Day 45 - Saturday, July 3

The day in visuals…

Leaving town of Belleview at 5:30am - we drove back here 6 miles from Caledonia where the Mayor was kind enough to let us stay.

On a cool morning of 58 degrees, mist hung in the fields.

A skunk sauntered right by me and as I got closer to look it lifted its tail…

A baby cow wakes up with the sun and looks at a strange person running by.

Streams are all around me.

Back to Caledonia by 7am and we hit the Caledonia Cafe for breakfast.

Jessica, Chris and I after a big country breakfast. Thank you for the great service!

Out of Caledonia, I jump back on to The Trail of Tears.

Great cover from the trees as I make my way northwest.

I arrive in Belgrade and there is a post office and a few churches, nothing else.

Now for the challenge of the day…after 14 miles, the next 17 are through the wilderness of the Mark Twain National Forest. No cell coverage and google map show a forest road going through…

And the road becomes dirt that narrows…

To a fence that is drawn…

Then in the middle of the wilderness is a house with an aggressive dog that chases Lucky and I away…

And the path narrows further…

And then it is not easy to even walk on it yet I’m happy it is well marked unlike the last time…

There is a gate that is open and it looks like the path is getting wider…

Until I round the corner and it narrows again…

Until it water stands in our way

Lucky was hot and thirsty so he took a mud bath

I kept the map open on my phone to guide us

Reaching the top of the range was exhilarating

And then Lucky and I descended for miles until we found a wonderful stream where a couple were seated and enjoying themselves.

Lucky & I met Meredith & Michael Schnitzel from St. Louis because Lucky wanted to meet there dog!

Out onto the main Route 8 I passed a 100 year old farm.

We ended the day at The Berryman General Store where Debbie was serving catfish gumbo as the daily special and we were in heaven!

We hung out a little longer to have bacon cheeseburgers and chat with Debbie and her grand kids - great ending to the day!