Smallpox, dying ox, encounters with Sioux, heavy rain, bitter and sweet waters. Quite a bit happened on the trail these past few days. Let’s hear from Bartlett:
Monday 17
Rolled out 7. Roads rough—crossed 3 bad ravines—cooler A.M. P.M. very hot. Met 3rd Mormon train at Buffalo Creek where we dinnered. In camp 6½ on the Platte—Camp and cattle make an eager rush for the river—From Buffalo. Creek we took the Pioneer trail instead of the Emigrant road. The Mormon co. which we just met was behind but came on ahead by taking this trail and arriving at B. Creek some hours before the other Co. which was not in sight when we left—One ox dropped in yoke. supposed to be melted but was probably alkalied. A team arrived in camp tonight which has been following since we left Florence—reported to have been exposed to Small Pox and camped one side of us. Dist. 15 mi.
Tuesday 18
Came out 10 A.M. Broken wheel cause of delay. The melted ox was found dead this morning. Dinner on the Platte out about 7 mi. In camp at Willow Pond. very hot. Prairie shows less signs of rain—has been very dry since we came to Buffalo creek.
Wednesday 19
Came out at 8. very warm .—Dinner on the Platte 7 mi. Laid by until 4 P.M. on acct of the heat. The sun came down almost intolerable. In camp 7. on the Platte. Road passes about one mile from the river at this. Cal. train in camp just above us again—very heavy shower in the evening accompanied by severe wind as all these storms here are Alkali water about us—Dist 15 mi.
Thursday 20
Came out 7½—some place of sand—neared the sand Bluffs about noon—The bottom has been growing narrower to this point where the Bluffs approach very near the river—Here we stopped to dinner—PM. some of us went over the sand hills in search of game but with no success—game is very scarce. Scarcely any has been seen by any of the Eastern bound teams we have met—In camp 4½ on the Platte—Feed good and abundant—Dist 13.
Friday 21
Came out 7. Several places of sand today—It lays mostly in drifts or low bluffs—In camp 2. P.M. at Cold Spring. This is one of the finest issues of water I ever saw—The water boils from the castle about 15 miles from the foot of the sand Bluffs in a beautiful clear start It is one of the places remembered by the Emigrant. A large party out Buffalo hunting but unsuccessful as on previous occassions—Sioux Indians in camp by scores. They brought us plenty of Antelope and repaid us by hanging over our tables and begging the food from our very mouths. they were fierce for trades and drove some pretty hard bargains—
Running
I find myself being left behind. I took the 19th and the 20th off from running. This puts me more than a marathon distance behind. I needed those rest days. In 21 days I’ve run 382.4 kilometers. The saints have travelled 427.2 kilometers. They are averaging just over 20k/day and I’m at 18k/day. That doesn’t seem that far. Still, my body could use some rest.
On the 21st I was in Red Deer, Alberta. It turns out they have some beautiful paved running and walking paths along their river. I felt in excellent shape after those two days off. I have a number of great excuses for not running but none of them really matter. Having set a goal and dropped the ball, now is the moment of danger. Can I pick that metaphorical ball back up and keep going? Having bowed to my excuses it will be easier to do it again and again.
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
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