Lilburn 2010 Pioneer Trek- Days 2 and 3

Friday, June 18-

That morning, I woke up around six. The only other person awake was Sis. Gerber, one of our neighbors, and I tried to help her try to start a fire. It was working out so well, but then Bro. Spurlock drove by in his truck and said that they were going to make breakfast this morning, because there wasn't enough fire wood. So we didn't have to start a fire. Breakfast was an egg and sausage burrito thing, that I didn't like so I ate one of the energy bar thingies that my mom packed. It was pretty good.

That day's handcart modifications? The boys built things shaped like |\ over the back and on top of the wheel, and put the back handle on it to raise it up. Since there was more room, I could push. We got a LOT of comments on it....

Not much happened that day. Another story was about a woman who was widowed, and she had to push the cart by herself. And right when she had given up, she saw her husband, who encouraged her to keep going. So she did. Remember the muddy hill from the day before? Well, this hill was shorter but just as steep. This was the womens' pull.

The boys went and stood along the sides of the hill, while we pulled it up. They were singing....well, anyways, when we got to the top and the boys were allowed to go back to the carts, they were talking about how they wished they could've helped us, and all this stuff...it was kinda sweet, but they carried US across the river yesterday (well, creek thing but still) and then pulled the handcarts down. Then we were even.

When we stopped for lunch, we made ham and/or turkey sandwiches. Then, since we still had time and the other company was right in front of us, the boys and some girls played stick pull. I sat in the cart and watched. Then someone from the first company came and challenged our 'best man' to a competition. When we got our best people, they had a big thing. I'm still not sure who one, since we both had like five people go up...

Towards the end, the 'Pa' in the cart in front of us said 'Why don't you give the boys a break and let the girls push?' Yeah right, he just wanted us to go slower. We did, though...and the boys took a shortcut back to camp, so they were there already when we got there.

We went swimming again, and I almost did a flip off of the rope. Me and Tori had a mud fight while waiting in line (she started it!) and somehow Omar and Ashley got into it too. Then we jumped into the river to wash off. There was watermelon, which tasted pretty good. That night for dinner, we had ribs, 'eggroll guts', rolls, beans, and sappa....something for desert. We had a weird little dance, with like square dancing, and then we listened to the people talk some more. When that was over, desert was ready, so we went back to go get them.

When I was walking back to my bucket, I was the first one back from my family. Bro. Dodge said 'I have some semi-illegal sweets if you want some.' and then he started walking back to camp. I followed, because I didn't have anything better to do. 20 or 30 minutes later, we were all sitting around a fire, passing around M'n'M's and Skittles. Apparently Bro. Dodge had gone and gotten them during the dance.

That night, after playing 'Cheat' (or BS or Liar or whatever you want to call it) with Sis. Dodge, Ephraim, and some kid whose name I forget, I walked around with Lauren and Jessica (Aaron's sister). Then, we played Ninja. I lost, but it was still fun.

Again, don't know when I fell asleep or woke up, but I didn't wake up as early this time. We made pancakes and sausage as a group (4 families) and then we had Testimony Meeting. After THAT, we went and got meatball subs for lunch, and they passed round t-shirts.

Before Testimony Meeting, though, we had packed up camp. So then we went and loaded our trash bags into the back of cars, grabbed out buckets, and started the long walk back to the road.

Some kid named Mitchell took my bucket, and carried it more than half of the way up (and down). Some kinds had gotten rides in or on cars. When I got there, I took my bucket, found my bag, and waited. Then I heard someone say 'Grayson ward, over here!' and we got into a bunch of cars. I got into the McWilliams' car, and was in the first group to get back. 10 minutes later, my ride got there -Sis. Carter. An hour or so later, Elizabeth and Spencer Carter finally got there. We went home, I took a shower, and all was well....