Found in a garden

Untitled by Susan Mertz

Watching the Missouri River Rise

 

Pop open a cold one and watch the river rise.  In small towns across Missouri, people are gathering by the edge of the river expressing concerns about levies holding, wondering how high the water will rise and sharing stories of the '93 flood.  

My husband and I kept getting off the beaten path of I70 on our weekend trip across Missouri to see what the Missouri River was doing.   

Along the Katy Trail in Rocheport, preparations are underway to help protect this section of the trail and houses on the other side.

Rising water is already encroaching on a playground along the trail.

A stream used to take water away from the town of Rocheport to the Missouri River.  Now, it is flowing backwards and bringing the river to the town.

Prior to being flooded, a bridge led hikers to a trail with marshlands.  Once the water recedes, will the marshlands be closer to the trail?  

Just beyond this tunnel, the Katy Trail is closed for a stretch.  

On higher ground in Rocheport, a wedding party overlooks the full river.  Atop a bluff at the Les Bourgeois Vinyards, the only risk to the couple and guests was the sweltering heat from the temperatures rising close to 100 degrees at the Saturday afternoon wedding.

It may be a long time until the flag is lowered at the flooded park in Waverly, Missouri.  The waters from the 1993 flood came and went quickly.  This time the water is expected to stick around for many weeks.

Where Highway 13 years ago crossed the Missouri River in Lexington, the valley is now flooded including the train tracks. 

It was in Lexington, Missouri where we met a young woman from Kansas City.  On the other side of the river is her brother's house.  While he is in Norway jumping from a mountain in a wingsuit, water is threatening his house.  With his belongings safely moved to higher ground, he's focused on flying along the side of the mountain (video of his jump).  

Our journey came to an end in Lexington, Missouri on Sunday at the place where the river covered Highway 224 as the sun was setting.