Country Roads, Take Me Home

Monday

July 28, 2014

Monday morning we arose early and hit the road again. Riding across Kansas, we noticed the green starting to come back into the scenery. There were farms on left and right but spaced far apart. No neighbors in this neck of the woods. If you need to borrow a cup of sugar, well, get in the car.

George had two stops left for us to visit. One was the Arabia Steamship Museum. I wasn't clear at all what it was but I thought it must be a steamship museum with stories and pieces of steamships that traveled the Missouri River. No. I do believe this was one of the most interesting museums I ever visited.

The steamship Arabia was travelling up the Missouri River in 1850 loaded with 20 tons of supplies to be sold and used by pioneers out west. Also on board were wives and children who were travelling to be with their husbands. The Missouri is a hard river to navigate and the boat hit an underwater log, took on water and sank. The upperdeck was above water and people were able to be evacuated. The only casualty was a mule. The entire bottom of the boat was underwater and in that day it was nearly impossible to recover the goods. Years passed. Over 100 years and the lore of the Arabia still was in the minds of some of the locals. In the early 1980's two brothers, their father, a friend, and one other were discussing the lost Arabia. They decided to look for it. Not an easy task. It would take money, time and a lost of work.  Check this out it will tell the rest of the fascinating story.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabia_(steamboat). The museum was truly entertaining and amazing.

We also visited the Pioneer Trails Museum. It was a reminder to me that traveling west in a car for 29 days is not as bad as I thought. I sure wouldn't want to travel by wagon. The men, women, and children who expanded our country were tough, determined, and have my blessings.

We drove to Mt. Vernon, IL for the night to rest. Home is a little closer.