AND SO TO SUMMARIZE

As long winded as I am, it’s hard for me to summarize anything. But here goes.

Coming back into Montana we were amazed at how green it is. You can sure tell they had lots of snow this winter and have lots of rain this spring.

We arrived back in Billings, MT last Saturday afternoon. I say back in Billings because this is where we were living when we retired and set out from as full timers in January of 2009. We are parked in our son’s driveway. We put in a 30 amp electrical outlet and use their shower and dishwasher when they’re at work. This used to be our house but Todd and his fiancé, Michaela, are renting it from us with the purpose of buying it in a couple of years.

Last year’s tornado and hail storm really beat up the roof and it needed to be replaced. The roofers here in Billings are so busy that is just this week that they finally got around to our house. They were here at 8:00 in the morning and worked until 10:00 at night trying to get it done. Of course, we had rain and more rain and more rain and then threats of tornadoes and hail. It definitely took them longer than they had planned on. But it’s finished until the next storm.

We spent some time with the kids just catching up on things. They are planning a wedding for next year and we wanted to see what all they have got going. We’ve done some necessary shopping because the larder was bare. Had friends over for dinner, have gone out with friends for dinner, have fed the kids a couple of times.

Had the brakes replaced on the Avalanche along with oil change and other maintenance type things. The coach goes in for it’s all around check up around the 21st.

The most excitement we’ve had is the threat of tornadoes. Staying in a motor home or mobile home is definitely not a smart choice so we grabbed the dogs and headed down to the parking garage. The kids and their dog, Zoey, joined us there along with a whole lot of other people. It was definitely a big party going on there. The police and security came by to check on us and make sure we were okay.

Had great views of the funnel clouds whirling through the air. Three tornadoes actually did touch down but they were out in the country and nobody was hurt. One farmer lost his silo and another rancher lost 130 head of cattle when the storm pushed them over a cliff. The water is so high that he couldn’t even get in to butcher them. The coyotes and whatever will be feasting for a long time.

(These pictures were taken by friends.) Roundup, MT has been under eight feet of flood water from the Musselshell River. They were just starting to recover from the flooding when this last storm went through and put them back under water again. Weather across our land has sure been a mess this spring. And it doesn’t seem to matter where you are.

But today we have sunshine and no rain until tonight. So I am going to lunch with one of my favorite people in the whole world, Janet. She and I worked together and I just love being with her.  While I’m at lunch, Jim is going to be scrubbing bugs off the house.

I didn’t do too bad summarizing. I’m pretty sure I hit all the high points. It’s rained and rained and rained. What more can I say.

NO MORE WHINING

How blessed I am. If you have time, please read this young girl's blog. She is living with Cancer and is really very amazing.

http://alicepyne.blogspot.com

LAKE DE SMET, WY

I told Jim I wanted to check out this campground to see if our rig would fit. I think the picture says it all.

After we pulled in to take a look around we ended up staying two nights. The first night we were the only ones around. The second night (being a Friday night) we had a neighbor way over to the left. It was so quiet and peaceful. Because of the winds we listened to the sound of the lake waves all night. The geese woke us up bright and early along with the sunshine.

Jim got a two day fishing license and was just as happy as a clam. Caught a small trout but threw him back so he could grow up.

 

 

 

These are the Big Horn Mountains that we could see out the front windshield. There’s still lots of snow up there in them thar hills. More flooding could occur as the weather warms up.

 

And so we say goodnight to another wonderful day on the road.

MISSIONARY RVER’S

Randy and Colleen Smith are serving a mission for the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) at Martin’s Cove for the summer. And you know how it is when you meet somebody that you just click with. Well that is what happened with us. At least it clicked for Jim and I. They have been full time rver’s for about a year and a half. Here is a link to Colleen’s blog about their experiences at Martin’s Cove: http://runawaysmiths.blogspot.com

Because Martin’s Cove is located on BLM land and is leased by the Church, volunteers are stationed along the trailed to ensure the safety of visitors and to protect the historic site. Because it is public land and not owned by the Church, these volunteers cannot tell you any of the stories of Martin’s Cove unless you specifically ask them to tell you. The reason for this is because other people voiced the opinion that BLM was giving preferential treatment to the Mormon Church.

I guess I really don’t understand that. This is history. The struggles of the Martin Handcart company really happened. They helped to settle the West and were an important part of the movement West. I realize that we must separate Church and State (even though we’ve gotten way too carried away with that also) but this is history. I, for one, want to learn more of my country’s history while I’m exploring it’s beauty and it doesn’t matter to me if the information is from Catholics, Jews, Protestants, Christians, atheists, black, white, Indian, Mormons or anyone.

But enough of my ranting. We had a chance to visit with Randy and Colleen and really enjoyed getting to know them. They usually winter in TX and we just may have to look them up sometime. Thanks for sharing your time and knowledge with us. We’ll see you on the road.

CAMPSITE AT MARTIN’S COVE

We camped over night at Martin’s Cove. They really don’t have an area for RV’s so we are actually parked on the road up Rattlesnake Pass which is the route the pioneers and Pony Express riders took through this valley.

 

Our neighbors: 

 

 

We had a beautiful view of Devil’s Gate as the sun was setting.

This was our view out the front window of our coach.

MARTIN’S COVE

The Mormon handcart disaster of 1856 resulted in the greatest loss of life from any single event during the entire Westward migration period. That year, five companies of Mormon handcart emigrants journeyed from Iowa City, to Salt Lake City. The first three companies made the journey without incident. The last two companies, traveling late in the season, were not so fortunate.

For much of the way they journeyed along the Oregon Trail which was also used by the Pony Express. Deep trail ruts are still visible just west of Devil’s Gate.

The Fifth Company was led by Captain Edward Martin. The company had nearly 600 emigrants, most of whom had come to American from England. They were late leaving England which mean it was August 27 before they left Florence, NE.

Do you know what this is?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On October 8, 1856, they arrived at Fort Laramie, WY. They were suffering from the lack of food and fatigue and at Glenrock WY, the company makes the fateful decision to discard clothing and personal effects in order to lighten loaded handcarts.

This represents the 17 lbs that each of these pioneers could take with them on their trek west.

These handcarts were made so that poorer people could make the journey west. Those that couldn’t afford a wagon and a team of oxen. By the time they left Fort Laramie they were allowed only 4 ounces of floor per day for teenagers and adults and 2 ounces for children.

A rescue company from Salt Lake City was headed east to try and find the handcart company and bring them provisions. However, they thought the company would be much further west and it took them several days longer than planned to reach them.

On October 19, the Big Snow Storm Hit. They had to cross the Platte River and pulled up the bluff above the river to camp for the night. There were cold, their clothes were wet and frozen and there was no fuel for a fire. As many as 13 people died of exposure before morning.

They then moved to the Red Buttes camp which is about 40 miles east of Devil’s Gate. Because of the bad weather and a combination of exhaustion, lack of food, illness, inadequate clothing and poor equipment more than 50 people died in this area. The snow was 12 inches deep and the temperature was below zero, plus the Wyoming wind. The storm lasted for 8 days.

On October 28, three men arrived on horseback from the rescue party and told them the provisions were near and that they had to go meet the wagons. During the next two days they pulled the handcarts 17 miles in the bitter cold. They met with the rescue wagons near present day Horse Creek.

On November 2, they reached the stockade at Devil’s Gate. They knocked down one of the cabins to use the wood for firewood. It was 11 degrees below zero and 13 died that night.

 

 

On November 4, the Martin Company moved into the Cove for protection from the winds and the availability of firewood. They stay in the Cove until November 9 waiting for the weather to improve.

 

On November 30 the Martin Company finally arrives in Salt Lake City after the loss of between 135 and 150 lives, about one fourth of the company.

 

 

When you visit Martin’s Cove today you can pull a handcart along part of the trail that the pioneers used. Jim and I opted for the jeep tour.

CHIEF WASHAKIE TRAIL

When we left Rawlins, WY we followed the Chief Washakie Trail which is Rte. 287. I did not know anything about this great Chief so I’ve been doing some studying and would like to share his story with you.

 

 

 

In the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., each state displays a statue of its two most important leaders. On September 7, 2000, Wyoming selected Chief Washakie to represent the people of Wyoming.

 

 

Born in the early 1800s, Chief Washakie earned a reputation that lives on to this day-fierce warrior, skilled politician and diplomat, great leader of the Shoshone people, friend to white men.

 

Chief Washakie loved battle. According to one story, he got his name as a young man from a word meaning "rattle" when he cleverly developed a buffalo hide instrument that he shook at his enemies to scare their horses. By 1850, Washakie was head chief of the Shoshones, apparently earning the position from his bravery in battle and wise counsel.

At about this time, wagon trains began to rumble through Shoshone country. White man was moving rapidly into the West, and there was no turning back. The Shoshone chief and his council had a big decision to make: Would they fight for their lives against the take-over, or would they choose a different road and make peace with their new neighbors? The Shoshones did a bit of both. With Washakie in the lead, the tribe attacked every stage station along the Oregon Trail in 1862, from what is now Casper all the way to the Utah border. But by the mid 1860s, the Shoshone people had also allied at various times with  the white man. They assisted U.S. Army operations, gave advice to advancing military forces, fought against the hostile Sioux and Cheyenne, and granted right-of-way to the Union Pacific Railroad that paved through Shoshone land. They also assisted wagon trains, helped weary travelers ford streams and recover stray cattle.

In 1863, Shoshone land stretched more than 44 million acres, from the Salt Lake valley in Utah to the majestic Tetons, and into what is today Yellowstone National Park.

On July 3, 1868, Chief Washakie signed the Ft. Bridger Treaty along with seven United States military men. Under this treaty, Washakie became one of the only chiefs to pick the location of his new home. And he chose wisely, picking a place that would be called the "Warm Valley" nestled against the Wind River Mountains, where food and water were plentiful.

By this time, the tribe's land had been dwindled down to just over three million acres. And the government's promises in the Ft. Bridger Treaty to support the tribe quickly began to fall through. Understandably, the outspoken chief was not happy. This was a leader who had spoken out against this kind of treatment before. "The white man kills our game, captures our furs, and sometimes feeds his herds upon our meadows. And your great and mighty government-oh sir, I hesitate, for I cannot tell the half! It does not protect our rights…I say again, the government does not keep its word!" Today, the Wind River Indian Reservation spans just two million of its original 44 million acres.

The famed leader and warrior was buried on the reservation with full military honors on February 20, 1900, a ceremony no other Indian chief has ever received.