136 replies to this topic

[Mt_Rider]

If you are just joining Wagons Ho....take the time to see how we began this trip:
http://mrssurvival.c...h...t=0&start=0


All is very dark....the sun is not even close to rising yet....a few clinks of harness, the stamp of a horse hoof, bleating goats {of course}, and far off, a dog barks three times. Then our beloved blacksmith starts ringing his danged Come-&-Get-It triangle and hollering:

"RISE AND SHINE FOLKS....RISE AND SHINE....WE'VE GOT TO HIT THE ROAD BEFORE DAYBREAK!"


"MICHEAL!"...gasps MtRider from inside her tent. "Sheeeeeeeeesh! You'll give some of these folks a heart attack." Including ME, she grumbles to herself as she pulls the pillow off of Mr.MtR's head. He, of COURSE, slept thru that racket.


Well, today [it IS "day" isn't it?] is THE DAY.....we're leaving in about an hour and a half...wagons and teams hitched. Children fed/rounded up for last minute "bathroom" . Breakfast + coffee/tea/hot cocoa consumed. Cookfires doused. All other animals watered/fed/in place. Roll call done...everyone here?????


How did your morning go?

MtRider [ Micheal ------> ..... hmph! ]


*****DON'T FORGET THE SHOUT SESSION TONITE [IRL - MONDAY NOV 2...times posted on previous thread]*******

Edited by Mother, 13 November 2009 - 05:06 PM.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

Lori here -

BOY did you peg michael right!
He is always waking me up early in the morning (when we need to be on the road)with everything from a stuffed chicken that crows to bells going off to a wet hand on my back.

and Yes he is always up early and always wide awake and ready to go. "Come on are you ready yet? Lets get going. Are we going or not seeing you said we are out of here at 5:30 am and it is now 5:32?"

Been like that for years - when it is time to sleep he is out in under 3 minutes most times. And when it is time to get up he's out of bede and ready to go in less time then that. Gotta Love him -he keeps me young and on the go-

~Lori~

[Mother]

I'm awake. Mom and I have been working on breakfast for almost an hour already. She's an early riser too. I am MOST of the time. Yawn,,,,could go back to sleep about now though

Bed wasn't as bad as I expected last night though I worry about Mom on that seat. She SAID it was fine. Best get cracking if we're to be ready to go in an hour and a half. We have a couple of laggers still in bed yet. Hope they get used to this early rising soon. (Michael, want to move a bit closer to our number three wagon with that triangle for a few mornings? )

Hey, anyone know what the weather is supposed to be?

[CrabGrassAcres]

Daughter slept like a log as usual and is ready to hit the road. She LOVES to go. Loves horses, is not afraid of heights, likes people. Scared to death of bunny rabbits and little baby ducklings. Go figure.

I swapped out my wagon seat for a van seat with springs and a back.

Really like the expanded metal racks on the sides of the wagons. Fold up feature is nice too.

The painters did a good job, making the metal look like real wood wagons!

Been thinking of a cover story. Could we tell the onlookers we are doing a "reality show" filming? I'm sure there have to be a few video cameras among our group to bring out.

Have plenty of extra poultry. Glad I don't have to leave all my birds behind! Not sure how happy the birds are about it. The geese are making quite a bit of racket. They didn't appreciate me rounding up all the goslings and caging them.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

(Michael, want to move a bit closer to our number three wagon with that triangle for a few mornings? )

Funny thing is I was going to ask you about that wagon. After I rang the 'wake up call' around camp I went from wagon to wagon with a big ol' pot of coffee for all who wanted it (I need coffee first thing when I get up too.). Anyway NOBODY answered my call so I thought maybe they were up before ME!. now we know - so next time I will use my stick to rattle the side of that wagon before heading over to check on the animals.

I bet a lot of people are finding it a bit hard to move this morning after the ride yesterday and sleeping under the stars on beds that are not the best. We slept like babies- The night sounds making the best music to go to sleep by.

Now don't forget to water your animals and lets all check them seeing for most it was the first day pulling wagons or having to walk/work all day. 'Bubbles' (our horse) had no trouble finding the carrot I had in my pocket as a treat.

Lori said she might drive for a bit today so I can walk and ckeck on things as they go by so we know all is well on the first days out. Missed a hold back clip yesterday on the right side of the buggy and I've done it a hundred times before? Must be all the excitment of going and trying to remember all the last minutes things that need to get done?

[CeeGee]

Well, we had a few grumblers in our camp this morning (me included). Just got to get used to this and I am sure that we will be okay.

I forgot to mention last night when we arrived in camp, but I have several ice chests filled with fresh venison. Yesterday after church service, one of our congregation members who is a hunting guide offered me the meat of 25 deer (not POUNDS, but DEER)! I knew that we wouldn't be able to preserve it so, I brought all that I could fresh. We will need to get it eaten or if any one has any thoughts on preserving for the journey. I am willing to barter and share.

OGS is so excited today, but I am afraid that it won't last for long. Of, course he will follow his Papa and uncles anywhere. This will also give him the opportunity to get to know the man that will soon be his step-dad.

May the Lord be with us and guide us on this journey.

[Mt_Rider]

It's still dark of course...but considerable less dark than when the 'alarm clock' went off nearly two hours ago. Yes, we're getting off just a *bit* later than we'd planned....but we kinda planned that. Everyone/every critter has eaten. Had another dog fight this morning but...it will settle out soon. Had a few child wailings...crisis of a mild degree, thankfully. Everyone is excited but it's also stressful. That too, will settle out soon.


We're harnessed and packed and mounted and.... As I'm looking ahead, I see the Benefactors group beginning to move forward. The first wagon...2nd..3rd...4th...and so on. Takes a deep breath....it's our turn. I'm mounted on my Roan-horse. Fat&sassy Appie. Pathetic mane/tail but good powerful butt muscles for what lies ahead. lol She's a bit antsy. She loves to be with other horses so this is exciting! I've had to twirl her a couple times already but she's getting calmer. Whoops...our turn.


{snort-chuckle}....and I think to myself.... "Oh I might as well do it...." Spin Roan to face our 21 wagons [plus buggy & carts] and holler in my deepest gymnasium voice:

WAGONS HOOOOOOOOO! Whooo, that was fun!

The call was answered with an loud assortment of whoops, yiiihahs, etc. As well as my MM-donkey's BRAY (must have startled her), ......and the assorted cackling/honking/barking of any other animal that sensed the excitement and portent of the moment.


We are on our way.........



The day dawned lovely. The snow from that last storm is still over much of the land. But the roads have melted off nicely. We will be on this gravel road for about 1 mile [watch our for the low spots...puddles! Then we need to use a blacktop road. We've chosen one that is not real busy but we will certainly be sharing it with car traffic. 4 miles of that. At least it won't be bumpy and the pulling of wagons easier. We'll have to pass thru the outskirts of a mid-sized town in the 2nd mile. Then we can once again return to the less traveled gravel roads. About 2 more miles and we've got a stopping point in a National Park for tonite. A big meadow and....down the trail a ways...there are real bathrooms! That's only 7 miles for our first day. But it IS a shakedown day. Getting used to routines. Getting used to the labor. Getting muscles stronger. We'll build up to about 15 miles a day. Barring ...um, adventures.

So making camp early will give us time to talk tonite around our grilled meat and beans and pies....Did Micheal mentions pies.

LOL..I told CeeGee she could have more wagons and...she's hauling deer in them. We're going to be up half the night trying to turn a lot of that into jerky. It will last in coolers of ice for a while. We will be near to towns for a while yet.

CeeGee....MrMtR grabbed 3 sets of breeder rabbits yesterday. Two are Rex and ...not sure what the third set are. I'll gladly trade some venison for a rabbit breeding set.




How's everyone else doing????????




MtRider [VERY glad to have extra padding on this hard ole leather saddle.....I usually use a bareback pad only... Ow.]

Edited by Mt_Rider, 02 November 2009 - 03:49 PM.

[Mt_Rider]

The painters did a good job, making the metal look like real wood wagons!

Been thinking of a cover story. Could we tell the onlookers we are doing a "reality show" filming? I'm sure there have to be a few video cameras among our group to bring out.

The very thing, CGA!!!

--------------------
So OK, the Benefactors got all the permits, etc for our expedition by saying we are a re-enactment group. They actually are filming this magnificent event. That's how we're allowed on the roads in such a large group. But along with the wood-colored paint on the wagons, y'all will notice that the Gore Tex wagon covers are a dull grey/brown/tinge of green color. Once we're out of the spotlight, so to speak, we're going to try to STAY out of the spotlight. For obvious reasons of discretion. But the last of our journey will be miles and miles of lightly forested wilderness land. It's just getting thru these initial couple weeks. We are winding thru the least traveled roads tho.


{siren sounds from behind our wagon train as we're shuffling along the blacktop road}


Who's our rear wagon right now? Can you just tell the sheriff's deputy that our permits are in order and Mr.Smith and Mr.Jones way up leading the Benefactor's wagons have them? Yes, please. Shutting OFF the siren will be MOST helpful with our animals. Thank you! and wipe sweat off the brow. So we're to be escorted around the town and on down to the turn onto the gravel road. Well, that might be a good thing.


MtRider [ soooo glad that Roan did NOT kick that deputy's blaring squad car.... ..think I"m gonna ride in the wagon a while and take a nap! YAWN! ]

[CrabGrassAcres]

Yikes, doesn't that fellow have any brains? At least the teens on horse back were able to head off the stampeding livestock before they scattered to the four winds. My poor goats were terrified!

Uhm, Mt Rider and CeeCee, that tiny covered wagon behind my sister's 2nd wagon is my ListerPetter diesel generator (5KW). We have 3 chest freezers in that wagon and they are full of meat. When we stop, we can move frozen meat to coolers and stick the deer in freezers and it'll last longer. The generator trailer is a fuel tank with the generator and motor mounted on it. That engine will run off waste oil one it is started with diesel. (I just couldn't leave it behind, doncha know. LOL) I disguised it with a canvas cover.

[MommaDogs]

When are you going to swing by me? I had wanted to join, but haven't had time to pack my wagon. Any chance you'll be leaving directions for us last minute adds?

[Mt_Rider]

Mommadogs...Of COURSE you can still join us. In *this* UNreality, we can always swing to pick up another member! Can you get your wagon packed in a few days? Some of us had to kinda throw things in anyway...and after all my careful planning initially...

MtRider [....I'm *always* bringing CGA with me on primitive excursions, LOL ]

Edited by Mt_Rider, 02 November 2009 - 06:11 PM.

[firegirl969]

DH and I made it up OK this morning. The kids were not happy to see the sun rise. My back is letting me know that the wagon is rough on it. Oh well, we all better get used to it. I am enjoying the scenery as we go along. I can't wait to see the snow-capped mountains up ahead. Hope everybody else is doing OK.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

well after all the planning and packng, and packing, and planning we still managed to mess things up. I thought I packed well so things would not bang around a lot on the trip but what I forgot to do is pack things that we would need every day / night near the back so we could get at them when we stopped and we could pack them back in fast. So tonight when we stop I will be doing a bit of moving things around. So tonight if our wagon is a rockin' - don't come a knockin' because I am in there moving things around. (and just WHAT did you think I meant!)

[CeeGee]

Mt_R, I will trade you for the rabbits. I will trade extra for training on the care and breeding. You see, I am a city girl...don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' bunnies (hope you get the movie reference there).

CGA, freezers! Wowzer! You sure know how to travel!

I tell you when the siren started blasting I was about to jump out of my skin! I think that we all aged at least a year or two. I am so glad that all of the permits and such were all in order. I think that if we had postponed this train much longer, no amount of paperwork would have been enough. Things are getting downright scary!

Mt_R, thank you so much for including my family in you invitation to join. I thank you for your trust in us.

And I am not sure that I am buying into that story from Rusty and Emma about repacking.......are you all?

[quiltys41]

Okay, I got my chickens this morning. Well about 8 am lol. So we are just catching up to yall, but it took us longer sneaking around the gravel roads and all. Just so glad we didn't get stopped by any officers along the way like yall did! We had a few people look at us strangely, but being country folk and all, they kept to themselves and didn't give us any problems. Although the man with the gun in his front yard at noon looked a bit threatening. I did remember to put my basic first aide kit under the wagon seat just in case as someone said. Smart idea too, I would have hate to have to run to the medical wagon and back if it was an emergency! So, since we are late pulling into camp and missed the meeting, will someone be posting the chat for it? This IS unreality LOL. Okay ladies and gents...we are off to set up our tent for the night...it's been a long long day for us!

Q

[Amishway Homesteaders]

Yes - someone said that the chat would be saved?

[Amishway Homesteaders]

cock-a-doodle-doo! (somehow my triangle got missplaced) so I have to use what I wake Lori up with - 1 stuffed chicken that crows when you squeeze its belly.

Time to get up everyone!
I know you just want to sleep in this morning but.....

*some have milking to do before we leave.
*some have to feed and water the animals so we can leave on time this morning.
*those who need to eat or feed the kids better get a fire going.
*I see someone walking over to the bathrooms (see a flashlight) - so a line should be forming there soon.
*some need to pack away the things they left out last night.
***And you ladies MIGHT want to get dressed before our friendly cops show up to lead us though/out of town.

and THEN we can get on the road - long ways to go today and the sooner we start the better in case we have a problem with any of the wagons.

I Milked the cow last night and let the cream rise to the top overnight. So this morning I got the cream out and put it into a small pail we have with a tight fitting lid. Plan is to hang it from the wagon so it swings. That way come Suppertime we will have fresh butter to go with the meal.

[quiltys41]

Okay, the coffee pot is on, chickens are fed (really too! I love this!!) and rooster is really crowing out my back door lol. Time to get a move on folks. It's getting late, lets roll! Our tent is packed back up in the wagon and all we need to do its wash out coffee cups and the 30 cup pot and we will be ready.

Q

[CrabGrassAcres]

3 goats milked and 5 doelings and all the poultry, Pyrs AND daughter and myself fed. I'm ready to go back to bed! My nephew and neices are going to take over the milking and doeling feeding and help with the poultry. They will be taking care of their goats and critters too. Sis and hubby will be hitching up all 3 wagons. I'll feed the dogs and fix the meals.

Plenty of milk for everyone to drink their fill! I made oatmeal for breakfast and cooked it in milk instead of water. More milk to wash it down. That should stay with us a while.

[CeeGee]

Good morning, all.

Well, it was a bit easier to get up this morning. I am not a coffee drinker, but I think I may have to learn. OGS is up and roaring around chanting "when are we going to leave, when...when"? Oh to be 6 again......

Any one know what the weather will be today? I was thinking about strapping a solar oven that I found just before we left to the south side of one of the wagons and putting a venison roast in it for supper tonight.

Does any one have any fresh eggs to trade for a bit of venison?

Did anybody remember to ask whoever will be escorting us to please not use the sirens? Sure don't want a repeat of yesterday?

Hey, Rusty (Michael) did you get your wagon repacked last night?

I see a break in the line to the public potties, so I better get my teeth brushed....