I woke up this morning only to find that it was raining. I got ready and packed and loaded the car. After a little breakfast I got in the car thinking that I might not get everything I had planned for the day completed. So I headed to Klondike Park and more specifically to the Boat Ramp portion of the park. Front Range Hiker and deniserows were going to meet me there and we would return to the main portion of the park to start our hike looking for boxes. The hike would take us back to the boat ramp area and then we could take my car back to the park. As I drove to the boat ramp area the rain was on and off but of course as soon as Denise and Joan picked me up the rain was on. Anyway, what are three obsessed letterboxers gonna do. Letterbox of course - where there is a will there is a way - right! So we drove back to the main part of the park and parked for the Katy Access Trail. So with rain gear and hats as well as an umbrella that Front Range Hiker was smart enough to bring we headed out. Fortunately the rain was very light and didn't really pose a major problem. Our odyssesy began in Sector L (Lavender) - Katy Access Trail where we found three boxes - we had to stand to stamp in because the ground was too wet to sit or put things down. So someone retrieved the box, someone held the umbrella and someone held the stamps and logbooks - it was quite a juggling act but hey, we're pros and it all worked out without anything getting wet. At the end of Sector L we joined up with and entered Sector S (Sky Blue) - Katy Trail. This trail held five boxes that were based on the old Colorform Vinyl Stickers. As you found the boxes you could stamp them all on one page to make a little space scene. With all the rain and everything being wet and the complexity of the stamping we decided to grab each box and take them to the car to stamp in and then return them to the hiding spots. At the end of the trail and at the car we had all five boxes but realized that stamping in the car wouldn't really work. So we drove a little ways up the road to the Katy Trail at Matson where there were some covered benches where we could sit, stay dry and stamp in. Here Front Range Hiker and deniserows laid out the boxes in order and got the stamps and logbooks ready. We had our logbooks and 4x6 cards to stamp in on and so it began. We started stamping with the Landscape stamp, then the Saucer stamp, next came Bob the Blob, then a Robot stamp and finally Top Sighted. When we were done we had a neat little space scene. Then we packed up all the boxes making sure to put the right stamp and logbook into the right box. Once that was all done we drove back to the car at the park. By this time it was a little after 10:00 am and I decided I was going to head out after we hid the boxes but Denise and Joan said they would get them back in place so I could get on the road.
So I left them as they headed for the trail and I headed for Jefferson City. I wasn't looking forward to driving in the rain but luckily it was only a light drizzle and it actually stopped about 20 minutes after I left the park. The drive along MO94 was actually quite nice and beautiful. I passed farms and vineyards and eventually the sun was out in full force. I didn't make any stops until I crossed the bridge into Jefferson City and headed toward the Capitol.
I pulled into a parking lot and walked to an island in the middle of the road and took a few pictures of the Capitol from the side as I approached. Then I drove around to the front and found a large group of people gathered and some tents set up. Turned out it was the 2011 Walk to End Alzheimer's. I finally found a place to park and then I walked around the building taking pictures and then went in for a tour. 
I picked up a self guided tour book and headed off to explore the building. I spent about 45 minutes walking around and taking pictures then I decided it was time to head out. As I left the building I realized it had gotten cloudy and it looked like rain was on the way but I still decided to drive to Binder Park and do a little letterboxing. The reason I picked that park is because they had some Harry Potter stamps. I arrived at the park and headed to the boxes furthest away from the entrance and then I could work my way out. I parked around the area for the playground and headed for the trail. I found Potions and The Sorcerer's Stone on this trail and then headed back to the trailhead. At the trailhead I read the clues for a couple more boxes and walked to the next trailhead just a little ways away. I started on the trail but the clues weren't making sense so I went back to the trailhead and realized there was another entrance about 15 feet away. 
That ended up being the right spot. I found one of the boxes - Cherries and then started for the other one. And then it started raining, but is was light and I continued on. I found The Whomping Willow and while stamping in the rain started to get harder. Luckily I was under some trees so I wasn't getting wet and neither were the logbooks. By the time I got back to my car I was pretty wet. So I sat for a minute to see if it would ease but it didn't. So I decided to call it a day. You know you can only get wet so much while letterboxing before it stops being fun.I got to the hotel and realized I was pretty tired so I took a shower and got some things organized. Now that I am done with this I can get some sleep so that I can be safe driving tomorrow. I head to Des Moines early in the morning.
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