Final Day–Whoo-Hoo! Videos & Pictures…Thank You for joining me!

Here I sit…at home…safe and sound, sitting in front of my computer writing my final post.

May 14, 1804 is the very day the Lewis and Clark Expedition began their journey. Read the journals of Gass and Whitehouse at the end of this post.

This is where I finished!

It feels strange to type these words. For so many days now I have held my cell phone and typed with my thumbs as I peered into the bright screen late at night hoping I pushed the right buttons. It was hard to see the words so I’m sure words came out garbled at times.

To start the day, I felt nervous about the effort it would take to get all the way to Ft. Clatsop. Every morning on this journey I felt this way…sort of an anxious churning inside. Every day, it took me up to an hour to overcome this knot and to turn it into positive motion. I usually listened to music, read my Bible, and just eased into the day. Often I would read comments from many of you in the morning which helped me get going. The conversations with you were so encouraging and helped me immensely. When people asked me if I was alone, I said, “I am physically riding my bike by myself but I wasn’t alone. I had lots of friends with me.” You made a big difference to me. So, again, THANK YOU for joining me on this bike adventure. I hope you were inspired and found adventure and fun as you followed me.

I rode into Fort Clatsop and was greeted by lots of cheering! what a great welcome! Randy-my husband, Andi-her husband, Mom and husband-came to celebrate my arrival. I was surprised and grateful for their presence. Andi’s mom, Barb, brought wonderful homemade peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies to munch on. Barb explained how she tried to think of a way to create an authentic variety of cookie based on what Lewis and Clark had available to them at the time of their arrival. After thinking about it early this morning, she realized it wasn’t possible to make an authentic cookie because there was no such thing as flour available at the time. So she made the next best thing…authentic Americana! Yummy!

Ranger Tom came out and led everyone in a Fort Clatsop/Lewis & Clark kind of cheer to make my finish official. Thank you for all the amazing comments, good wishes, prayers, phone calls, hospitality, and most of all your friendship.

Click on the title to watch the celebration videos:

Now for some pictures! 

John and Kris, owners of the Bike Inn in Clatskanie

 

Guess where I was riding....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...arriving at Fort Clatsop!

 

Cheering and ApplauseWelcoming Party at Fort Clatsop...whoo-hoo!

Barb with the yummy Americana cookies!The wonderful welcoming committee!

 

This is where I finished!

Lewis and Clark Journal entries for May 14, 1804…

It is interesting to note that on this day over 200 years ago, the Lewis and Clark officially started their Expedition. Read the journal entries from Gass and Whitehouse:

 

Gass: 

       On Monday the 14th of May 1804, we left our establishment at the mouth of the river du Bois or Wood river, a small river which falls into the Mississippi, on the east-side, a mile below the Missouri, and having crossed the Mississippi proceeded up the Missouri on our intended voyage of discovery, under the command of Captain Clarke. Captain Lewis was to join us in two or three days on our passage.  [12]

       The corps consisted of forty-three men (including Captain Lewis and Captain Clarke, who were to command the expedition) part of the regular troops of the United States, and part engaged for this particular enterprize. The expedition was embarked on board a batteau and two periogues. The day was showery and in the evening we encamped on the north bank six miles up the river. Here we had leisure to reflect on our situation, and the nature of our engagements: and, as we had all entered this service as volunteers, to consider how far we stood pledged for the success of an expedition, which the government had projected; and which had been undertaken for the benefit and at the expence of the Union: of course of much interest and high expectation.

       The best authenticated accounts informed us, that we were to pass through a country possessed by numerous, powerful and warlike nations of savages, of gigantic stature, fierce, treacherous and cruel; and particularly hostile to white men. And fame had united with tradition in opposing mountains to our course, which human enterprize and exertion would attempt in vain to pass.  [13] The determined and resolute character, however, of the corps, and the confidence which pervaded all ranks dispelled every emotion of fear, and anxiety for the present; while a sense of duty, and of the honour, which would attend the completion of the object of the expedition; a wish to gratify the expectations of the government, and of our fellow citizens, with the feelings which novelty and discovery invariably inspire, seemed to insure to us ample support in our future toils, suffering and dangers.

Whitehouse:

       Monday 14th May 1804.  [14]    hard Showers of rain.    this being the day appointed by Capt. Clark to Set out, a number of the Sitizens of Gotian  [15] Settlement came to See us Start.    we got in readiness.    Capt. Lewis is now at St. Louis but will join us at St. Charls.    about 3 Oclock P.M. Capt. Clark and the party consisting of three Sergeants and 38 men  [16] who manned the Batteaux and perogues.    we fired our Swivel  [17] on the bow hoisted Sail and Set out in high Spirits for the western Expedition.    we entered the mouth of the Missourie haveing a fair wind Sailed abt. 6 miles and Camped on the North Side.—

Read the actual journals of the expedition

Videos of the journey so far – part 2

Just to catch you up:

 

Videos of the journey so far

The following videos give you a glimpse into what it is like to pack up the bike and set out on an adventure. Each hour has surprises and intriguing encounters. ENJOY….

Fort Clatsop Field trip Fun-Part 2

I spent the day with a group of energetic happy girls exploring Fort Clatsop! 

Sophia, Sarah, Ainsley, Whitney and Hannah ready for a great day at Fort Clatsop

Each girl came with an arsenal of games, food and ideas about how to spend her time on the bus with friends. Four hours is a long time on a windy road seating on a bus but it went by quickly and we soon arrived at the Fort.

Hannah showing me her craft

I video taped each of the girls before we started the organized tours. I asked for what they were hoping to learn at the Fort.

You can click on each link to hear the before tour and after tour thoughts. There was a lot of noise in the background so it is a little hard to hear them but you get a glimpse into their thoughts and expectations. These videos are private and can only be accessed through this blog. I ran out of battery strength before I could record Hannah’s concluding thoughts.  

Sarah and Ainsley before the tour

Whitney before the tour

Hannah before the tour

Ainsley after the tour

Whitney after the tour

Sarah after the tour    Sorry, Sarah, I ran out of battery!

After the tour, everyone was ravenous! We found our seats on the bus and dived into our

Dave's Killer Bread with peanut butter and jam!

lunches. The very first thing we did was compare lunches, “what’s in your lunch?”  Ah, the good old days of grade school! Turns out Hannah’s mom and I have the same ideas about lunch…peanut butter and jam on Dave’s Killer Bread and carrot sticks.  

After lunch Hannah educated me on the ways of 4th grade activities. Have you ever heard of MASH? Neither had I. Apparently I am from a different era. Hannah carefully walked me through the game. The results? I married a man named Jason (happens to be my son’s name), drive a Scion, have 2 kids and live in a house (I think it was a house-Hannah would remember!).

As we toured the Fort, it became apparent that life was not so interesting for the men during the winter of 1805-1806. I don’t think they played MASH. More likely, they spent their time doing chores and ridding themselves of fleas. Even the Seaman, Lewis’ dog howled miserably due to the tiny tormentors. The only way to kill the fleas was to smoke them to death at night while the men slept, or tried to sleep. But that meant the men were miserable because their rooms were filled with smoke from the damp wood. The men were so bored they made double the number of moccasins they needed for the journey home. Hey, what else are you going to do on long rainy days?

My next post, I will finish uploading the videos I took during the field trip. All that remains is the shooting of the Ft. Clatsop “Spitwad!” Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion of Field trip Fun.

Speaking of long rainy days, I am ready for a few sun rays myself. I have the comforts of my bed and shower but Corps of Discovery were in the rainy weather all winter. How are you all holding up under the weather? What do you do on a rainy day (or week…or month)? How do you pass the time?

I played this when I was a child!

Sophia thinking Hard!