I have always been a big fan of explorers. My idol, Moroccan-born Ibn Battuta traveled and explored Northern Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia for nearly 29 years before he settled back in his hometown of Tangier. Lately, Ibn got some competition: Lewis & Clark.
Having traveled along the famous Lewis & Clark Trail in Oregon inspired me to read up a bit more about these two gentlemen. Imagine the President of the United States (Thomas Jefferson) would commission you to find «a more convenient way to the Pacific». Mr. Jefferson seems to have not been a big fan of the «desolate desert» between Texas and California. In 1803 Mr. Jefferson asked Congress for money to fund the expedition.
Fact is that the expedition put together by Captain Meriwether Lewis and his close friend Second Lieutenant William Clark was, to date and keeping the timeline in mind, the best organized and thought-through adventure. They set off on May 14, 1804 and returned 862 days later in September of 1806 and lost only one man (Charles Floyd in August 1804 near Sioux City, Iowa). Lewis and Clark are also credited with establishing positive trade relations with Native Americans. This clearly demonstrates that negotiations can lead to success and no guns are needed.
Living in the 21. Century I admire this expedition of 40 men. No GPS, no Google, no Google Translate, no down jackets during the brutal winters, not even maps. Basically these brave men got up in the morning not knowing what the day will bring. Not knowing what kind of food they will have for dinner nor what kind of acquaintances they will make amongst Native Americans that very day.
Somehow I envy these people and the mental strength they had. Traveling in my truck and travel trailer I get nervous when my car shows a quarter tank left and I haven’t figured out where to find gas or, God forbid, my GPS is not working properly.
Lewis & Clark succeeded with their well-planned expedition and found the most spectacular shortcut through the Pacific Northwest to the Pacific Ocean. Thomas Jefferson must have been happy as he could travel in a more cooler climate to the West Coast.