Today is our anniversary. The husband always says “Well we haven’t made it to”______ fill in the year. Well we made it to 49. We didn’t have plans for today after our road trip last fall to Indian Cave State Park. I asked the husband to take me to a favorite spot, somewhere I’ve never been. He said I’d never make it. His favorite spots are out in the wilderness, where he loves to hunt, where there are no paths, lot’s of ruts and lots of tromping through underbrush. Besides that, it requires a lot of driving on short notice. 135 miles round trip. Ok, think again. Let’s go up to DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge.
I hadn’t been up there since my girls were small – a very, long time ago. Only about 45 minutes from Omaha, it is on the Nebraska-Iowa border. A Federal Wildlife Preserve, it is home to the Missouri River, Cottonwood Trees, Bald Eagles and in the fall, millions of Geese.
Personally I was just hoping to see some eagles and lovely fall trees. Well I did get a close up of a milkweed pod!
As we were driving up I was watching the trees and thinking how this hasn’t been a very pretty fall. It just seems like we went from green to crisp with non of that gradual slow movement of color. We had a bitter cold snap earlier in the week, and now the leaves are just done and dumping. As I reflected, it occurred to me that it’s the drought. Naturally, everything is just dry and dusty, and of course, the trees are going to show that. It really makes me appreciate those years when you turn your head, gasp, and stop in your tracks to look at the beauty you are beholding. Well maybe next year!
DeSoto Bend Visitor’s Center
First stop, was the Visitor’s Center, where they have a display of all types of creatures you will find in the park.
They had an actual eagles nest on display. I was shocked to see how huge it was. About 6′ in diameter.
After that, we walked past deer, coyote and beaver pelts, an interactive display for the kids that had some skeletons, birds nest, turtle shells and feathers and eventually made our way to the Bertrand Display. The Bertrand was a post Civil War Era Steamboat that sunk near DeSoto Bend. Two young Omaha men rediscovered it in 1967 and recovered it in 1969.
This was a very interesting display. Sunken treasure has always captured my imagination and as an antique lover I found myself reading every description of the items. The steamboat carried goods miners needed to settle the land, destined for the Montana Territory. Lots and lots of shovels, saws, and axes!
Restorers brought back tons of bottles and a small collection of ironstone. Lovely glasses.
Bottles of Bitters!
Do you even know what bitters are? I, of course, had heard the term, but was never able to associate it with anything. Turns out it was any “Medicine Mans” concoction. Usually starting with whiskey and ending with herbs. Bitters for every ailment!!!
Crates and crates of the stuff. Different manufacturers different shaped bottles. Lots of bottles of Pickled Cucumbers (oh, pickles) along with Brandied fruit!
Amazing what survives a ship wreck.
Here are beautiful glass vessels for kerosene lamps and then there were more crates.
Crates of munitions, lead sticks, bullet forms, interesting stuff.
Powder Flasks and Shot Pouches
One of the most fascinating things was this pair of boots crafted from buffalo hide. Workers shipped the hide back east to make the boots, turned the fur inside out for better insulation, and added buckles to the outside to keep them closed. They would then send the boots back to keep Montana miner’s feet warm during the winter. So cool!
There were the leather boots with nail studs on the soles of the boot. Love the pattern. Inspiration and artistry is everywhere.
Here is a rubber coat that would have been used by the captain that looks like it could have been made yesterday.
I bet it was heavy.
A drive through the park
Afterwards, we drove through the park. We found a lot of the trails closed but there was something peaceful about driving along the Missouri River on a straight tree lined road, with just a hint of fall still hanging on to the trees. What wild life did we see? Well I saw a squirrel in a tree, oh and there was a possum sniffing out bugs on a log, and a pair of red tail hawks. No geese yet, no eagles, no beaver or deer. Oh but yes there were what the husband said was Coots bunched up on the river, and of course the old coot sitting next to me in the truck! We are now heading to a simple dinner but, so far, a good anniversary. Have you ever been to DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge? What was your favorite part about it?
Thanks for stopping
Shelley
