Meandering Around Town # 36: On the Road

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An Adventure in Which a Former Mayor Continues to Seek the “Soul” of His Hometown

Left: Undaunted Coral Gables Explorer With Chief White Wolf of the Nez Perce Tribe
Top: The Route of the Coral Gables Expedition Following the Trail of Lewis & Clark
Above: What Remains of Mount St. Helens, After Its 1980 Volcanic Eruption

In celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary of its founding, I set out on a “Lewis and Clark” adventure tracing the last segment of their expedition westward along the Snake and Columbia Rivers. When I informed the editor of my intention to write this article about my exploratory mission, he expressed great concern about its lack of relevance to Coral Gables. However, I disagreed on two accounts: (1) the formative days of our country laid the foundation upon which we, even here in South Florida, owe our existence as part of the U.S.A.; and (2) we cannot appreciate the life we enjoy here in the City Beautiful until we compare it with other parts of the world and other residential environments.

My excursion was much easier than the exhausting two-year overland trip endured by the “Corps of Discovery” begun in 1804, commissioned by President Jefferson to explore the territory of the recently acquired Louisiana Purchase, and to find the imagined “Northwest Passage” providing a navigable pathway from the Mississippi to the Pacific. Rather than endure the hardships of hacking a trail through virgin forests, ascending uncharted mountain ranges, facing the threat of dangerous river rapids, and starvation when food rations are depleted – I booked passage on an American Cruise Lines’ modern vessel named “Harmony”.

We boarded in Lewiston, Idaho; slipped through the upper desert of western Washington; traversed eight dams by way of impressive locks operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; sailed through lush cliffs of the Columbia Gorge; touched the Pacific at Astoria; and eventually disembarked in Portland, Oregon. From my balcony, I could survey the same landscape that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark encountered – but with none of the extreme hardships they faced.

The story of the Lewis and Clark expedition is one of the most inspiring tales of America’s quest to take possession of the North American continent from “sea to shining sea”. They did so with the assistance and friendship of the native tribes along the way and the help of a female Shoshone guide, “Sacagawea”, who gave birth and then carried her infant while encountering the harrowing trials and tribulations which they faced daily. For an in-depth understanding of the importance of their miraculous journey, a compelling account is provided by the book “Undaunted Courage” by Stephen Ambrose.

All-in-all the mountain scenery was majestic, the towns were pleasant, and the people friendly, but in the end, the northwest corner of our country was not as warm and as wonderful as our hometown. Leaving Coral Gables always makes me appreciate our city more. After relocating to California to be near her family, long-time resident and community participant Evelyn King George poetically reflected: “Coral Gables – A city of beauty, a city to love: With palm trees and bougainvillea, swaying ‘neath bright skies above; Coral rock homes on curb-less streets, architecture blending where new and old meet; A city with shimmering blue waterways, inviting egrets and seagulls to nest there and play; A city of charm with preserved style and grace, creating tranquility like no other place; That’s Coral Gables!”

This column appears monthly by Don Slesnick, who served as mayor of Coral Gables from 2001 to 2011. If you wish to reach him with suggestions on where he should next meander in search of the city’s soul, email to donslesnick@scllp.com.