We had a trip out on saturday, which was sunny and hot. We went west along the Missouri to several 'historic' towns. The first- Rocheport, was more a one street village of pretty brick houses, nothing outstanding and nothing open! It's true, there aren't many tourists round here, but they don't exactly encourage it. Rocheport, however is right next to the Missouri and straight on to the Katy Trail. A 200 mile nature trail, bicycle track along what used to be the Kansas/Texas railway line. This is one of the more interesting bits with tunnels cut out of the cliffs and bluffs above the river plain.
You can see Roland is pleased. It's the train thing again!
The old railway bridge over what would be a creek is over a rather large river. This is not the Missouri, it is the flood plain, and there has been a lot of rain.
The whole of the Missouri valley here is under water. It looks very attractive, but I don't suppose it's doing the trees much good.
We climbed to the top of the cliffs and all the water you see is flooding. In the far distance, you can see the actual river. Too many trees to see properly.
We went on to the next historic town, Boonville. Bigger, but also closed.
I now realise why we have come here when we end up here.
The tourist information centre in the old station is closed, but we run in to a direct descendent of Hannah Cole, the first women to set up home here and founder of the town. She had nine children and no husband, the indians had got him. She must have been tough.
This was interesting. It was the Sheriffs home, with jail attached. In the back garden is the old tin barn where they hung the convicted prisoners. Very compact justice.
This is the shed out back.
Boonville looked a bit more lively. It's a bigger place and it has a number of listed mid 19th century houses. It also is home to an old theatre, which dates from the 1850's and is a very fine building.
Opposite was a church with an unexpected and rather pleasing message.
These old adverts were rather good. The price is 5c. !
As the weather has got cooler, it has been easier to walk further afield. I can actually walk to Walmart- deep joy. I tend to just walk around the streets, looking at the houses. There are several I will try to photograph at some stage, but I want to do it unobserved! They are in the less salubrious parts of town.
The old railway line still goes through Fulton.
The station still exists, but is now used as a storage shed.
On one of my walks I managed to get this squirrel. I know they are a menace, but I liked this.
Well after the symposium the next big event in Fulton is Roland's lecture! It is being advertised all over town and they have produced postcard sized flyers, with Roland's face beaming out from them. It's open to all comers, so I told him it better be good. It is not supposed to be too erudite, so that we, the riff raff can understand it. Somehow, I don't think it will get the coverage that James Baker did, but it's fame for a day. They also put on a reception afterwards.
Well I'm off for a chilly walk. It's a beautiful day, but icy.
boys n toys huh?
ReplyDelete