Running with the saints: day 1

June 1st, 1861 was a Saturday just like today. On that day, a branch of my family tree, including William Joseph Despain, set off from Florence, Nebraska for their promised land. They were going to the Salt Lake valley in the then territory of Utah. One hundred and sixty three years later, I’m joining them in the most post-global-pandemic, 2020s, way possible, virtually.

I ran a little more than 11 miles today (18 kilometers) to match the distance they travelled. My run was under a blue sky adrift with bulbous white clouds. I ran along the shoulder of a prairie highway, wide and smooth, it took me through my little town and down into the North Saskatchewan River valley. I crossed the river on a massive bridge, built with extreme utility, and then climbed my way out of the valley. I pressed on for 9 kilometers before turning around and making my way home again.

How did William fair that day? I can’t really know but the camp clerk, Bartlett Tripp, kept a fairly faithful journal. It is what I’ll use to follow the saints. He wrote:

Started out at eight A.M. some difficulty in getting the teams together—but a few times yoking will render them docile—Mr. W’s. cow is in camp this morn. and will go out with the stock. She knows her owner quite as well as the Law—Roads very muddy—hills very bad for cattle without shoes— went into camp at Big Papio [Pappea]—11 mi from Florence—afternoon very warm. kept our tents pitched—came up showery—night very wild and stormy—Cattle very uneasy—herded in a bend of the creek which several swam during the night and were found in an adjoining wheat field next morning

You’ll remember from my first post that the company was delayed in starting nearly two weeks as Mr. W. contended with law men over their theft of his cow. I’m glad to read that he came out the victor in that challenge. It was a rough start, contending with the law, and then to spend that first night on the trail with nothing but canvas between you and the lightning cracked sky.

I was out of town this week, 400 hundred miles from here. In the morning, I checked out of the hotel and set the GPS to guiding me home. It took a little more than 6 hours to cover that distance. I mowed the lawn when I got home and then set out for my run. Afterward, I spent an hour unwinding my muscles in the sauna, before making a feast of the dinner Lisa thoughtfully prepared. I can’t help but wonder if they would be in as much awe of this life, as I am of theirs?