Blue waters, a mustache contest, and an archaeologist
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If you've ever wondered if a real person writes this (versus AI doing it), this week might be the week I get to prove I'm real. But hopefully not.
Your dear publisher had a friend in town. We ran around the Shawnee Forest and Ozark Scenic Riverways as if my deadline would never come. And it's time to reap what I've sown. Let's see if, in my last-minute rush,... if some typos sneak through.
Get Paddlin'
Hiking is my outdoor drug of choice. But I'm committed to offering you variety/ different ways to get outside (what a selfless publisher! 😂), so this week's trail is a canoe trail.
Inexperienced paddlers, don't skip down to the next section just yet. Hang with me. Because no kayak is no problem. There's a neat little nonprofit making this trail through the ancient swamp beginner-friendly. For $45-55, you can book a guided tour. No experience required. I did the monthly moonlight paddle last Saturday with Cache Bayou Outfitters, and there were plenty of other awkward newbies playing bumper boats with me. Don't worry about that. Getting to see one-thousand-year-old cypress trees was worth getting hung up on logs and dodging flying Asian carp.
Harvest Moon Paddle 9/6/2025
If you're an experienced paddler with your own gear, first of all, I'm jealous, and second of all, you can do a self-guided tour. Find the canoe trail map and fact sheet here.
Outdoor Spotlight: James Faught from Midwest Kayak Company
Every great SEMO shop starts with a story. For James Faught, it began with that 'something's missing' feeling.
James grew up bass fishing in Southeast Missouri, but in his late teens, he swapped the rod for a shotgun and camera, and spent years traveling the world filming hunting shows. (We LOVE a Southeast Missouri success story). By 2019, he’d hung up his hunting gear and life on the road. But he realized something was missing. He picked up fishing again, and this time, he slid into a kayak. It was a game-changer. Kayak fishing opened up new water, new species, and a new passion.
James Faught, owner of Midwest Kayak Company
Pretty soon, James wasn’t just fishing out of a kayak... He was selling them out of the back of his truck. On a vacation run to Alabama, he pre-sold eight kayaks in a week and a half, hauled them home, and delivered them by hand. He did it again. And again. Within months, he knew Southeast Missouri needed a dedicated kayak shop.
Today, that side hustle has grown into Midwest Kayak Co., now anchored in a downtown Cape Girardeau storefront just a block from the Mississippi. Walk in on a Saturday and you’ll find kayaks lined up, gear on the walls, and a friendly angler.
James will tell you the shop isn’t really about boats and gear. It’s about community. It's about love for the outdoors. It’s about locals discovering new water, swapping fishing stories, and feeling at home in a local shop, whether you’re a seasoned angler or just thinking about your first paddle.
Sponsor note: It's a dream come true to feature businesses that genuinely add value to our readers’ adventures. James and Midwest Kayak Co. are helping more Southeast Missourians get on the water, and we're proud to have them as a sponsor these last two weeks.
Did you know the first national park area to protect a river system is in Missouri?
Why do I spend so much time daydreaming about the famous national parks way out west when there's a beautiful national park area just 2.5 hours west of the Cape Girardeau area? Silly me. Someday, I'll stop underestimating the area.
The U.S. National Park Service says, "The Current and Jacks Fork rivers are two of the finest floating rivers found A N Y W H E R E. Spring-fed, cold and clear: they are a delight to canoe, swim, boat, or fish.
Besides these two famous rivers, the park is home to hundreds of freshwater springs, caves, trails, and historic sites..."
Effin' A, man.
Here's the day trip we just did:
Blue Spring - Bright blue water in the middle of the Missouri woods. I seriously thought you had to go to Costa Rica's Río Celeste to see something like this. Excuse my ignorance. I owe Missouri an apology. This natural wonder is just a short walk from the trailhead. It's also one of the deepest springs in the United States. You can fit a whole Lady Liberty in there, toes to torch. From here, we drove 30 minutes to our lunch spot in Eminence, MO.
Blue Spring 9/8/2025
Lunch at the Dairy Shack in Eminence - I'm a sucker for ambiance. I'll happily over-pay for fried pickles and craft beer if I dig the decor. But sometimes, you just want to sit at a picnic table with a burger, tator tots, and a milkshake. Delicious, classic road-trip food at a great price. That's the Dairy Shack. From here, it was 10 minutes to our next stop.
Alley Spring & Mill - A historic mill from 1893 sits beside another sapphire blue spring. You'll take so many photos here, you'll need to pay for extra storage in the cloud. The webpage should say, "New profile pic, or your money back", except it's already free. No hike required this time, but if the trail is calling, check out the Alley Spring Trail and the Overlook Trail. Combining both comes out to only around 1.8 miles. Plenty of time to get home before dark.
Can't wait to go back and write more about the area.
The James Reynolds House in Cape Girardeau, MO, is now open on Sundays from 1-4pm.
🎵Ow, she's a brick...house.🎵 🎵She's a French Colonial. Just lettin' Cape's past hang out.🎵
The Commodores on Soul Train
Check out that Cape G life in 1857.
This Sunday, the 14th, is a better time to check it out than ever: Local archaeologist (and celeb), Randy Barnhouse, will give a presentation at 2pm as part of the new monthly Tea Talks series. Randy has excavated at sites like Mark Twain's boyhood home, a sunken riverboat in Cape Girardeau, and even a Spanish treasure ship that sank in 1622.
Water seems to be this week's newsletter theme...
Try This
Locals brewing beer! Hubble Creek Brewing Company in Jackson, MO, recently celebrated its first anniversary. Wish them a belated happy birthday by stopping in for a bite and a brew. We went 3 weeks ago, and my husband still talks about the Birdstown Blonde Ale.
Made Around Here
Instead of featuring an artist this week, we're sharing a call for artists/ an invitation to submit your art. There will be a pop-up gallery on September 25 during the Fireball Run Dinner in Perryville, MO.
Perry County Creative Arts has been invited to display local artists' work. For details, go to Perry County Creative Arts' Facebook page and scroll to find their post from Sept 8 with all the details.
Find Your People
Are you a local hiker looking for local hikers? I'm not trying to pitch a dating site. Although how interesting would that be? I'd call it Trail Mixers... or Pitchin' Tents.
What I'm actually promoting is a cool local Facebook group: 573 Hiking & Foraging. "Join to stay up to date on group hikes and other events."
Help Out & Pitch In
Two of this week's newsletter stars accept donations toward their cause: Cache Bayou Outfitters accepts monetary donations to help their conservation efforts. The Illinois State Champion cypress tree calls this swamp home. You can help protect the large, old girl.
The James Reynolds House also accepts donations (and volunteers!) to help in their mission to inspire interest in our region's history.
For each event, you’ll find more info at the link. *Because these events are upcoming, they have not been vetted. That would require a time machine, and we don't have the funds. Party at your own discretion.
This Weekend’s Happenings
Fri, Sept 12
Semo District Fair, Cape Girardeau, MO - A few weirdly fun goodies at the fair tonight. Mustache contest. Beard contest. Hot rod truck & tractor pull. And mini mule judging. For a second, I misread "angus judging" as something else, and I was a little concerned. It's late.
Murphysboro Apple Festival, Murphysboro, IL - Fair and festival lovers, what can I say? This is your season. You can festival your little hearts out on both sides of the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge.
Free September Tasting at the Design Bar/Roost, Cape Girardeau, MO - To celebrate the beginning of tailgating season, the Design Bar invites you to sample vodka lemonades, bloody mary mixes, and margarita mixes. It's a pretty good incentive to check out this local business. Marketing geniuses.
Sat, Sept 13
Perryville Pumpkin Farm Opens for the Season, Perryville, MO - There is no point in waiting. Life is too short. Fall fans and Halloween lovers, you can go to a pumpkin patch as early as this Saturday!!!
Meramec Gravel, Bourbon, MO - Gravel bike riders, it looks like you can still sign up to ride this Saturday.
Current River Clean Up, Van Buren, MO - Help by boat, kayak, canoe, or on foot. Do I need to remind you that the National Park Service calls this one of the finest floating rivers found ANYWHERE? We need to keep it that way.
Joy Brooker Live at the Riverhouse, Scott City, MO - Joy Brooker fans, great news, she's going to be at one of your favorite local venues.
Season Championship Go-Kart Race, Benton, MO - The event description on Facebook just says "Go-Kart Race". The best copywriting is concise. Clear > clever.
Art in the Park, Farmington, MO - (picture Bernie Sanders reading this) - I am once again asking YOU to support local musicians. You can also get a tour of the Historic Long House.
Annual September Horse Show, Perrville, MO - Obstacle course & main show. I would've said "mane" show. But that's because I'm punny.
Local Licks Festival, Paducah, KY - This day-long festival is also a fundraiser for the Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club. Paducah is a pretty neat town. This is a good way to hang out over there for a day.
Sun, Sept 14
Semo District Fair, Cape Girardeau, MO - Dog Day Event!!! And a demolition derby.
Manifolds on Main Street Car Show, Cape Girardeau, MO - More than 250 cars and trucks. It's almost worth going just to see how they all fit down there.
Holy Roller Gravel Grinder, Brazeau, MO - Pedal Perry County gravel for a purpose! Try to say that 5 times, fast. Ride 17, 35, or 70 miles. Proceeds support families facing congenital heart defects. Smooth gravel and rolling hills followed by a winery.
Arrowhead Endurance Run, Johnston City, IL - How long can you run in a 2-mile gravel loop? Find out.
Tunnel Hill 10-Miler, Vienna, IL - This 10-mile run is nationally-ranked by Runner's World, and it's right here in your backyard!
Fall Frenzy Trail Run at Perry County Community Lake, Perryville, MO - A timed 5.5K trail run.
*With so much going on, we can’t include everything. We hand-select picks that match the mission, and include events from all over the area to encourage you to explore towns you don’t usually visit. If you’re looking for more in Cape or Carbondale, here are some more sources: The Southeast Missourian, the Missouri Department of Conservation, The Scout, KFVS12, Southern Illinois Tourism, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Southernmostillinois.com.
This publication is an affordable ($9 to $9.50) must-have guide for anyone getting on a Missouri stream or river. Beginner paddlers, the guide gets you all set up with info on how to pack for a float, equipment suggestions, river hazards, safety tips, etc.
Experienced paddlers, find your next challenge. This guide packs details on a whopping 54 Missouri streams and rivers.
Each river comes with a difficulty rating and a detailed map with access points.
Pick up a copy at Midwest Kayak Co., your nearest MO state park office, or your nearest conservation center.
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