Lewis and Clark set out to discover. They searched for an all water navigable route from the eastern U.S. to the Pacific Ocean. They identified several new plant and animal species. They mapped portions of the country that were previously unknown to outsiders. They recorded information on the indigenous peoples of the land. Most of all, they set the stage for an unprecedented period of westward expansion that was at times, methodical, ruthless, chaotic, thoughtful, carefully planned and unrelenting. In other words, a very human endeavor.
Two hundred and twenty years later, Karen and I set out to discover. We searched daily for a navigable route to our various destinations. While we had the benefit of modern maps and GPS, Karen still had to contend with my chronic tendency to either, (1) make wrong turns; (2) ignore/misconstrue her simple directions; or, (3) miss obvious road signs. Nevertheless, she always managed to get us where we needed to be.
We identified a few plants and animals that were unfamiliar to us, although Karen has yet to spot the elusive moose and bears we’ve looked for on both this and previous trips.
We did not make any maps, but we looked at lots of them. And, we often explored (see navigation above) areas unknown to all but the most local of inhabitants.
Like picking small gems from piles of dirt and mud, we discovered lots of fun, educational, and interesting things to see and do on our trip. As always, I couldn’t have done it without Karen keeping me on the right path (in all ways). She did a great job walking, hiking and biking on the trails we explored together.
Thanks to Jeff and Joanna for your great hospitality at the end of our trip!
Thanks to all of you who read our blog. See you next time!
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