Boonville to Old Route 231; Distance = 16 Miles; People Met = 16+
We started the day hiking on Rudolph Road near Boonville. In a short while we were hailed from a tractor store by Glen Rudolph, whose family owned the farmland around Rudolph Road. Glen thanked us for going through Boonville as if he were the mayor of the town and gave us good directions for getting to IN 62.
Glen Rudolph
We went by a huge cemetery where we met Diana Johnson. Apparently we confirmed for the reports of her husband that he saw us heading in the direction of Boonville the day previous. She told us she was there to pick up her Mom. By “there” she meant Boonville, but one could interpret that to mean graveyard. I could not help but conjure up an image of her escorting her Mom from a coffin.
Diana Johnson
About 5 miles out of Boonville we saw a building with the interesting name of Put ‘n Take. The owner stepped outside and offered us a warm stove to gather around. We came in to meet Mike Krantz and his friend Grayson Boyte. The surroundings appeared to be a cross between a firearms and an antique store. In the middle the two soft-spoken, articulate gentlemen were sitting around a stove as you might find in a general store.
Cindy, Grayson and Mike
They had not seen the media coverage as far as I could tell. They invited us in purely because they saw us hiking buy with the appearance that we were out for more than a jaunt on a day that promised an impending rainstorm. Both were familiar with long distance trails such as the Appalachian Trail. Indeed, I was mildly surprised when Grayson asked about the Oregon Trail; not the wagon trail but the scenic trail that runs entirely in that state.
We stayed for a much shorter time than we would have liked; we wanted to get in as many miles as possible before the rain started. Mike sent us off with two different types of pocket knives as gifts. They had Put & Take on them, which we learned stood for “Put down your dollars and Take home the merchandise.” The knives reminded me of my father, who was a specialty advertising salesman.
We could not escape the rain. That did not Carol Van Winkle, however, as she stopped her car to come out to greet us; she had seen the coverage. She even cut out and saved one of the quotes from the newspaper.
Carol Van Winkle and Cindy
We came to a halt at Waninger’s Auto Parts store and waited inside for Ky to pick us up and bring us to Lamar where I would be giving a talk. That’s material for the next post.
Scott Waninger
Other Photos
Pat Greenwell warned that the rain was coming and offered us a ride
John Sutton offered us water as we walked by
Auto Parts Humor
There's a message here somewhere
Very neat , I like it! I do a lot of writing about the history of Warrick County and its people. Maybe you would be interested in following some of the pages I have established and manage online. They are :Once Upon A Time In Warrick County, Proud To Be A Coal Miner’s Daughter, “Warrick County & World War ll, A Time For Reflection, the old Gum Street High School, & Eddie’s Soda Shop.
Please let me know if ever you are going to do this hiking about again, I live in Newburgh, but would be glad to come to Boonville for that day.
Sincerely, Barbara Brown Meyer
P.S. I know Mike Krantz and his family, very fine people. I am glad your path took you his way.