Heritage Gateways

Margaret Clark Journals

June 10, 1997

Location: Douglas, Wyoming - Location: 42:45:35N 105:22:54W

Summary: Glendo to Douglas

Journal entry: We were camped at the field by the airport last night. It was an incredible scene. There were tents and campers and stuff everywhere. When we have room to bring in all the vehicles and spread out, we really spread out. And it seems that we have a lot of people today walking. We had our daily morning devotional meeting at 6:30.

Then we were off. It was kind of interesting to follow the same route that I helped Bob Haderle lay out yesterday. I knew what was coming up. Everyone was forewarned that this would probably be our longest day yet and everyone was prepared----mentally especially. When we are given accurate distances, we can gear ourselves up and do what is required. We did have a lot of walkers today. We traveled past a beautiful lake that is way beyond its shoreline. There has been a lot of water this year and the evidence is in the extremely high water levels in the rivers and lakes.

When we stopped for lunch at the 15 mile mark we also started on the dirt road. I think we are actually travelling the true Mormon trail on this back road. It was a lovely walk. The spirits of the group were extremely high even though we were told it would be 30 miles or so.

The people driving all the porta potties are Seminary and Institute teachers who are off for the summer. They are volunteering for the loveliest of the lovely jobs. We do have some volunteers from the Cheyenne area also. They are doing a great job. There is one fellow in particular who just follows with his two little seater potty along with the walkers. He refuses to be called in and just stays with us. He says we need him. He is soooo right. We have had problems with the last few miles when they have called in the potties early. But this guy is our friend.

Walking on the back road we got wet. We had two rainstorms on us - a light shower and then a long drenching one and we were all just wet--all the way through. All I could think of was I hope I don't get sick. But we were all wet, stringy hair, drenched shoes, you name it. And there is no ducking out of this, folks. All we could do is just keep on moving. And this was the first day I didn't take a jacket with me at all. I threw it off as a gorgeous day. I thought it would be too much to carry a jacket. Bad decision.

By the time I had shuttled back to my car, I was so cold. Then I had to drive back to camp and by the time I got there dinner was over and they had had another terrible rainstorm. Everybody was wet. Fortunately, the wonderful people there at the fairgrounds opened a huge building for the walkers to go into and dry out and sleep. We have been at the mercy so often of the people in the towns we are staying at. They just have come out and helped us. I hope they know how much we appreciate them.

Tonight one of the camp jacks walked around camp and informed us that four funnel clouds had been spotted west of town this evening and two had touched down within four miles of us. They had gone around us, luckily, but we were on a storm watch and the tenters were encouraged to go into the buildings. The night, after the storm, was so incredibly still. There was not the slightest breeze at all and the sky was an ominous dark. It was certainly strange. I went to bed with a very peaceful calmness, however, and slept well.

HappyNetTrekking!