Denny – Friday. Today I had many reflections about what the trail was like for the pioneer women.
First – I learned I need to be more aware of my surroundings! I almost stepped on a rattlesnake when I was hopping off my bike. I didn’t see a snake 3 feet from me – fortunately it was dead or I could have been in real trouble. Pioneer women weren’t as careless I’m sure. They were aware of the dangers in the rocks and brush and were always mindful of the hazards around them. Next I learned that those women were walking up hill again - for many days as they were climbing toward the Rockies. It took energy! They were walking or riding in wagons. I was peddling with the wind in my face. It was mostly a slow gradual incline but there were a few hills that let you know you were going up in elevation!
Next, They were REMOTE! I just love riding the county roads that are dirt. Houses miles apart, cows, miles and miles of rolling plains. And yet today there is so much commerce going on all around me. We learned A LOT about the oil Industry from a man we met in the middle of no where who was watching over oil pump houses, Brett. Were freight wagons going along this trail back in 1848? How much commerce was there back then?
I think the pioneers enjoyed meeting people along their journey who could tell them interesting stories. We certainly enjoyed meeting Brett. I was pleasantly surprised when I came upon an outhouse further down the road set up for the oil workers. Trust me – I checked for snakes before I availed myself of the facility.
Our bike riding today ended at Crow Creek Recreation Area’s campground so we stopped in and found there was one First Come First Serve spot left. It’s rustic but right ON the Crow Creek so I was happy to know we were on the same creek the Battalion was following. We dropped the bikes and bike rack in spot #6, paid our fee, and headed back into town to catch an hour or two at the library.
My wonderful husband took me to an early Mother’s Day dinner at a very fun Italian restaurant in downtown Greeley called, Pinocchio’s. Yummy and indeed it was a candlelight dinner – they had beautiful dishes, porcelain painted salt & pepper shakers, fancy folded white linen napkins, breadsticks that melted in your mouth, and a glimmering little electric candle on the red and while checked table cloth.
We then picked up the trailer from the library, and headed out for the 45-minute drive to our campground. We pulled in about 10:00 pm.
