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Thomas Fork Crossing When the wagon trains met at last we all had a party. We shared information on the paths that we took. I found out we made a good choice. It was pretty fortunate of us to finally reunite with Jed. I was so happy I screamed and shouted so loud that the other people thought I got bit by a rattlesnake and was dying!
August 16, 1858 Steamboat Springs, Idaho When we got to the springs I was overjoyed! Fresh water, HOORAY! But, I didn’t know that it was good to drink. So, I decided to do a little bit of research. I went all around the wagons asking everyone “Is this water good to drink?” And I never got an answer. Then I asked Jed if he knew. He did. He said it was perfect! So I filled up all my kegs to the top. Now we are ready to go again!
September 4th, 1858 Fort Hall Here we are at Fort Hall. We can stock up here on supplies. But we can’t get much because it is very expensive. Still we managed to buy a couple of things. I got oxen, because mine were looking pretty tired. I also got me some sugar, coffee, and flour to last me for a while. I met a girl today, her name was Kitty Cat Colt. She had a kitten too! I think we will be fast friends, and we are already making plans for kittens of our own in Oregon! We heard that they don’t have many cats there. I hope Pa will let us keep one of the new kittens.
September 20, 1858 Three Island Crossing We came to a big river today, and decided to cross because the grass is always greener on the other side, and this time it was true. Me and a few other wagons decided to use the same method to cross the big river. We went on the diagonal. We got across, but I lost my rice out of the wagon. Luckily, I didn’t loose my kitten. That would have been bad. I would have had nobody else to play with on the trail.
Farewell Bend September 30, 1858 I am excited about the future and glad we have past the Snake River. Snakes, if I had seen one, I would have liked to have kept it for a pet, I like snakes. When we went on the journey for the first time I had regrets in my heart. I thought that maybe Oregon would not be as good as they said. Then I thought over it some more, and at least I got to keep all my old friends. Which was pretty much Jed. I feel like it should be worth the trip!
Oregon! October 5th, 1858 We finally made it to Oregon! But we still have 400 miles to go! Probably by the time we finish the day we will only have two hundred miles to go. Or so I thought! The day was spent trying to get our wagon down this steep canyon pass. I used chains so nothing would snap and we’d fall. The animals just walked along side us with Pa. People who didn’t use ropes and tried to use their oxen fell and tipped over their wagons. What a mess. On the other side I made a picture of the other wagons coming down the big hill.
October 12, 1858 We arrived at Whitman’s Mission hungry, tired and a little stressed out. We had to make a big decision here. Do we go by way of the Barlow Toll Road which was expensive and may be dangerous, or the canoe down the Columbia Gorge, which could be dangerous and we would have to get rid of most of our supplies, since we can only take what we can carry on our backs. Another option was to stay here over the winter, and give up choice properties. We decided to go down the Colombia Gorge. First, we had to sell off our livestock and supplies. We packed a bag with a little bit of food, and tools, and our guns. We made a couple hundred dollars selling our stuff, which we hope is enough to start a new life in Willamette Valley. This journey will only take us a few days, instead of weeks over snow filled mountains. At first the trip was fun, but then our friends canoe crashed into rocks and broke to pieces. They had to leave two people behind on the river shore because there was not enough room in our canoes to take them with us. We left them some of our food, and got them a fire started, before we continued. When the Indians came back to get them, they were gone. We eventually made it over the pass and down the river. My kitten was safe in my backpack for most of the journey. He was terrified. It was nice to be back on dry land!
Willamette Valley! We have arrived! And our new life is great. We have a big farm now and lots of animals. I have a job selling milk and chicken eggs, and my friend Otis Glib is learning to be a blacksmith. I have lots of chickens, cows, horses and sheep. I also sell clothing I make from my sheeps wool. Watch had a rough journey in the canoe, but he made it and is enjoying running the hills of our new farm. For us, the choice to take the canoe turned out good, because we got the best land for our family, and LOTS of it! A publisher from the East coast bought my journal of our trip for 200$, which I used to buy wood to build a barn and a house. I bought berry bushes, other food, and a new plough~ Norman, my kitten is now grown, and has his own kittens on the way, with his new wife! Life is good.
For more on Oregon Fever check out these sites: http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/road2oregon/sa14overlanders.html http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/histhome.html http://www.americanwest.com/trails/pages/oretrail.htm
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