Day Nine
Monday, October 14, 2024
Lisa: We were grateful to be traveling eastward, as the mile markers, which had started around 40 miles behind us, ticked us down to Mile Zero. It was a bittersweet day. By that point, nine miles seemed like nothin’.
Marianne: It didn’t seem possible this would be our last day of hiking the trail. It had gone by so fast. I was amazed we had accomplished this task that seemed so impossible when we were planning it. Mile Zero = Mile 124.84.
Rantoul to Osawatomie, Mile Zero
Marianne drove home, Lisa stayed in Hays
9.14 trail miles, 11.42 total miles
43° at 7:30 a.m. with a high of 68°
Osawatomie
We took photos of every mile marker counting down. As we got closer and closer to done, the more it seemed a good idea to just turn around and walk the whole way back.
Click on the yellow crosses to the right to read the sections below
Downers
Lisa:
- Our journey came to an end.
Marianne:
- Firefighters (I think) came through Rantoul City Hall and got to see us in our sleeping bags. I think we scared them.
- We missed the front porch festival in Osawatamie.
- Chipped a tooth eating candy on the way home after dropping Lisa off at her car.
Highlights
Lisa:
- I felt a great sense of accomplishment
- Marianne’s car was still there, and we were able to fit all our gear into it
- We drove west to my car, which was still parked at Allegawaho Heritage Memorial Park
Marianne:
- We didn’t get murdered by ________. (Name redacted. You can ask us in person.)
- We slept nice and toasty.
- Our final day was beautiful!!
Fast Facts: Osawatomie, Kansas
- Founded in 1854
- Population 4255 (as of 2020 Census)
- Its name is a portmanteau of two nearby streams, the Marais des Cygnes River (formerly named “Osage River”) and Pottawatomie Creek
- The Emigrant Aid Society’s transport of settlers to the Kansas Territory as a base for Free State settlers was key in the establishment of the community of Osawatomie in October 1854
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo for a captioned slide show to learn what you're looking at
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