West Virginia

On 18 June 2016, I stood in Harpers Ferry and stared at a sign that read the following:

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“Meriwether Lewis arrived March 16, 1803. Oversaw building of collapsible iron framed, skin-clad boat and acquired supplies, tomahawks, and rifles. Left for Pennsylvania on April 18; returned July 7 to gather materials and left next day for Pittsburgh. Followed Ohio to Falls; met William Clark for trip to explore and study land, waterways, animal life, natural features and resources of West.”

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On 11 July 2016, I stood in front of the “End of the Trail” statue of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in Seaside, Oregon.

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I do not know why but I thought this experience was “neat.”

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Perhaps the thought of traveling from the East Coast all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the 1800s inspires me.

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Or maybe it saddened me that because of the era I was born in, this adventure can no longer be experienced.