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WELCOME TO THE INAUGURAL ISSUE OF BACKROAD WEEKLY - An unhinged love letter to Southeast Missouri.

Hang on tight to your 32-ounce sweet teas. We’re busting out of the gate with things to do, places to see, and a few fun facts.

Get Outside

One of my favorite places to have an existential crisis is at the Robert G. Delaney Lake Conservation Area just north of Charleston, Missouri. Great for fishing, strolling with a view, photography, and bird-watching. You can walk all the way around the lake on a grass trail and gravel road. Your (leashed) pup will love it. The bald cypress trees give the lake an otherworldly feel from another time and place, like you could pull a sword out of a stone and rule Camelot.

Didja know?

“The Castor River Shut-Ins are Missouri’s only known pink granite shut-ins. The pinkish granite is from a rock formation that is 1.5 billion years old.” - MO Dept of Conservation

So, go! Stand on this ancient crust at one of the handful of places in North America where it’s exposed and accessible. I dare you to try to wrap your mind around something formed long before animals, trees, or grass… back when the world was rock, ocean, and algae. And then try to convince me that your boss’s opinion matters.
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GPS tip: Type 'Amidon Memorial Conversation Area' into Google Maps so you don't wind up at another part of the river.

Day Tripping

One of the great things about living in Southeast Missouri is how close we are to Southern Illinois. If you’re a history buff who dabbles in the hard stuff, Honey Heist Mead Co is here for you. Skip the vineyards for one weekend and stumble back in time to the meadery for a taste of what Cleopatra was drinking at the club.

Need to get your steps in if you’re going on a Viking booze cruise? I hear you. Balance. Check out Giant City State Park, just 13 miles from the meadery.

I’d do this:

• Leave home early, hit a trail (Giant City Nature Trail is a good one), and have lunch at the park’s Lodge & Restaurant. The all-you-can-eat chicken dinner is popular.
• Swing by the tiny Makanda boardwalk to pop into the few hippie handmade goods stores. I’m told there’s a sculpture garden, but it was raining, so we wussed out.
• Stop at the meadery to taste test some medieval medicine on the way home. Not a drinker? The sunflowers are in bloom at Rendlemen Orchards. Great place to 'ooh' and 'ah', and then, #PhotoShoot.

There you go: hike, lunch, hippies, crafts, and ancient Greece’s nectar of the Gods. You’ve got yourself a solid Saturday.

Or if you want to get really wild…GO ZIPLINING?!?! What? I didn’t plan on writing about anywhere I haven’t been, but I just discovered this place and I’m pumped. Has anyone been here? It’s only 5 miles from the mead. 😆 That's fate. Somebody do this and report back.

Back Before Walmart

Before the Wild West…before Jesse James was robbing Missouri banks and trains…another infamous outlaw reigned right here in Southeast Missouri, the so-called King of the River Pirates, Samuel Ross Mason. When in Missouri, his gang operated out of the Wolf Island area, near present‑day East Prairie.

Mason's reign of piracy and violence ended in 1803 after he was spotted in present-day Caruthersville, MO. When seized, he was carrying 20 scalps. You know, just your standard...everyday...damning evidence. He stood trial for the Spanish in New Madrid. While being transferred to American custody, the gang staged an escape in which Mason was reportedly wounded. What became of him after that is unknown. Died from his wounds? Killed by bounty hunters? Escaped to live out his days?🤷‍♀️

Our hats go off and our hearts go out to the daring frontiersmen and women who faced violent uncertainty when settling in Missouri, when river pirates and highwaymen like Mason terrorized travelers and settlers.

Check out Ron Soodalter's full write-up in Missouri Life magazine. He gets TOTAL CREDIT. *Chef's kiss

Worth a Visit

If you go to Castor River Shut-Ins to get your toes wet and ponder deep time, stop by The Station at Sawyer’s Landing. It’s like a hipster cafe married a national park lodge and built a tree house for your kids to play in.

Feel-Good Fit Spot

Anyone who goes to Kopion Fitness in Scott City becomes a diehard fan. I met people who drive from neighboring towns like Cape and Jackson for the community and the encouraging environment here.

The owner, Alex Landewee, has built something rare: a space that’s serious about training that also welcomes all ages and experience levels. Remember the movie Dodgeball with Vince Vaughn? Kopion Fitness is the best of Average Joe’s and Globo Gym.

Seriously, though, whether you’re a competitive athlete or a tired accountant (THERE’S CHILDCARE), you’ll get 24/7 access and great coaching. Chelsea Held, the GM and Head Trainer, has serious credentials as an internationally ranked strongwoman. And Sport Trainer, Keaton Fitzgerald, starts you off with a performance eval and a plan tailored to your goals. (How did we get a place this legit in Scott City, y’all?)

What I loved most was that I never felt dumb asking questions about how to use the equipment. And no one was ever weird about me obviously YouTubing “how to use a leg press” when I was feeling antisocial.😂

💪 Learn more
​📞 Call or text (573) 576-6665

*This is a sponsored slot, but it’s also a testimonial. My opinions and experiences are my own.

Find Your People

On Tuesday evenings, Cyclewerx hosts a free group gravel ride for all ages and experience levels. No registration required. Save your excuses because this pedal party could not have fewer boundaries...unless you don't have a bicycle. I guess I'd accept that excuse.

The group meets in the Ebb n' Flow parking lot in Cape Girardeau on Tuesdays at 6:30pm. They do a ~15-mile loop in a little over an hour. You ride at a relaxed, conversational pace. And the ride leaders make sure no one gets left behind (challenge accepted??). Bring your helmet, water bottle, and a bike you're comfortable riding on gravel.

Just when you thought East Cape only had a rundown strip club, here come the gravel grinders to take you on a tour of the scenic Midwest-core backroads, where you can de-stress in quaint farmland galore. Stay updated here.

Help Out & Pitch In

Every week, we'll post local opportunities to volunteer, donate, foster a pet, or any kind act that makes Southeast Missouri a better place. This week, if you have the time or finances, consider the Southeast Missouri Food Bank to help local families facing hunger. Volunteer opportunities in Sikeston and Jackson.

*For each event, you’ll find more info at the link.

This Weekend's Happenings

Friday the 8th

​Full Moon Paddle (Night 1), Ullin, IL - Cache Bayou Outfitters is inviting you to paddle Buttonland Swamp under the moonlight.

​Tunes at Twilight: Royce Martin, Cape Girardeau, MO - Free outdoor concert at Ivers Square. Royce Martin is a MO-native, Berklee‑trained pianist whose work has been featured on MAX and Hulu, earning him praise from The New York Times.

​Hee Haw Music & Comedy Show (Day 1), Chaffee, MO - You might hee or you may haw. Either way, there's a concession stand.

​Open Mic at the Art Center, Anna, IL - Comedy, spoken word, music. It's a little last-minute if you're looking to perform. But go scope it out. Think of it as your recon mission for when you work up the guts to sign up and perform.

Saturday the 9th

​Jour de Fête (Day 1), Ste. Genevieve, MO - Head north to Missouri’s oldest European settlement for over 200 arts and crafts booths, live entertainment, colonial-era demonstrations, and the French Colonial atmosphere.

​Full Moon Paddle (Night 2), Ullin, IL - Paddle through ancient cypress swamps by moonlight. Not sure how to make that sound any more adventurous or romantic.

​The Ultimate Brick Show - A LEGO Fan Event (Day 1), Marion, IL - Large builds, custom creations, and builder meet-and-greets. Could be a fun event for LEGO fans of any age.

​Hee Haw Music & Comedy Show (Day 2), Chaffee, MO - Doors open at 5p.m. Show starts at 6. Support local talent.

Sunday the 10th

​Jour de Fête (Day 2), Ste. Genevieve, MO - A weekend full of culture, history, and community spirit. Voilà. Bon voyage.

​Big Muddy Monster Paint & Sip, Alto Pass, IL - Alto Vineyards is inviting you to paint a Bigfoot masterpiece. You read that right. Tickets are $30 and include a drink, painting supplies, and a canvas. Check to make sure tickets are still available.

​Golden Hour for Photographers, Chaffee, MO - Matthews Flower Farm is opening the farm to 10 photographers for FREE for one evening. Yes, you can take a client. And you have to reserve a spot.

​The Feels Live at the Riverhouse, Scott City, MO - Funk, soul, and Indie rock. Drinks, food, riverfront views. Free admission. All ages welcome.

​The Ultimate Brick Show - A LEGO Fan Event (Day 2), Marion, IL - You can binge LEGO Masters on Hulu to pregame.

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Plan Ahead - The Fun You Can't Improvise

​Personal enrichment courses, Cape Girardeau, MO - The Cape Career & Tech Center loves a lifelong learner: Spanish, Sign Language, watercolors, photography, sewing, dancing, and more. Enrollment is open. Vayan y aprendan algo por el amor de Dios.

​Fall business bootcamp, Cape Girardeau, MO - FREE 8-week bootcamp from SEMO's Small Business Development Center for those in the early stages of starting a business. Your favorite publisher will be there! Join me and let me copy your notes.

​Pond to Plate: Catfish Cleaning 101, Cape Girardeau, MO - Learn to clean and fillet a catfish. There are many situations where this skill comes in handy: the apocalypse, castaway situations, competing on Naked and Afraid's Missouri edition, etc.

​Master Gardener Training, Jackson, MO - A 13-week University of Missouri Extension program. Registration closes the 11th. Can you dig it? Couldn't resist. You can beat me up later. You know where to find me (the business bootcamp).

​City of Roses Half Marathon and 5K, Cape Girardeau, MO - For our road runners looking for more than a 5K... or just looking for a 5K. 😆

​Shawnee Hills Trail Races, Ozark, IL - Trail runners and ultramarathoners, I have not forgotten about you masochists. Registration is closing soon. You have to jump on this. The MINIMUM distance is a half marathon.

*With so much going on, I can't include everything. I hand-select a few picks that match the vibe, trying to include events from all over Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. We wanna get you exploring towns you don't usually visit. If you're looking for more, here are some solid event sources that aren’t the dark abyss of Facebook: The Southeast Missourian, Riverside Regional Library, the Missouri Department of Conservation, KRCU, The Scout, KFVS12, VisitCape, River Campus Events, Southern Illinois Tourism, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Southernmostillinois.com.

Which one best describes your adventure style?

What kind of explorer are you? Introvert or extrovert? Solo Scout – I'm all about peaceful walks, day trips with my family, and events where I can blend in without making conversation, like browsing with earbuds at the farmers market. Social Butterfly – Give me live music in an intimate venue, karaoke, a book club with other social butterflies, and events where I might run into half my graduating class. Bit of Both – I want a solo hike and to take a Latin dance class. Balance, baby.

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Spread the Love and Win Some Turtle-y Awesome Prizes

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Word scramble answer: BOOTHEEL

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Welp, (*slaps knees), we better get goin'. Catch you down the road.

Caitlan Hester
Publisher, Backroad Weekly