Missouri border to Independence; Distance = 18 Miles; People Met = 11+
Photos at the end
Before the trip started we had no connections in Kansas City and were the most apprehensive of what we would do in that metropolitan area over all the others on our route. Now I doubt we will go through a metropolitan area where we will have more. Davis, Sailor, Talbert, Nelson, Miller, Gudgel, Watson, Quick, McLaughlin. Those are our Kansas City area connections in order of when we first connected.
We met Ardie and Gretchen Davis back in Frisco. They took to our message and began lining up talks for me in the Kansas City area. Ky needed car repair; that led to the Kip Sailor, David Talbert connections. We needed a place to stay in Lawrence; we were hooked up with Reid and Heather Nelson. We needed places to stay in Kansas City, particularly since we were arriving early for the talks; that led to the Lorene Miller and Brian and Christy Watson connections. Christy Watson in turn hooked us up with Phil and Heather Gudgel and with John and Patty Quick.
We stayed with the Quicks three nights. We broke bread together the first evening with a delicious pasta dinner prepared by Patty and we talked, in addition to other things, about birthing. The Quicks first had a daughter, then four years later had triplets, two daughters and a son. Surprise! All are grown and out on their own now. The second evening I was fortunate enough to watch a UConn women’s basketball game with John. He was such a gracious host he even rooted for UConn, a juggernaut like the Yankees that usually represents the enemy in places outside of Connecticut.
The third evening we did not spend much time together because I had our last talk to deliver at Prairie Village Presbyterian; which led to the Jarrett McLaughlin connection. The church usually hosts Wednesday night meals with programs following. We had a chance to talk with Jarrett over dinner. As the head of ministries for the church he filled us in on some of the kindness generated by PVP.
PVP is a large church, with up to 1300 people attending four services on a Sunday. You can imagine, then, that they are involved in large projects. Their food pantry runs almost like a grocery store, serving 1,000 a month with 300 volunteers from the church manning the store. Something that struck me was one of the sources of their funding. Many of the volunteers are elderly, looking to keep busy later in life. Since the food pantry has been in operation for many years, it has been remembered in the wills of some of these volunteers.
During these three days we stopped over at the Davis’s once to chat about how we should make the most of our remaining hike. I wanted to get an outsider’s perspective, though I’m not sure Ardie and Gretchen could be considered outsiders exactly at this point. I have not relaxed as much on this long distance hike as I have during others because of all the extra stuff I do. As we wind down the hike I hope to have better focus. The Davis’s also attended our final talk at PVP, kind of putting closure to our long stay in the Kansas City area.
Before our talk we actually resumed hiking, after a 5 day layoff. You might think we loved the 5 days respite, but not really so. We needed the time off for the talks and to catch up with some Internet work, but our bodies were wondering what the heck we were up to. “Let’s go!” they were telling us, so we finally went, in this case from the Missouri border on up to Independence.
We felt we had reached another physical region in our journey immediately. In the Flint Hills of Kansas we got a taste of trees and topography (just a taste, mind you), but now there were cliffs as we walked along the Blue River. We felt like we were back East. We felt like we were now on the home stretch of our journey, a rather lengthy home stretch I admit. We were able to chat with a few kind folks on this first day walking through our new state.
John Quick
The image is blurred, but Patty Quick wanted it that way
Our "handlers," Gretchen and Ardie Davis
Our next state
Micaiah and Terry
Carpenters CJ and Graham
Officer Joe
Valero owner Dennis
Chan, who was quite excited about us, and Derrick
Independence was the stopping place for one branch of Mormons
The Santa on the roof actually talks
Wednesday night dinner at Prairie Village Presbyterian
It’s me again-the pesky reporter from GB. I am writing a story on the American Discovery Trail-we’ve finally realized why we get so many walkers across the state in our small little town. A couple of questions? Why did you follow the trail? How has it helped you?Why follow the trail instead of just walking where your heart leads you? Thanks!!! The Letter to the editor you all wrote was very well received and appreciated in the community.
Greetings Karen,
We are long-distance backpackers from “way back,” having previously completed the Appalachian Trail and Continental Divide Trail (I’ve completed other trails as well). We are conditioned to look for an existing trail that we can add to the resume. The American Discovery Trail is an existing trail that fits our current mission. to portray and advocate community kindness to address Housing, Health and Hunger issues, as it comes in contact with so many communities. The advantage of hiking an existing trail is a schedule that can keep one on task, particularly when we have speaking engagements across the country.
I’m glad the Letter to the Editor was a help in promoting the spectacular Cheyenne Bottoms area to your readership.
Kirk