Sunday's Adventure

We had set aside Sunday to do some geocaching with Janice, our geo friend from Texas. She did the research and had a couple of suggestions. We talked to some folks at the Friday night event and learned one that she had on her list involved walking, LOTS of walking. One guy told me he walked 8 miles. I don't do 8 miles, and thankfully, neither Hubby or Janice were too interested once they heard that. So we came up with a Plan B...find 23 of 25 caches along the Boone's Lick Road, from St. Charles MO to Franklin MO.

"The Boone’s Lick Road extending from St. Charles, Missouri to Franklin, MO was the most important westward migration route in America following the War of 1812. The Boone’s Lick Road was the main land route used to travel west to populate the fertile Missouri River Valley across the state of Missouri. The road was named after Daniel Boone’s sons, Nathan and Daniel Morgan, who traveled to the interior of Missouri to begin a salt making enterprise near Franklin, MO in 1806 following a Lewis and Clark report of the presence of numerous saltwater springs in the area. Taverns, inns, and forts were soon built along the road to provide aid and assistance to westward travelers. Travel west by wagon to the Boone’s Lick Country exclusively followed the Boone’s Lick Road until 1822 when other communities began developing and other secondary routes were taken. Franklin, MO, the terminus of the Boone’s Lick Road, was the starting point for the Santa Fe Trail."

Pittman Bridge

"The Pitman Bridge, named after John Pitman a local landowner in Cottleville,  sits on the Boone’s Lick Road."  I did not take a photo of the fine stone work of the bridge, I was interested in the water and the trees.

location of Kenner's Tavern

"Kenner Tavern, a popular stop along the Boone’s Lick Road was built and operated by Rodman Kenner until his death in 1976."

settlement of Hickory Grove

an interesting tree

an old cemetery at the former Camp Branch

Where's Janice & Hubby?

the location of Devault Tavern

built to assist travelers along the trail

Danville Female Academy founded in 1853

The story on the board said Union soldiers stopped at the academy during a nearby skirmish to search the buildings for 'hidden' Confederate soldiers. Some of the girls ran off to hide in the woods. Some stayed to confront the soldiers. legend says one of the girls hung her petticoat from an upstairs window to let the soldiers know they did not plan to fight.

"The Danville Female Academy served the town of Danville from 1854-1865. Danville was the center of many activities during the Civil War, the most noteable was on Oct. 14 1864 when bloody Bill Anderson raided and burned the majority of the town killing and injuring several of the towns residents."

this is the only remaining building, I think the school

there was also a dormitory and a chapel

colorful vines on a tree trunk at

"Several early accounts mention travelers on the Boone’s Lick Road crossing the Loutre Creek through the Louter Prairie while heading west.  Also mentioned was the Van Bibber tavern, a two story structure built to accommodate travelers.  This was an offshoot of the original road after other communities began to be developed.  The DAR marker was placed to identify the location of the both the spring and the tavern."

Loutre Creek today

some of the buildings in this dot on the map and curve in the road

Mineo MO today

an auto repair shop as it's last business

location of Salt Creek Church & cemetery

picturesque and maintained area in the middle of nowhere

died 1841

our last geocache of the day

a wharf along the Missouri River

cobblestone 'road' to the wharf along the Missouri

used prior to the Civil War

the cement supports are what remains of a bridge that

crossed the Missouri at Boonville

"The floor of the old bridge was laid with a metal "grid" and most people found that it caused their car to scoot from side to side because of the "grooves" in the metal flooring." The bridge was demolished in 1998.

We also stopped at the location of Naylor's Store, "the location of John’s Naylor’s Store, one of the founders of the town of Dardenne." There was also Kountz Fort, "During the 1812 a fort was built by Nicholas Kountz and protect settlers in the area." So taverns, forts, settlements, churches...all historic stops along a road/trail started by the sons of Daniel Boone.

It was a 400 mile day, seeing the countryside of northern Missouri, getting history lessons, and appreciating the convenience of modern two & four lane highways and convenience stores. Hmmmm, just a modern Boone's Lick Road. It was fabulous day. We found all 25 of the caches and a few others and will receive a special geocoin to commemorate our Sunday in Missouri. Well worth the 11 hours and 400 miles.