Seneca to Sabetha

Our weather was kind to us again today as we started our day. We had a good breeze to our backs so the traveling was easier. I walked the 18 miles today to our next camp near Seneca, Kansas.
We are staying on country roads as much as possible and we still get a lot of sightseers. Most of the people are our elders and when they catch sight of us, you can just see the light in their eyes come alive. I'm sure it takes them back to their own youth when using a team of horses or mules was common on farms and ranches. And I also think they have a lot of regard for the migration of the pioneers, for surely many of them had family members who made the trek.

Today, while I walked, I thought about how far from the basics of nature society has become. Our young people, who are lost and confused to the horrific point of killing each other, need to walk and be outside, and sleep on the ground and feel the simple, gentle cycle of life, the magnificence of the season, the absolute beauty of the land. This is living and having joy and peace inside.

We camped on the trail ruts tonight. Whenever I step into those trails, I can feel the energy of those people who passed by there so long ago and I can feel and see their struggles, the grimaces on their faces from the taxing journey, the excitement of seeing the new land and the dreamy looks on their faces as they envision their new homes. Did it all come to them as they had hoped and planned?

Clear Creek to Beattie

I felt rested this morning and had a good 14 miles walk to our next camp.

The weather wasn't bad except for a strong wind. One woman from the area walked a mile or so with me and pointed out where the Pony Express trail ran through the area.

We've had quite a few people come out to see us pass by. The wagon train is quite a pretty sight as they gently move along the dirt roads - looks pretty authentic.

Kansas seem like really friendly and generous folks, as we have received a lot of home baked goods. We are anxious that more people become aware of our trek through the areas.
After all, we are also making history.

Chris Cochran Thomas
Copyright 1999

Beattie to Marysville

By nightfall of last night, we had very strong winds and they never eased up much throughout the night. Between my tent whipping and flapping about, somebody's generator running all night, and some yapping dog, I didn't get a whole lot of rest. Amazingly, I still managed to walk all day and stay ahead of the train a a mail or so.

We covered around 20 miles today and whenever we headed south, the winds would nearly knock me over. I usually start out walking ahead of the train and seem to get to our lunch spot way ahead of the rest. From behind me a quarter of a mile was another woman walking. With the way the winds were blowing her dress about as she came over the hill, I felt like I was glimpsing right into 1849. The clothing really helps me to feel the part of the pioneer woman, helps me to remember all that they had to go through across the plains.
The walking all day was only a part of their excursion, for once they got into camp they had to build fires from whatever resources they could find and then create some type of a meal for their families, plus deal with trying to keep clothes patched and together. I am only experiencing a small portion of their plight.

The woman I mentioned earlier who was walking behind me came with me the rest of the day. Her name is Darlene Kelch from Eskridge, Kansas, and she was a wonderful lady to spend the afternoon with. She told me she spent one summer picking up beer cans along the roadside where she walked everyday and collected enough cans to buy herself some new walking shoes. I thought that was a good way to turn something unsightly - litter- into something resourceful. And I might mention that I do see a lot of trash strewn along the roadsides and it's a real distraction and lack of consideration for our good and beautiful earth. Walking along the roadside instead of flying by at 60 or 70 miles per hour sure provides a greater appreciation for each mile of our lands.

We had one runaway incident today - our first trail misfortune. A team of horses got spooked while the teamster was momentarily away from his post and they ran square into the back of Ben Kern's wagon, shattering the door that, incidentally, was just repaired this past winter. Ben's day was just crappy from then on.

We stayed in Marysville, Kansas, at the sale yards and hadn't been there more than 45 minutes when we were hit by a thunderstorm that dumped rain and hail on us for about 30 minutes. I heard there were tornado watches in the area but we lucked out tonight and just got wet.

Chris Cochran Thomas
Copyright 1999

Marysville to Hollenberg Station

We still have those pounding winds this morning and some misty rain. I walked our first 6.5 miles straight into these winds and at noon had had all I could take.

I think we covered another seven miles and I started out sitting on the bench in the wagon but I got so sleepy that pretty soon I was slithered off the bench and making myself a nice spot on the floor to take a nap. We were ahead of schedule and had to stop for awhile so I took full advantage of my position on the floor.

We went past the station where the Pony Express used to come into and I would have enjoyed touring that some, since my great, great grandfather was an express rider out west. I sometimes wonder how improved our mail service has become from the time horses were used.

Chris Cochran Thomas
Copyright 1999

In spite of the razzing I received from my cohorts, the much needed nap I took yesterday, plus finally a good night's rest, made a considerable difference in my energy and ability to get back out and walk.

We still had incredible head winds and as soon as we got into camp, we got a good rainstorm. I think we went about 14 miles today and are camped in Lanhan, Kansas.

Most of the people from the other wagon train are leaving tonight. I think we will have a few riders, however. That leaves somewhat of a skeleton crew to drive the portapotty, and one of the wagons. I sure hope things pick up for us, for if this trip were to end now, I'd be more disappointed than anything that has ever happened to me.

Chris Cochran Thomas
Copyright 1999