Day 2

We had a nice lazy morning, except for Jimmy, who rotated all the tires in hopes of postponing undue stress on any one tire. Packed a picnic lunch then went to Les Schwab to replace the worn tire then we headed for the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

The strength in this Center is personal voices - the different sections of the journey are chronicled through pioneer diaries. Which of course meant that the kids blew through the place and got impatient with me because I had to read every word. At the end though, was a great play area for the kids - a bare bones wagon with different size pillows representing all the things people needed to take on the trail (the kids have to try and pack it all), a giant magnetic word wall for creating poems, and a dress up area.

We didn't have the fortitude to take the 2-mile hike to see the wagon ruts, but there's a place along the road back to town that you can stop and walk to see them, so we did that. I wondered, as I stood in the place where those intrepid pioneers (and indigenous peoples before them) rode toward a new life, if my great-great grandfather, Henry Clay Huston, had walked over that very spot on his way to the Willamette Valley. I'd like to think so!

We returned to camp and indulged in a swim until the wind started blowing and we got chilly.

Tomorrow we stop over in Pocatello, Idaho on our way to Yellowstone.

We would appreciate your positive thoughts and prayers that our trailer axles function appropriately so we can continue our journey!