We have time traveled back to the mid-1800s….for the sake of discussion, the 1850s, and today we traveled to the Fourth of July in order to celebrate when we got to Independence Rock. This morning we headed down the trail and had to do a short stretch of travel on Wyoming Highway 220. Our outriders decided to stay in the highway right-of-way as long as possible, moving onto the pavement only long enough to cross the bridge over Horse Creek and then off again. Last night we camped on Murphy Ranch and today we crossed both the Pathfinder and Dumbell ranches to get to Independence Rock.
This morning the train elected Javonna as the new wagon master. It has been amazing to see the transformation of the students already. On Sunday they were really dragging. The effects of a hard day of travel on Saturday combined with high altitude (especially for our California and Boston dreamers) had left the kids less energetic than they might otherwise be. But today I noticed a real change. Quackgrass and I have long known that to really get a feel for trail life, you have to be on the wagons for at least three days…And this is Day 3.
Patrick, who is very tall and thin and who wants to be a Marine, hangs out with Jakob who is very short and fast like a rabbit when he runs. They walked all the way to Independence Rock, where the kids climbed to the top of the most written about landmark on the Oregon Trail.
We celebrated the Fourth of July here. Patrick danced an Irish jig, Bailey’s voice rang loud and clear as the Dreamers sang Amazing Grace, and there was some dancing directed by Janet Wragge.
Before the big celebration Bob asked the kids to talk about their impressions of the journey so far. I truly knew these students were capturing the spirit of the trail when one of the girls said “I don’t know what time it is, or even what day it is. I just know we have morning, noon and night.”
Candy
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About the Project
- Oregon California Trails Association
- The Oregon-California Trails Association (OCTA) in association with Boston Productions is producing a 1-hour broadcast television program, "In Pursuit of a Dream," and series of short videos to be shown in schools throughout the country about what it was like to be an emigrant traveling West on a wagon train. The program is being produced by Boston Productions, an award winning Film Company that produces theatrical presentations for museums, visitor centers, and broadcast outlets. Boston Productions has worked on other projects about the overland trail experience story, but this promises to be our biggest adventure ever.
Blog Archive
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2008
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July
(30)
- Quackgrass Sends Photos
- Independence Rock Video
- Connor and Candace
- Adjustments at Home
- Images from the Trail
- More Photos
- Home Again
- Yo!
- Note from Susan (Scampering Soundie)
- On the Way Home
- Wrap Party
- Building a Home in Oregon
- We Reach Philip Foster Farm
- Photos on the Trail
- A Wedding in Camp
- Rough Trail
- No title
- On the Barlow Road
- Into the Blues
- We are in Oregon
- Frankie, Darla, Angela and Eddie....first day in c...
- Onward to Oregon
- Wild Card
- Parting of the Ways
- Mikayla and Bob
- Shoshones
- Stuck in the River (almost)
- We continue to celebrate
- July 1, 2008
- Tuesday, July 1
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July
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8 comments:
I am so proud of you (all of you)! I felt a lump in my throat when I read that Jakob made a new friend. I have prayed he would meet someone who could mentor and hang with him.
I imagined the beautiful sounds made by all the modern-day pioneers as they sang my favorite song, Amazing Grace.
Thank you to all the crew for helping the kids, teaching them history, watching them grow and bringing to their lives a whole new love.
Happy Trails!
Someone mentioned perceptively how one loses track of time pioneering in the wilds of Wyoming -- the days, morning, noon and nights run together. Consider that it is not too much different for the ranchers out there today, many of whom still are attuned more to what must be done today rather than day of the week.
It is interesting and amazing at the same time how quickly the focus changes to attending to the needs at hand when the environment changes. I am so grateful to the crew for making this experience possible for our kids. This is great opportunity to see daily life from a different perspective, and a new appreciation for how it was, it is and how it might be in the future. I can imagine the beauty of the moment, the joy of celebrating our independence coupled with the chorus of Amazing Grace. I am blessed to share in this experience and watch the kids learn through the process. Thank you. CHEERS!
Way to represent Boston with the Irish jig, Patrick! This all sounds wicked exciting. Good luck to all, and Patrick, all of us in Boston are reading up daily!
-James (Pat's big bro)
Sounds like this truly is an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime achievement. You can tell YOUR grandchildren that you crossed the country on the Oregon Trail.
Pretty cool!
Is that dog that Mike is holding in one of the photos the official "wagon train dog"?
Way to go Dreamers!!! Happy 4th of July to everone. Sorry to hear about the Dreamer who had to go home. At least he gave it a shot and he is there in spirit with all of you. But most importantly he is well. Good job Jo-Jo, ever one in Denver sends there love and we miss you!
Heather Vrbas
I hope Dan is safely back in Boston, feeling better and happy with his memories of the trail. We are so proud of all of the kids and grateful for all the thought and caring everyone has put into creating this experience for them. I can only imagine how thrilling it is for them -- and I must say I have been surprised by how thrilled I am to able to follow their progress on this blog. I check the blog every few hours and it is like candy ( or maybe it is Candy? :)) when an entry finally appears. It makes me realize how anxiously the relatives of the original dreamers must have waited for their letters from the trail. I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring. Tonight I hope the stakes are in deep and that the stars are bright. Much love and thanks to all (especially our dear Lydia), Susan
Celebrating "Independence" on July 1st... a very humorous coincidence, especially for a Dreamer with Canadian blood. HA!
Lori
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