Manhaven

For no known Earthly reason there has been a tradition among some old Hazenites to hike to Manhaven every year.  Manhaven is a town that used to exist below the dam.  Parking as close as we could with the group we embarked.  Stoupini and the women decided to go along the river.  Kadizzle thought poorly of this idea.  Brush and weeds were dense along the river, but up and away from the river it was almost open prairie.  Mrs. Kadizzle did have the good sense to go with Pat on a different higher route.  The prairie group made good time, but the stumblebums along the river proceeded very slowly.

Kadizzle was making very good time until he came to a very steep sided ravine.  With a little delicate climbing in and out he made it across.  The prairie group got to the town site long before the jungle trekkers.  Manhaven was an old town started in 1906 where grain was loaded onto the steamboats.  800 people may have lived there at one time.  Farmers brought the grain down to the river and the grain bins held the grain until the ship arrived.  Up on a high bank the grain was stored until it could be slid by gravity down to the boats.  One or two houses still survive in rickety condition.  A few features can still be discerned from the old buildings.

After a good workout walking, a drink at Little's Bar, and a ride home Lauren served a wonderful meal. Laughter and BS flowed.  Such is life on the prairie.