Voyage of Discovery

 

This is Block 2 of the "Voyage of Discovery" (Lewis and Clark) quilt. It symbolizes the State of Missouri.

On June 26th, the expedition completed its westward trek of 400 river miles across the present state of Missouri and arrived at the mouth of the Kansas River. The first trek of the journey was plagued with health problems such as boils and dysentery. The captains diagnosed the problems from the river water they were drinking and advised the men to dip their cups below the surface when they went for a drink. The surface water was full of scum, mud, and debris; if the men dipped deep, they would get cleaner water. Their diet was also part of the problem as it consisted of mostly meat and cornmeal. Then there were the ticks, gnats, and mosquitoes to deal with. They came in droves so thick that the men could not keep them out of their eyes, noses, ears and throats. To escape, men stood in the smoke of the fire and coated their exposed limbs, necks, and faces with voyager's grease.
*******

Sounds like loads of fun doesn't it?!?!! I'm glad I'm only making a quilt!