Keeping up with the writing is nearly as difficult as keeping up with the running. The last we left the saints they were being pelted by hail the size of hen’s eggs. Thursday morning they’d be drying out.
Thursday, June 13th
Camp drying up – scarcely an article in the train escaped a good wetting—Creek or River swollen immensely Broke up camp – P.M. and came out to Wood River center. 6 mi. A large Ranch here at which considerable business is done—Printing Office—Blacksmith Shop. Store & c. Quite a no. of settlers in the vicinity—Houses all in rude Backwoodsman’s style but cheering to the traveller—Cal. Train of 23 wagons camped just below us.
It was a pleasant day here. I was quite happy with the 6 mile day. I got mine in around town here with my running buddy, Lewis. He is recovering from a recent appendectomy. I didn’t mind the steady slower pace. What a time to get an appendicitis. ON Thursday we were exactly 1 month away from a 100-mile ultra marathon. He is determined to be ready for it despite the surgery. Animal.
Friday the 14th
Laid over at Wood River Center today to make repairs. purchases &c. Wrote back to Bro. Gates at Florence giving him an acct of the camps proceedings prosperity &c. Party out hunting Buffalo were unsuccessful—6 wags left our train and joined the Cal. Train—giving as a reason our slowness of advancement—They were the Cheneys and McClintock
The Cheney and McClintock families need their heads checked. Too slow! Seriously, I am happy for this day of rest. It took 14 days to get here. I enjoyed it immensely. I am struck by the apparent number of people on the trail.
Saturday the 15th
Rolled out 7½. very warm and dusty—the warmest of the season—Two horses missing this morning—when found were driving in an opposite direction by a stranger—too close guard cannot be kept over stock in this vicinity—Came out to dinner to Nebraska Center or Henrys Trading Post—where there is a store. Brewery &c.—In camp on the Platte 6.P.M. a distance of 23 mi—5 mi or more above Kearney. Cal. Train just above us—Fine camping place—Conflicting reports from the States—nothing definite.
We went from a rest day to the longest haul of the trek thus far. I split my run in two parts, an 8k and a 30k. Unfortunately my watch died 20k into that second stretch. Do those kilometers even count now :). I’m often driven by the stats and the records I keep. One can’t help but wonder if this longer push wasn’t a reaction to the Cheney and McClintock accusations of slowness. They seem to suffer from the same problem I do. Counting every mile.
Sunday the 16th
Came off this morn. 7½—very hot—Indian adventure this morning—Loose Cattle about 1 mile from train—Sioux to the number of twenty or twenty five from a victorious encounter with Pawnees came riding up on their ponies and frightening the boys in charge—one came on up to the top of his horses speed and informed the Capt—Some fifteen of us went back with our rifles and soon restored quiet—many of them were in camp begging at noon—In camp at Elm Creek 5 pm. Met 52 wagons of the Church Train just before encamping and found another camp of 54 wagons encamped about 1 mile west of us—Cal. train just ahead—The six wags which left us at W. River came back this P.M. and wished again to be admitted—They will probably be admitted but not suffered to crowd others from their places in the train—3 small showers just at night—Fine evening—Dist 20 mi
Welcome back to the Cheney and McClintok families. They didn’t last long with that California train. I wish I knew more about what turned them back. Did they not receive the welcome they’d hope for? There is a story there but alas it may be lost to us.
I had to get creative to reach my 32k distance today. I was up early to get in a 10k on the treadmill before church. It is windy today. After church I took a call from my daughter while I walked on the treadmill. Happy Father’s day y’all. I kept on the treadmill long after the call. I walked 12k (2hr 20 minutes). I might have put in another 10k on the treadmill but the pads of my feet were developing blisters. A combination of the socks I was wearing and the slow speed, I guess. The final 10k I picked up after 8:30 pm when the wind died down. Lewis came out to run with me. The saints and I have travelled 70k in the last 2 days. More than a single rest day would be appreciated, but it is not to be. The next 0k day isn’t until July 6th!
catch up.
- Lakeland Circuit Review: Gorgeous, Gritty, and Worth It
- Running with the saints: days 56 to 73 and the end
- Canadian Death Race: enduring the suck with joy
- Running with the saints: days 52 to 55
- Running with the saints: days 41 to 51
MacAdventures.ca 
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