May 15, 1845
One More Day Left
One more day until we leave. Papa and Uncle Luke have been busy securing our things in the wagon and making sure that the canvas is well-tied and the wheels greased and repaired. Mama and I finished packing up the salt-pork and smoked meat we have prepared.
It rained last night and Annabelle has been playing in the mud and being a nuisance. Mama says it is all my fault because I should have watched her more closely. Now I have to bathe her and the water will become too disgusting to bathe myself. Mama says I can go to the river and bathe, but the river is as black as Annabelle. Uncle Luke says that is why they call it The Big Muddy.
May 16, 1845
To Oregon!
When the wagons began to move, and all of the cattle and the men on horseback, a great cloud filled the air and the sound grew to a terrible rumble, louder that the thunder from Wednesday night’s storm. Once we began to move, it seemed to quiet down a bit, but I still had to nearly shout at Annabelle and Mama to get them to hear me. I suppose I will get used to it.
I do hope I do not become weary of this adventure.
