Entrance Gate to Martin's Cove Site

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Jun 13We are good bathroom cleaners and we even have people comment on how clean our restrooms are. We have aspired to great things and we get to drive the "Bumblebee" which has an automatic transmission. We need to take a picture of the "Bumblebee."
Tuesday I worked on and finished rebuilding the irrigation pump and the piping associated with it. Bernice worked at inventorying the pamphlet supplies and making sure that more are on order and who to order them from. Sometimes suppliers go out of business without telling us.
Today, Wednesday, Bernice finished the inventory and helped at the humanitarian center where hundreds of blankets are sewn and tied. Lately tho we have been so busy with trek-ers that blankets have taken a back seat. I was the recipient of a "loom hat" because the wind was blowing so cold that my ears started to freeze. Loom hats are another item the humanitarian center makes.
The no-seeums are wicket now. Only a liberal dose of deets will keep them at bay. We don't spray deets on us, but wipe our clothes and try to avoid skin contact.
Our heart attack brother, Rigby Idaho, received two stints and wants to come back to finish his mission, but the doctors might decide against that. The sister with Colorado tick fever is on medication and should be alright; it was not Lime kind.
Today we also had a large school group (109) which was devided into small units so they could be small enough to talk to and explain everything. The children were very well behaved and seemed to have a good time.
Over 1000 trek-ers came today and the largest was from Kuna, Idaho which is close to Boise I am told.
We are now getting ready to go and help with the square dancing in the windy, sandy pasture.
Jun 15Yesterday was another hair raising day. Right in the morning another Elder was life flighted in to Casper with an apparent heart attack. The helicopter came from Casper as did two ambulances. As we stopped by the hospital to see Elder xxxxx we also wanted to see/visit Elder number two, but he was being treated and we could not see him. This morning we were informed that the 2nd Elder is back home and referred to a lung specialist because nothing was found to indicate a heart attack. Maybe it is the work we have to do here and the altitude with its thin air.
The square dancing was a lot of fun, but the wind pitched up a lot of sand and dust taking some of the enjoyment away. There were an estimated 200 young people dancing and all those who helped teach the youngsters. Several stakes were involved; Kuna, Vernal, Ashley, Duchesne, Linden 19th Ward, Payson South Ward. (Some stakes or wards are going home today after they wash their carts.) We devided them up into a row of ten couples and they were spread out over the pasture, but still able to hear the caller who is one of the Elders. Several couples had try-outs to be callers and that takes the pressure of all other couples.
There is very little wind today, as of yet, and we will serve at the handcart parking area. That is 1.8 miles from the cove and handcarts are not allowed by BLM rules. However, we can use what we call rickshaws to carry those who are unable to walk that distance and young strapping men from their units pull the rickshaws.
Jun 16Another beautiful day at the Cove. It started out a little cool with ice on the roof of the car, but it melted of as soon as the sun got to it. All tne trek-ers left today, but not without leaving food in our dining hall to be shared when we had our lunch today.
We had a scary moment yesterday, when a 9 year old little girl brought a baby rattle snake into camp. She carried it the right way, right behind the head. It gave all in camp a start until the situation was handled properly. Since the baby had no rattles the little girl assumed it to be harmless. A rattler will shed two or three time per year and add one button each time. This one had no buttons, but they are the most dangerous.
I am working on finishing the installation of sprinkler heads, but the ground is mostly rock and it is hard to dig the channels. We should be done by the end of shift on Monday and then just the sod needs to be layed.
Our internet is down again and with it my opportunity to update our blog.
This morning several antelope does came to show off their young fawns. It is a pleasure to watch them as they prance around with no apparent worries or thoughts of danger. We don't know how they communicate, but at a moment all fawns are gone, out of sight, and only the does are visible. The training session over, and all fawns are up and again having fun playing with their friends.
We are located a mile of gravel and washboard road (trail)off hwy 220 and washing the vehicle is almost a waste of time. The water is also very hard and leaves calcium spots on the paint and the windows. After two trips thru the"Ultimate" automatic car wash the car looked like new until we came home and had again washboarded the car. But we enjoyed the looks while they lasted.
Jun 17 Father's DayIt was a good Father's Day. The potluck was outstanding and we found out that tooth cleaning is no longer needed. With the wind as strong as it is, just open your mouth and your teeth are sand blasted in a second.
We had lots of visitors for our Sacrament Meeting and most stayed for the three hour block. The Martin's Cove Branch Choir sang today and it even sounded good.
Yesterday we had another youth baptism in the Sweetwater River. However, the water is so low that it would be difficult for an adult to be submerged.

Monday, June 11, 2012

June 2-11

June 2
Today we are at the Foot Bridge Post waiting for visitors to come and listen for a story. For a long time there were only a gazillian mosquitoes buzzing around the cabin.
The visitors have to request a story since we are, at this post, on BLM land and can not share anything religious unless requested. That is the government way of being politically correct.
While we were waiting at this post, a family from Utah came by and requested that we tell a story. As we did so we found that this family was directly related to Anson Call and Margeretta. Just like the young man from Maryland. Too bad that they did not meet here at the Cove.
Another requested story was of Eliza Cusworth Burton.
"Eliza was a daughter of a well-to-do farmer in England, and was a flower girl at the coronation of Queen Victoria. There were a large number of girls who acted in this capacity, carrying flowers and singing "God Save the Queen." She married Joseph Burton and they had two children, Joseph and Martha. They joined the Church and decided to emigrate to Zion where they could have their sealing ordinances performed. They had almost enough money saved, but prior to their departure from England Joseph became ill and died. On his deathbed he made Eliza promise that she would get to Zion and have their temple work done. Eliza and her two children (Joseph, 7 and Martha, 4) joined the Martin Company at Iowa City. She pulled her own handcart, usually with the children riding. The family suffered greatly. Little Joseph carried the marks of this perilous journey to his grave as his foot was frozen and he lost two of his toes.
When the family arrived at the crossing of the Sweetwater, Eliza didn't wait for the rescuers to take her across. She bravely picked up little Joseph and carried him across. She placed him on the bank and started back for little Martha. Joseph was frightened and tried to follow her into the river. Eliza took off her apron, tied him to a tree, and then went back to retrieve her little girl. Eliza made it into the Salt Lake Valley where she eventually married a widower named Nathan Staker. Together they helped settle Sanpete County in Utah.
We were told to leave our post and drive to Casper for the evening session of stake conference. It was a great session and all were spiritually fed. We then drove the sixty miles back to our "box" and rest up for the Sunday session.
June 3A beautiful morning greeted us and we were ready to leave for Casper by 8 AM. We give ourselves a little more than an hour, but arrived in plenty of time to have a "soft" seat. Two young people spoke about how their influence in the family helps to have unity and an absence of contention. The first young girl was just 11 years old and comes of a blended family of one year and nine siblings. We met the couple and were impressed of their success in this new family organization.
Another sister spoke of her single status and how she and her two children survive after her husband left them. It was a very touching scenario and one that one can easily relate to.
Now we are in the Pavilion at the Missionary Village getting ready for choir practice. Bernice and one of the sister's have been playing hoedown music and Bernice is getting real good at it.
Tomorrow morning we will again be at Veil Crossing. I am dreading the upcoming Friday when I have to be Ephraim Hanks and Bernice will be Thisbe Read. This will be in front of the 100 Trekers from Worland, WY. I will certainly let you know how that goes.
June 5Yesterday we served at the "Veil Crossing Bridge" . We had opportunities to welcome several groups of visitors and sharing the history and symbolic meaning of the bridge. We then told the Eliza Cusworth Burton story. Our friendly Blow Snake came to show off her colors and demonstrate how she does her hunting for food and where. The children thought that was a good show.
One large group of missionaries came with their mission president to take carts and make short work of the 7.5 mile trek. President Winn got top ride in one of the carts with faithful missionaries pulling and pushing the cart; "Some Must Pull and Some Must Push".
Our friends from Albuquerque came about 2 PM and we walked with them to Devils Gate, the museum and invited them to our home evening. It was a good HE with the subject being "Fire Safety" and how to avoid a fire in the first place.
Talked to Chad about his irrigation pump and I think we have things worked out for a safe operation.
This morning our visitors from Albuquerque are on a rover to be taken to the monument, the statues and Martin's Cove by way of Dan Jones.
It is a little cooler this morning and driving the circuit should be pleasant. Bernice is practicing on the baby grand in the Chapel. Our beaver seems to make short work of two Quaking Aspen trees on the shore of the Sweetwater River. He has chewed through one tree and is working on the second.
Today is our P-day and we will be spending most of it right here at the homestead being with our visitors and showing them the Seminoe Fort and its story.
This afternoon we will clean up the trailer number five and do the wash so that our visitors can leave for their stopover tonight.
All is well at Martin's Cove. Slowly the trekers are coming for their scheduled time. Their support vehicles and people usually show up a little early to get everything ready and make sure that they have the promised campsite.
Jun 7The last two days we were at the visitor center, and driving the rovers which are vehicles like a four wheeler and are called "Mules". The visitor center gave us time at the Seminoe Fort where we presented the Story of the Fort.
Just a short little note: The Fort was built as a trading post in 1852 and named after the builder. It operated for a few years when the government ordered it closed because of Indian unrest. It was in a good location since the western movement highway (trail) went right by there. It stayed abandoned and served the pioneers while they were stranded during the early snowstorm in 1856. It was not large enough to protect the thousand travelers and another protective place was found, which was a natural cove---since named :Martin's Cove. The Fort was destroyed by fire during the advancement of the Johnson Army to Utah.I spent a few hours as the Blacksmith building and demonstrated the art of working metal with period tools. That is where we make Prairie Diamond Rings to be taken as memory items by those who wish to have one. Also we tell the story of the Prairie Diamond and other stories as requested.
Bernice and I were rovers for one day and took those who had a difficult time walking, or were under a time-restrain, to the various posts to hear pioneer stories by those who manned those posts. In the few moments between driving we would practice our presentations for the Friday evening of "Ephraim Hanks and Thisbe Reed" at the Cherry Creek campground.
The weather has been pleasant the last two days without much wind, which really doesn't mean much in western Wyoming. It just means that one can stand up somewhat straight. With some wind the gnats or no-see-am are not as blood thirsty and our poor bodies have some reprieve.
We still have to finish our Sunday School lesson for the coming Sunday. The camp sites are filling up. Trek-ers are arriving daily with their support vehicles. They stay either two or three days for their family or stake sponsored activity.
Jun 8Today we spent at Handcart parking. After our prayer meeting abt 7:50 we climbed into our four wheel conveyance and were driven to our post. At that post the trek-ers leave their handcarts and walk abt 1.8 miles into the back of Martin's Cove with a stop at the Dan W. Jones Cove. That is where the Melchezedek priesthood holder tells the story of the Martin Handcart Company. I guided four trek groups into that cove and told the story four times. That meant that I walked 4.4 miles today while on duty. The Worland, WY stake was the first stake this morning. That is also the stake where Sister Gloschat and I told the Ephraim Hanks story at 8 PM this evening. One of the trek-ers was an exchange student from Berlin, Germany. We had a nice visit with her. She is leaving for home on Monday.
The next group was from Rapid City, SD. They had a young man who was a paraplegic and needed to be transported in a rickshaw. There was a young man who accompanied the rickshaw. He came to me and mentioned that my voice sounded familiar to him. He asked where I lived and I told him Bigfork, MT. He laughed loudly and introduced himself. Val Nelson and I where his families hometeachers in the early 80's. His mother had been a convert and lived in the log cabin by the Bigfork bridge. She married a man in the Kalispell Stake and moved to SLC until just recently. We had lots to talk about and enjoyed the meeting.
It was quite calm this morning, but the wind came up again in the afternoon and with it the drifting sand. During the day one collects sand in the ears, nose and throat. We are like filters before the sand/wind gets to Nebraska.
This we watched as the Worland Stake square danced with their own little band; a banjo, harmonica, and two guitars. They also brought their own caller. It was fun to watch the young people enjoy this old time dancing.
Jun 9Today our time was spent at Martin's Cove. As we moved in to our little log hut we were greeted by six buck antelope and one mule deer. The mule deer stayed around within just a few yards for most of our shift which was from 7:30 AM until 2:00 PM plus or minus depending on when the "rovers" would deliver the afternoon shift and take us back. It was a quiet morning at first and then the radio chatter would let us know that the trek-ers were moving towards the homestead for testamony meetings and then board their busses for a return trip to their homes.
The visitors we had were individuals and small families who wanted to feel the spirit of the "cove." We got to tell many stories which relate the obedience, faith, suffering, and enduring to the end of the Martin Handcart Company Saints.
The no-see-ums were wicket and after getting back to our "box" as we call the motorhome we treat each others bites. We also decided to leave for Casper and have an evening out. We found a restaurant called Poor Boys Steakhouse which served us a very good prime rib and a chicken vegetable salad.
After coming home late at night we remembered that we had to supply a salad for Sunday's camper get-to-gether after our fast and testimony meeting. We made a large Jel-O fruit salad to feed about 15 people.
On the way home it started to rain which is a rarety in these parts. Monday our shift will be to clean the restrooms which there are many. We have what we call "The Bumble Bee", a four wheeler with all the supplies needed for the needs of the restrooms.
Jun 10
Today would be my mother's birthday if she were still with us; she would be 114 years old. I am just going thru the Sunday School lesson one more time which Bernice and I are to teach today. I have the first portion, Alma 5-6, she will finish up with Alma 7. It will be a good day.
Jun 11It was a wonderful, spiritually rewarding day after a bad start in the morning. We woke up at 5:30 AM to finalize our lesson for S.S. and then Bernice wanted to practice her part for the choir. The "A" string broke and all we had was a new, old one saved from earlier times. That took time and we had to leave by 9:40 to get to Church on time. Half way to Church we (I) had forgotten my lesson material, turn around, get the papers and that got us back in time for Bernice to have the Sacrament while I missed it. Nevertheless, our lessons went very well in Sunday School and then in our home evening group at 3 PM. We had choir practice at 1:30 PM right after the 3 hour block and Bernice played her violin in a special number of "Help Me Teach with Inspiration" which we will sing for Father's Day.
We had an awsome Fast & Testimony meeting. It went way over time and it seemed that there was not a dry eye in the center.
This morning we watched a Antelope mother with her baby right here by the motorhome. The baby was prancing around while we watched it close with the binoculars. The mother must have sensed some danger, the baby ran away from the mother for a little ways, and was gone. We could not see it again because the babies hunker down and look more like a rock than anything else. One of the pictures of a hunkered down baby (taken by the pavilian) is on the sidelines.
Today we are the restroom people with our little "bumblebee" and we go on duty at 1:00 PM until we are finished, maybe around 7:00 PM. There is hardly any wind this morning so we will see if we can get on the internet and update our blog. When the wind blows, the dish by the pavilian moves around like a snake's tail and can not lock on the satellite.

Sunday, June 3, 2012


June 1Today is Friday and we are both working in the Museum cleaning display cases, dusting and removing flies. One of the cases needed some carpenter work done on it and I enjoyed re-designing the frame, making it easier for the ladies to do their cleaning. This is a white cotton glove assignment. It was a good day with lots of visitors coming. The time for school groups is over since the school is out for the summer. Now the trekers will come from the various stakes to recreate what the pioneers had to go through. It is a little bit less strenious since we don't have the severe winter weather and the lack of food that the pioneers had to deal with. The Sweetwater River is also low and does not have the ice floats which pestered the pioneers as they had to cross on their way to the Cove.
June 2
Today we are at the Foot Bridge Post waiting for visitors to come and listen for a story. For a long time there were only a gazillian mosquitoes buzzing around the cabin.
The visitors have to request a story since we are, at this post, on BLM land and can not share anything religious unless requested. That is the government way of being politically correct.
While we were waiting at this post, a family from Utah came by and requested that we tell a story. As we did so we found that this family was directly related to Anson Call and Margeretta. Just like the young man from Maryland. Too bad that they did not meet here at the Cove.
Another requested story was of Eliza Cusworth Burton.
"Eliza was a daughter of a well-to-do farmer in England, and was a flower girl at the coronation of Queen Victoria. There were a large number of girls who acted in this capacity, carrying flowers and singing "God Save the Queen." She married Joseph Burton and they had two children, Joseph and Martha. They joined the Church and decided to emigrate to Zion where they could have their sealing ordinances performed. They had almost enough money saved, but prior to their departure from England Joseph became ill and died. On his deathbed he made Eliza promise that she would get to Zion and have their temple work done. Eliza and her two children (Joseph, 7 and Martha, 4) joined the Martin Company at Iowa City. She pulled her own handcart, usually with the children riding. The family suffered greatly. Little Joseph carried the marks of this perilous journey to his grave as his foot was frozen and he lost two of his toes.
When the family arrived at the crossing of the Sweetwater, Eliza didn't wait for the rescuers to take her across. She bravely picked up little Joseph and carried him across. She placed him on the bank and started back for little Martha. Joseph was frightened and tried to follow her into the river. Eliza took off her apron, tied him to a tree, and then went back to retrieve her little girl. Eliza made it into the Salt Lake Valley where she eventually married a widower named Nathan Staker. Together they helped settle Sanpete County in Utah.
We were told to leave our post and drive to Casper for the evening session of stake conference. It was a great session and all were spiritually fed. We then drove the sixty miles back to our "box" and rest up for the Sunday session.
June 3A beautiful morning greeted us and we were ready to leave for Casper by 8 AM. We give ourselves a little more than an hour, but arrived in plenty of time to have a "soft" seat. Two young people spoke about how their influence in the family helps to have unity and an absence of contention. The first young girl was just 11 years old and comes of a blended family of one year and nine siblings. We met the couple and were impressed of their success in this new family organization.
Another sister spoke of her single status and how she and her two children survive after her husband left them. It was a very touching scenario and one that one can easily relate to.
Now we are in the Pavilion at the Missionary Village getting ready for choir practice. Bernice and one of the sister's have been playing hoedown music and Bernice is getting real good at it.
Tomorrow morning we will again be at Veil Crossing. I am dreading the upcoming Friday when I have to be Ephraim Hanks and Bernice will be Thisbee Read. This will be in front of the 100 Trekers from Worland, WY. I will certainly let you know how that goes.
May31We got all our shopping done and got home to our "box" in plenty of time to do some weeding around the motorhome (box). May has been a good month and we learned a lot and had some neat experiences while out on the assigned post.
Early this week we accompanied a young man from Maryland, returned missionary, through Prairie Park and while we were visiting and sharing pioneer stories I asked him his name. Looking on the name board of those who came with the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies we found his gggg father and mother. It was a very moving situation. These moments happen quite often and that why this is called a teary mission.