Finally in the afternoon, I looked around and said to myself, “Now there’s a landmark I can use!” There were big bluffs over to my right. I hope the battalion were as glad to see a landmark as I was. It helps to focus on something in the distance and watch each day as it gets larger and larger as you move along (or smaller and smaller as in the case of Pike’s Peak). It gives me a sense of accomplishment – that I AM making progress however slow it may be.
Ruts seemed to be a topic that occupied my brain today as I found myself pedaling through loose gravel and trying hard to keep my bike in the track where cars had worn most of the rocks out of the way. It was very difficult to pedal in loose gravel. I thought to myself, “This is why the wagons followed each other.” Substituting gravel for prairie grass, it was easier for those who followed if they didn’t have to push through the hard stuff. Reading in my book “Best of Covered Wagon Women,” Keturah Belknap in 1848 mentions the wagons taking turns being in the lead.
I’d mentioned previously how much commerce there was going on in this rural remote area but today I was thinking about my great-great grandmother Eliza Martin (1828-1890) who earned her living as a talented seamstress and used those skills to help provide for her family after marriage. As we pass through these old forts and learn how valuable blankets and rugs, and handmade items were in trading posts – I realized how I had mostly thought of carding, spinning, & weaving mainly for survival. They were also vitally important to family finances.
Flora today: I saw the most beautiful white flower in the gravel along the road! And lots and lots and lots (acres) of a grass type plant that was being grown by farmers. I don’t know what it is but took a picture in case anyone can enlighten me.
After our biking/driving, (since we had moved the trailer to the Crow Creek Campsite), Kevin said, “Instead of eating lunch in the car, why don’t we go back and break out the camp chairs for the first time, open the awning, sit in the shade and act like we’re on a fun vacation.” So, we did. It was peaceful, quiet, and a very nice change of pace from our minute-by-minute usual schedule. We ate our lunch (crackers & tuna) and then spent the rest of the time reading before bed
May 11 Sunday. Happy Mother’s Day! And a Happy Birthday to my brother Jeff! I’ve had so many wonderful women in my life that I truly feel like my cup runneth over. God really knew what he was doing when he gave us mothers.
What would we do without children?! Two of ours gave us a reality check today. We need them to keep us humble. First, I should set the stage for our conversation. Keeping up our blog is a lot of work – and quite honestly we consider it quite a feat that we are putting up photos too.
This afternoon during our Mother’s Day phone call we heard, “You have a blog? What is that? Where is it? Oh, a website—if it’s not on TikTok or Instagram I don’t read it.” At that point, we looked at each other and burst out laughing. Here we thought we were so “tech savvy” putting up photos and doing a blog – little did we know how far behind the game we are! So…thank you to all who can find our website, know what a blog is, and take the time to read ours.