Reunion

What a great day! Captain Lewis has rejoined the Expedition!! All is right again... at least for the holiday weekend.  We also got to visit with our dear friends ( that we spent time with in Greece) today on our way to Pierre.   They were visiting family in Nunda, South Dakota, and we were able to schedule lunch together!  What a blessing to visit on this side of the globe!!

So let's recap the past two days-- Thursday, Clark and Sacagewea enjoyed a day at the Air and Space Museum, the Wildlife Safari Park, and the water park at the State Park.  Whew!! Makes me tired all over again just thinking about it.  Friday was our first day of canceled plans due to the flooding along the Missouri River. We had lunch in Omaha at the RiverWalk, and the walk was under the River!  The area was under construction in addition to the flooding, so the museum we planned to visit was unavailable. We drove to Sioux City to visit  another Interpretive Center, but the park and  surrounding area was under water.  We were able to see the memorial to Sgt. Floyd, the only member of the L and C Expedition who died along the way.  After learning about so many of their adventures, its amazing that only one member of the entire group died.  He died of what historians now believe was a ruptured appendix.  Captain Lewis (the real one) was trained by doctors for six weeks before the Expedition began, and had been taught many natural home remedies by his mother.  Many of the "cures" of the day, were at best, not helpful! Some cures were more harmful than the original malady.  One example was mercury as a topical ointment...  So between the poor diet, rugged conditions, and medical care, it is clear that God's hand was on the entire group!

Tomorrow we will be able to attend church in Pierre, South Dakota, where we helped with VBS last summer!  It will be another  reunion that we are looking forward to.  Following church, we are planning a trip to Zesto for ice cream.  Clark and Sacagawea  are looking forward to introducing their dad to their favorite treat!  While the water is high here in Pierre, the levee is holding and the waters are going down now.  Please continue to keep this area of the country in your prayers.  We saw many farms under water, and of those that were not, the crops aren't what they should be.

Signing off for now,
Scannon

Missing Our Leader...

While we have had a great day of travel and fantastic weather, we are all missing Captain Lewis tonight.  By the way, if you ever need a trip planned, he is the go-to guy for travel plans!  This has been such a fantastic experience so far thanks to him! And a hat tip also goes to his ever capable assistant, Nancy! We did encounter some trip changes today, due to flooding, but everything went so smoothly.  I tried to get close enough to the flooded road to get a good picture, but I guess being a blog "reporter" doesn't get you very far past blocked roadways.... Water was completely over Hwy 2... We haven't seen much flood damage, but what we have seen is a reminder of the power of God.

Today, Clark, Sacajawea, and I visited Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska (I think) and a wonderful Interpretive Center in Nebraska City.  The farm was originally created by Mr. Morton who started Arbor Day.  One of his sons invented free flowing salt and another son invented corn starch.  We had a fun nature wagon ride, and nature walk--- lots of fun!

The Interpretive Center was a new, awesome hands-on museum all about Lewis and Clark.  Wonderful!!
There was a model keel boat that would have been the size of the one used on the Expedition.  People, that thing was great... for 4 people... not  33 plus the 150 pound Newfoundland dog they had!  We are so blessed by the men and women in history who paved the way for us, in so many different ways.  One interesting thing that we learned today:  Jefferson planned a $2,500 budget--- after the 2 year 4 month trip, the budget came in at over $38,000.  Not bad considering the number of men and supplies, but I have promised Lewis that I will try to have a budget that would make President Jefferson proud : )

The state park that we are in for tonight and the next night is beyond description.  There is a water park,  miniature golf,  marina with paddleboats, several parks,  lodge with great restaurant, free wi-fi in the entire campground... and more! Pretty hard to say we are roughing it.
The park is right beside the Air and Space Museum, and a Safari Park.  If anyone misses us we may be relocating to Nebraska...
We are headed in for Bible time, and hopefully quickly to sleep.  More tomorrow...
Scannon

Things learned along the way...

1. Rain and hail are super loud in a camper. And you should never go to sleep without knowing which county you are in.

2. Racoons love ice pops, and they don't even have to be frozen! Over 50 ice pops...

3. Daniel Boone hated coon skin caps!!!! Who knew?  And we won't even talk about the real Lewis'
     health issues...

4. You can't go through life without the instruction book. I have one for travel, thanks to Lewis,
     and the other is proving priceless as well. Enjoying my extra time in the Word these days.

5. A hotdog is best roasted over a camp fire that your son builds.

6. Mia makes the best s'mores.

7. When a six year old has two front teeth that are hanging on by a thread, they may hang on
     for a LONG time.

8. Our children are the best travelers, ever!

9. When the camp host tells you "Oh, just a 1/3 mile" what he really meant was "It's a day hike, so take
    some water"....

10.  When you stay at the Hampton on the highway, you might miss a lot along the way.  What a beautiful drive this has been so far!

11. Sacajawea was won in a card game by Charbonneau.  I was won in a pool game, but that is  a post    for another day....

Thanks for all the kind words on facebook and email, we miss you guys!
Signing off,
Scannon

Hail the Corp of Discovery...

The journal of the 1st afternoon of the original L&C expdition read, "...spring storms continued and a hard rain lasted through the night." Well, Scannon sent word at 2:30AM this morning that hail was pelting the camper. I will let her describe the sound a 15 minute hail storm makes on a fiberglass and metal camper. Thankfully the storm blew over. When the sun rose, things were a little wet, but the most curious thing were the scattered colored plastic around the campground. Although the food was put up in the camper, there was a unopened box of icepops that the racoons found. I can just imagine the sugar rush of the multicolor pawed family of coons.

Clark was put on coon patrol while Sacajewea and Scannon packed up. All then headed to Daniel Boone's log cabin. The adventure continued to Daniel Boone's gravesite before ending in Arrowhead Rock State Park west of Columbia, MO. Scannon promises more details soon, but is out of cell and wifi reach at this time. Clark successfully made a campfire and hotdogs and smores were had by all. Good night Corp!

Lewis Deserts...

St. Louis had a population of only a little over one thousand when Lewis arrived December 7th, 1804. This little outpost, once Spanish, now French, and about to be American, was the wintering spot for the Corp. They continued stockpiling supplies and began their journey from here in the Spring of 1804. The Lohmeier Corps explored the Arch this morning. Amazing view and fantastic museum. Unfortunately, Capt. Lewis was abducted by a Samsquanch (sorry Ken) and taken back to New Albany. I have placed Scannon, my trusty dog in charge until my return. Miss you already Corp, be strong!

Captain Lewis here...

This is Merriwether Lewis reporting, accounting for day #2 of our great journey. Thomas Jefferson has entrusted us to explore his recent acquisition, the Louisiana Purchase. So I have assembled a trusty crew and we are in the process of acquiring supplies in the port of St. Louis. The original supply list weapons included 200 pounds of rifle powder, 400 pounds of lead bullets, and 25 axes. Trade supplies included 144 pairs of sissors, 288 brass thimbles, 10 pounds of thread, 288 knives, and lots of beads (blue ones were particularly valued).

I have sent my crew to the Archway to the West, to scout out our way westward...

Just Call Me Scannon...

Day 1

Today has been very successful!  We have reached our campsite in St. Louis safely, and had a good dinner.  We ducked in Panera Bread to borrow the wi-fi and get a loaf of sour dough for tomorrow, so
we have it much easier than the original Corps of Discovery explorers did!  We have all chosen names
from the Lewis and Clark group... Justin, our fearless leader, is Lewis.  His sidekick Max, is Clark, of
of course.  Mia chose Sacajawea.  So that leaves the writer of the blog to be... um, well,  I'm Scannon.
Historians differ on what Scannon's name may have been.  Penmanship was so terrible in the journals
that the name could have been Scannon or Seaman.  Since this is our rendition of the trip, we chose
Scannon.  And in case you are wondering, Scannon was the dog...

Praying that we have a good night's rest, and that the weather is safe.  Hope all is well at home.
We miss y'all already!  We will begin posting photos tomorrow...
Until then,
Scannon