Some history on yesterday stoping point Falls City.  It is located on a river that feeds the Missouri and was founded in 1857.  That river had a 4 ft drop over a limestone ledge.  Currently the falls no longer exists as the river moved.  It then became a railroad town and reached the peak of population in 1950 with 6200 people.  In walking the town today it clear at one time the city was once a great place as the homes are all really cool and big.  


This morning was cool and hazy but no RAIN so it was good day to start.  We left and filled the tanks as my light was flashing that I was low on gas.  The ride followed along the Missouri River Valley right at the edge. One of the signs said all the valley was created by glaciers and hills at the side are just where the water was flowing under the Glaciers.  Then when the glaciers receded the these sides were higher than the valley.   


The total distance traveled was s78 miles and we ended in Weston MO.  So today wer in 3 states, Nebraska, Kanas and Missouri. 


Weston was founded in the 1820 to 1830.  A former Army solder thought the enlisted men in Fort Leavenworth across the river would like a spot to drink and blow off some extra energy.  So he claimed the site set up a trading post where he could sell liquor and town grew from that.  Then when the state expended hemp became a major crop and that required a lot of slave labor.  Of course after the Clivil war this collapsed as hemp processing depended on free labor.  Next came tobacco which grew into a large business and Weston become a center of trade.  Weston became a huge Steam boat stop but the end came when the river changed course and Weston was not on the river at all and the railroad bypassed them in favor of Hannibal and St. Joseph.  Then a fire in 1936 burnt down 3 tobacco barns resulting in a million dollar lost.  The local distillery is the longest continuously operating still in the USA.  The did not stop making alcohol during the 1930s as it was legal to make just not legal to sell,  So when probation was over they a huge stock to sell.   

 


Other Notes:

  • During the ride we saw some of the few tiered feeds in the USA.
  • We walked the town and bought 2 one oz bottle of bourbon for 2 dollars total a really good deal
  • The roads in MO were not as good as the roads in Kanas or Nebraska.
  • There was more trash on. the side of the road in Missouri was higher in other states I wonder if this is related.  
  • Saw 7 road kills today 3 possum, 3 raccoons and 1 beaver (the first one I have seen as road kill)
  • Counts:
    • 7 more corn fields than soya been fields (too many fields to count.
    • 1 hay fields
    • 15 buzzards
    • 2 hawks
    • 13 bridges
    • 68 silo’s
    • 55 cars
    • 46 pickup trucks
    • 3 transport trucks (grain haulers)
    • 2 septic tank pumpers
    • 4 RV and campers
    • 14 miles with no vehicles 
    • 5 historic sites 3 of which discussed Lewis and Clark camping close by
    • 2 insect impacts















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