned about from
a computer bulletin board. I didn’t know anything about
computers then, but he filled me in. A bunch of guys in MO. were
planning a period canoe trip down the Missouri River and were
looking for other adventurers to go along. Bill proposed that
since he was an avid canoeist (which I was a real amateur) and I
had more ‘primitive’ experience that we would make a good team
and that we should do this. Long story short, we decided to do it.
Unfortunately, that year proved to be a record making flood year
and the Missouri River was closed to navigation. It was decided to
try again the next year. My original partner could not go that
year (1994) but my good friend and NAF brother, George Thompson,
and I decided to drive out there and participate. At the last
minute George found out his work vacation had been cut short, and
he couldn’t go. I called the Missouri boys with the sad news
that we wouldn’t be able to participate, as I couldn’t make
the long drive (west coast) and back by myself in the allotted
time. Within hours they had called me back with the suggestion
that I fly out there. They’d help with anything I needed help
with, gear, transportation, lodging, etc… Because, if I
couldn’t participate, they’d have to scrub the trip, as there
were only 3 of them- another paddler was needed to make two, two
man teams. With my good wife’s encouragement I agreed.
This would be the second
time I’d be on a jetliner… wow this was really turning out to
be an adventure. I mentioned in the last article that I had never
met these fellows in person, only written and phone communication.
I was able to send a bunch of gear, including my flinter trade
gun, paddles, etc… via UPS to the guys, so it was waiting for
me. I still brought a lot of my gear as luggage, and boy did I get
strange looks from the baggage handlers. The next thing I knew, I
was winging my way to St. Louis, MO., wearing my low crown –
wide brimmed hat so it wouldn’t get crushed and so I would be
easily recognized by guys who didn’t know me at the airport.
James Kyle met me at the
airport. He was the leader of this expedition. He was host, tour
guide, etc… I stayed at his home before we left for Fort Osage,
our put in the river spot. We picked up the other two expedition
members the next day, Don Clement and Bruce Carron on the way to
Fort Osage. Jim’s wife drove and dropped us off, so we
wouldn’t need to come back for a shuttle vehicle. It was a long
drive, nearly across the whole state. It was a good thing that
Jim’s wife was driving, as there was a jug in the car, and we
were imbibing as we got acquainted. We stopped on the way and
robbed a corn field of some fresh corn. We arrived at Fort Osage,
just east of Kansas City, just as the State Park was closing on a
Sunday afternoon.
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Grady
Mannis was the factor of Fort Osage, living in the factor’s house
within the stockade. Fort Osage has it’s own history, which you
should research. Grady met us as he was shooing the last visitors to
the Fort out the gates. He showed us to our quarters (the soldiers
quarters), allowed us to unload, etc… He then gave us an
exceptional behind the scenes tour of the fort, trading post, etc…
My most impressive memory was when he took us into the basement of
the trading post. It was stacked rock foundation walls, with a red
line along it (unevenly) horizontally – below the red line was
original foundation! We toured the graveyard and gave our prayers to
Zeonos Leonard, John Walker (brother to Joe), etc… gravesites.
Wow, what a way to start an adventure. We then cooked our supper in
the fireplace of the soldier’s quarters, and spent a quiet evening
contemplating what was ahead of us. We spent some time getting
everything ready for our big adventure.
Monday morning was foggy and cool. We dragged canoes and gear
down from the Fort to the river. We loaded up and were sent away
with a friendly wave of the Fort’s factor. The mist was rising off
the waters of the mighty Missouri River. The scene was eerie, and
perfect if we were filming a movie. Here we go boys…. St. Charles,
here we come. Don Clement and James Kyle shared a canoe. I was in
the bow of Bruce Carron’s canoe. Bruce was born and raised in Ste.
Genevieve, MO. He was a river man, and I was glad to be his partner.
If anyone was good on the river, he was. He taught me so much in
those 6 ½ days on the river. Now we are on our way. We have only
310 channel miles to go until we reach St. Charles (where Lewis
& Clark ended their voyage of discovery) in just 6 ½ days.
310 channel miles equals 310 ++ miles in reality, as there is
lots of criss crossing the river, and side excursions up tributaries
(to visit Daniel Boone’s grave for example). When averaging our
miles and days traveled we averaged 47 miles per day. Our longest
day was 60 miles. This is too much. I wondered about signing up to
be a ‘galley slave’, and was assured that with the current,
etc..,it was not too much. WRONG- We should have done this trip in
10 days, minimum. But, we did it and I’m proud of our
accomplishment.
It seems this article is already getting long, so I’ll call an
end to this as part one. I’ll talk to you again next month with
more about my first Big Canoe adventure.
Again, if any of you have questions about doing canoe trips, how
to organize, etc… whatever…don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d
be glad to offer any suggestions. I’m no expert, but I’ve done a
lot of river miles. See you next month.
Yfab,
Randy
Bublitz
N.A.F.
#8
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