Day 57 - Sunday, July 18
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the journey across America - The Oregon Trail is an actual trail that originates in St. Mary’s Kansas.
Waking up was easier today with an early bed time but the legs felt really tired before I even got out of bed. It is a deep, aching fatigue. My right knee is also a little gimpy in addition to the shin which is almost 100% but not quite. This means icing, elevating and resting as much as possible.
Lucky and I rolled out around 5:30am and humidity and temps were pleasant. We are definitely if farm land as it felt like each little town we visited was an island in the midst of crop oceans of corn and soy.Each little town is an island in the middle of oceans of corn and soy - first Menoken, then Silver Lake, Rossville and finally St. Mary’s where I jumped on a trail called The Oregon Trail.
I can see traces of the pioneers going along the route, streams marked by signs, historical markers and gravesites. A few miles in I run into Jason who is training for an annual pilgrimage of 33 miles. He tells me that St. Mary’s was founded by Jesuits and was a town the pioneers came through on route west. Jason told me it is a conservative branch of Catholic Church and they are working on a new church. I researched and found that they are a chapter of the Society of St. Plus X, named for the early 20th century pope who railed against the forces of modernism and the international order of priests was formed in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council.
Chris found a great spot to boon-dock, on the banks of the Vermillion River. On this spot of the river, the Louis Vieux established a toll bridge to help settlers cross in 1857. The cost of using the bridge was $1 for a six ox team and wagon. It is estimated that some days nearly $300 in tolls were collected. Luis Vieux had Potawatomie and French parents, and he was a leader in the Potawatomie nation. This location is known today at Vieux's Crossing and the closest community in Louisville. I visited the family cemetery right there and while a few of the Vieux family lived into their 60’s, most died as infants.
Chris surpassed all expectations tonight with leftover Kansas City BBQ which he made a chili with and included some of Nikki’s beef…it was out of this world.
After dinner we took a walk to the river and found an historical cemetery for pioneers who were hastily buried from cholera. The only recognized tombstone was of Thomas Stephen Prather - TSP 1849. Story goes he was headed west for the gold rush and was married with two children when, “On the morning of the 24th, Mr. Prather was attacked with symptoms of cholera in a more aggravated form. In one hour’s time, he was entirely exhausted, and died about 11 o’clock in the evening.” He was 39 years old.
Looking forward to may more stories on the trail -
Thank you for your support.
Cheers,
David.
Another beautiful sunrise about to happen as I get across the tracks just in time…
Thankfully on the other side I avoided what seemed like a train that never ended
Mile after mile of corn & soybeans
Someone is stealing their Trump signs!
St. Marys where the Oregon Trail is an actual trail…
Last house on Durink Street before it become The Oregon Trail
The road become a dirt road
And there is a sign!
There are many creeks along the route that serviced the pioneers
It was warm out there!
House with a view of a lot of corn!
TSP 1849 - the only legible tombstone
Leftover KC BBQ with Mershon beef graciously provided by Nikki - Chris whipped up a chili and it was amazing!! New standard in chili for me.
