{No Turning Back -part XII}
July 5th,1847 On the banks of the Sweetwater River
This morning started with an argument right off. We'd come to a point in the trail where it splits for about two day's journey, and the people didn't know which way they wanted to go.
There were only two options, take the north trail, which crosses the Sweetwater three times, called the Three Crossings. Or take the south trail, called the Deep Sand route because the sand is bad on that side, and there's not much water.
The wagon train was split almost in two. Pa says we should we should take the Three Crossings route, it's usually faster.
Mr. Peek, who was basically leading the other half of the train says, "Why'd we take a route with more river crossings than we hafta?"
Pa says there'll likely be quicksand on Deep Sand, because of the rain last night. This causes some people to switch to Pa's side.
Mr. Peek says, "won't the rain that makes quicksand make rivers swell?"
Pa says, "Shore, but it takes more rain to make a river swell that it does to make quicksand."
Mr. Peek says, "Well, I'd rather chance the sand."
Pa says, "Well, I'm the leader of this train, and I say we go Three Crossings. Only a fool'd chance quicksand and thirst." Mr. Peek gets red in the face, 'cause of bein' called a fool, and then puts his wagon back in line. This ends the dispute.
The river wasn't swelled all too bad, and the first two crossings weren't hard. Now we're camped on the banks of the Sweetwater, and tomorrow we'll cross for the third time.
July 7th, 1847
The farther into July we get, the hotter the sun blazes above us. It was so hot today I felt like my head was being baked in my bonnet. I rolled up my sleeves to my elbows like usual and even walked barefoot, but the ground was just as hot as the sky.
Joel, Clint, and Pa ate lunch today with soaked shirts, they was sweatin' so bad. They tried to find some shade by the sides of the wagons, but the sun was beating overhead, so Joel, Clint, and Andy crawled under the wagon, leaving their feet sticking out, and drifted off to sleep. I wished I could do the same, but I decided to wash some in the Sweetwater. Missy came along, totin' a basket of clothes, and we waded into the water. It felt so cool. I looked at Missy, and I knew she was thinking the same thing as me, cause without a word we both shimmied out of our dresses and were soon swimming in our shifts and petticoats. We laughed and splashed, and by the time we finished swimming and the washing, it was time to move down the trail.
I filled up the two buckets I'd brought, and we headed back to the train. The boys were still asleep under the wagon, and I got an awful idea. But before my head could tell me not to do it, I took one of the buckets of water and threw it all over the heads of them three.
That woke 'em up! I dashed for the other bucket, and Clint and Joel were right behind me. I tried to throw it on them, too, but I was laughing too hard and only a little water came out. Clint grabbed the bucket and tried to wrestle it from me, but I had a pretty firm hold on it.
"C'mon, Callie, give it up." Clint said to me, smiling.
"No!" I said, laughing and pulling.
Then someone started ticklin' my sides and I just crumpled to the ground. I let go of the bucket and fought off Joel, who was ticklin' me.
"That ain't fair," I yelled, "You know I can't abide bein' tickled!" I got back to my feet and looked for the bucket.
Clint had it. He had this funny look on his face as he came closer, and I said, "Clint, no." before hightailing away from him.
I heard him chasing after me and I hadn't run far before I felt a wave of water hit my head and back. I stopped and spun around. Clint stood there with his arms crossed. "Payback." he said, laughing. Joel came up and put his arm around Clint, saying, "Didja get her?"
I tried to look mad, but it didn't work and soon we were all doubled over with laughter. "Well," I said, "I thought ya'll were hot!"
"Callie," Clint tried to put a straight expression on, "don't you ever wake me up like that again." Then we laughed again.
We had to go back to the river and fill up the buckets again, to put water in the kegs. I thought Clint and Joel might try somethin' but thankfully they didn't.
July 8th, 1847
Today we had a huge help from the Lord for this trail. When we started on the trail this morning, I could tell it was gonna be a real hot day. By ten o'clock the sun was sweltering, and there wasn't much of a breeze going.
Then we came upon a place called Ice Spring Slough. Pa told me and Missy and Andy to follow him away from the train. When we were about thirty yards away, Pa dropped to his knees and pulled out his buck knife. He started diggin' in the dirt. We all just watched, not sayin' nothing.
When Pa got about two feet down, he reached in, broke something off, and pulled it out of the hole. It was a chunk of ice! We couldn't believe our eyes. It was so cold; we passed it around, wiping the dirt off and taking licks. Andy ran back to the train and got an extra bucket to fill with ice.
Having ice out here in July when it's so blazing hot was such a blessing. I think God did it just to show us that He can. All afternoon I praised and thanked the Lord for that ice.
July 11th, 1847
This morning we came to what I've heard is the hardest part of the trail, Rocky Ridge. It's a gradual climb uphill, with plenty of rocks and ruts. It was slow going, and we had three wagons with wheel troubles. We didn't make it to the top till 'round two-thirty. Then we nooned for about an hour and a half, to eat and make repairs.
We didn't get much farther after nooning because the trail is so bad. Not to mention the animals are all tired, and don't move as quick. Two mules and an ox died today.
July 13th, 1847
Andy found an abandoned wagon today. Pa said we could look through it, so we did. All we found was a pair of gloves and a frying pan. Seems somebody else had the same idea as us. We kept what we found, though. If we don't use them, we can trade them for something we do need later down the trail.
Took a turn driving the wagon while Joel went and hunted today. He got an antelope and two rabbits. Gave one of the rabbits to the Brewers.
This morning started with an argument right off. We'd come to a point in the trail where it splits for about two day's journey, and the people didn't know which way they wanted to go.
There were only two options, take the north trail, which crosses the Sweetwater three times, called the Three Crossings. Or take the south trail, called the Deep Sand route because the sand is bad on that side, and there's not much water.
The wagon train was split almost in two. Pa says we should we should take the Three Crossings route, it's usually faster.
Mr. Peek, who was basically leading the other half of the train says, "Why'd we take a route with more river crossings than we hafta?"
Pa says there'll likely be quicksand on Deep Sand, because of the rain last night. This causes some people to switch to Pa's side.
Mr. Peek says, "won't the rain that makes quicksand make rivers swell?"
Pa says, "Shore, but it takes more rain to make a river swell that it does to make quicksand."
Mr. Peek says, "Well, I'd rather chance the sand."
Pa says, "Well, I'm the leader of this train, and I say we go Three Crossings. Only a fool'd chance quicksand and thirst." Mr. Peek gets red in the face, 'cause of bein' called a fool, and then puts his wagon back in line. This ends the dispute.
The river wasn't swelled all too bad, and the first two crossings weren't hard. Now we're camped on the banks of the Sweetwater, and tomorrow we'll cross for the third time.
July 7th, 1847
The farther into July we get, the hotter the sun blazes above us. It was so hot today I felt like my head was being baked in my bonnet. I rolled up my sleeves to my elbows like usual and even walked barefoot, but the ground was just as hot as the sky.
Joel, Clint, and Pa ate lunch today with soaked shirts, they was sweatin' so bad. They tried to find some shade by the sides of the wagons, but the sun was beating overhead, so Joel, Clint, and Andy crawled under the wagon, leaving their feet sticking out, and drifted off to sleep. I wished I could do the same, but I decided to wash some in the Sweetwater. Missy came along, totin' a basket of clothes, and we waded into the water. It felt so cool. I looked at Missy, and I knew she was thinking the same thing as me, cause without a word we both shimmied out of our dresses and were soon swimming in our shifts and petticoats. We laughed and splashed, and by the time we finished swimming and the washing, it was time to move down the trail.
I filled up the two buckets I'd brought, and we headed back to the train. The boys were still asleep under the wagon, and I got an awful idea. But before my head could tell me not to do it, I took one of the buckets of water and threw it all over the heads of them three.
That woke 'em up! I dashed for the other bucket, and Clint and Joel were right behind me. I tried to throw it on them, too, but I was laughing too hard and only a little water came out. Clint grabbed the bucket and tried to wrestle it from me, but I had a pretty firm hold on it.
"C'mon, Callie, give it up." Clint said to me, smiling.
"No!" I said, laughing and pulling.
Then someone started ticklin' my sides and I just crumpled to the ground. I let go of the bucket and fought off Joel, who was ticklin' me.
"That ain't fair," I yelled, "You know I can't abide bein' tickled!" I got back to my feet and looked for the bucket.
Clint had it. He had this funny look on his face as he came closer, and I said, "Clint, no." before hightailing away from him.
I heard him chasing after me and I hadn't run far before I felt a wave of water hit my head and back. I stopped and spun around. Clint stood there with his arms crossed. "Payback." he said, laughing. Joel came up and put his arm around Clint, saying, "Didja get her?"
I tried to look mad, but it didn't work and soon we were all doubled over with laughter. "Well," I said, "I thought ya'll were hot!"
"Callie," Clint tried to put a straight expression on, "don't you ever wake me up like that again." Then we laughed again.
We had to go back to the river and fill up the buckets again, to put water in the kegs. I thought Clint and Joel might try somethin' but thankfully they didn't.
July 8th, 1847
Today we had a huge help from the Lord for this trail. When we started on the trail this morning, I could tell it was gonna be a real hot day. By ten o'clock the sun was sweltering, and there wasn't much of a breeze going.
Then we came upon a place called Ice Spring Slough. Pa told me and Missy and Andy to follow him away from the train. When we were about thirty yards away, Pa dropped to his knees and pulled out his buck knife. He started diggin' in the dirt. We all just watched, not sayin' nothing.
When Pa got about two feet down, he reached in, broke something off, and pulled it out of the hole. It was a chunk of ice! We couldn't believe our eyes. It was so cold; we passed it around, wiping the dirt off and taking licks. Andy ran back to the train and got an extra bucket to fill with ice.
Having ice out here in July when it's so blazing hot was such a blessing. I think God did it just to show us that He can. All afternoon I praised and thanked the Lord for that ice.
July 11th, 1847
This morning we came to what I've heard is the hardest part of the trail, Rocky Ridge. It's a gradual climb uphill, with plenty of rocks and ruts. It was slow going, and we had three wagons with wheel troubles. We didn't make it to the top till 'round two-thirty. Then we nooned for about an hour and a half, to eat and make repairs.
We didn't get much farther after nooning because the trail is so bad. Not to mention the animals are all tired, and don't move as quick. Two mules and an ox died today.
July 13th, 1847
Andy found an abandoned wagon today. Pa said we could look through it, so we did. All we found was a pair of gloves and a frying pan. Seems somebody else had the same idea as us. We kept what we found, though. If we don't use them, we can trade them for something we do need later down the trail.
Took a turn driving the wagon while Joel went and hunted today. He got an antelope and two rabbits. Gave one of the rabbits to the Brewers.
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