 A bunch of hard case guys from Kansas and Missouri, between these guys and cars, every night presents many dangers for coons  Camp behind community centre, Clinton |
 Downtown Clinton  245 miles of crushed limestone back east to St Louis |
13/8/2011 Warrensberg to Clinton
D62, T3, Av 19.68 T4140
Awaking in my budget motel room, it did not take much for me to get outside and inspect the offerings of a new day, it looked great. I think the last guest while smoking in bed just tossed them onto the carpet to burn out.
First thing done was degrease the chain and flush it with a high pressure hose that was on site. That sorts out the 4000km clean, the cable and all moving parts were oiled. The rear tyre is now wearing thin so I might endeavour to find another Dureme and carry it. I am also aware the present tyre could get me to Venice. Once I get into the bottom lands and the delta country a few more grams wont break the camels back. I hope.
The room I was in last night would have to take the honours so far for the “Get me out of here” award.
I should be thankful, firstly that I can afford a room and secondly, there are people who haven’t even got a roof over their head, so in that context it was fine.
The afternoon was spent on the computer making calls and compiling journal entries.
The girls looked after me like a king and enjoyed listening to me talking to people back home.
At about 1900hrs I headed to the community hall at the Katy Trail head.
Low and behold the qualifiers for the world coon hunting championship were being held.
There were dogs and coon hunters everywhere in their big pickups.
Chatting with a guy he explained that the specially trained dogs, I forget the breed, but they looked like a Pointer ,Beagle cross will chase the coons and tree them. They break the hunt up into groups of about 20 dogs, the owners follow with torches and encouragement.
A local guy will take the group where he thinks the coons maybe.
I Told him what the term coon means in Australia and said if the cops heard about an organised coon hunt, even if they were only being treed, the coon hunters would end up being the hunted by the local authorities, they laughed.
I set up camp over the fields behind these guys, hoping dearly that a Racoon would not come racing by with a posse of dogs in tow with their owners coming in behind.
My tree climbing days are long over.
D62, T3, Av 19.68 T4140
Awaking in my budget motel room, it did not take much for me to get outside and inspect the offerings of a new day, it looked great. I think the last guest while smoking in bed just tossed them onto the carpet to burn out.
First thing done was degrease the chain and flush it with a high pressure hose that was on site. That sorts out the 4000km clean, the cable and all moving parts were oiled. The rear tyre is now wearing thin so I might endeavour to find another Dureme and carry it. I am also aware the present tyre could get me to Venice. Once I get into the bottom lands and the delta country a few more grams wont break the camels back. I hope.
The room I was in last night would have to take the honours so far for the “Get me out of here” award.
I should be thankful, firstly that I can afford a room and secondly, there are people who haven’t even got a roof over their head, so in that context it was fine.
The afternoon was spent on the computer making calls and compiling journal entries.
The girls looked after me like a king and enjoyed listening to me talking to people back home.
At about 1900hrs I headed to the community hall at the Katy Trail head.
Low and behold the qualifiers for the world coon hunting championship were being held.
There were dogs and coon hunters everywhere in their big pickups.
Chatting with a guy he explained that the specially trained dogs, I forget the breed, but they looked like a Pointer ,Beagle cross will chase the coons and tree them. They break the hunt up into groups of about 20 dogs, the owners follow with torches and encouragement.
A local guy will take the group where he thinks the coons maybe.
I Told him what the term coon means in Australia and said if the cops heard about an organised coon hunt, even if they were only being treed, the coon hunters would end up being the hunted by the local authorities, they laughed.
I set up camp over the fields behind these guys, hoping dearly that a Racoon would not come racing by with a posse of dogs in tow with their owners coming in behind.
My tree climbing days are long over.
