Mother

We wanted to get an early start but I wanted to check on MT3B before we left. I had checked on her last night when I brought her a supply of tea. When she made a face, I promised her that she'd like the taste of this one better than the willow bark tea and we both laughed. She is getting better but I believe it's going to be a while before she is well. I told her we were leaving to search for our land but that we'd only be gone a few days and if she were here yet when we got back I'd come see her right away. I figured she'd want to head 'home' as soon as she was able though. If she takes it easy she should be okay and once she's there Quiltys will see she has what she needs. I didn't want to wake her and I was glad when I found SF in the kitchen. He said she was still sleeping but had slept a bit better last night. I told him to give her a hug for me and then hurried out to the wagon. It was strange leaving the rest of the camp and going off on our own. We took only the camper wagon as neither mom nor I was up to riding a horse. DH and DS rode with us in the wagon but the rest crawled into the saddle, even our young GS who was riding with his Dad. I suspected he would be in with us before the day was done but that was fine too. Sasha refused to stay behind and her pups were once again back in the wagon but Sasha chose to start the trip running along beside with her nose to the ground. She, too, would be inside as soon as she had her run. The rest of the animals and dogs were in the care of others at the lodge until we returned. The kids had already marked several areas that might be suitable for our homesteads. We headed to the northeast because that is where they'd found land that met most of our criteria. If we couldn't find suitable land there we were willing to look elsewhere in the valley but the northeast was really what we were hoping for. We were only an hour out when we stopped to look over some clear land with rolling hills. It was beautiful and had a small creek running through it that would give plenty of fresh water and enough of a drop for using it as a hydropower source if needed. One of its drawbacks was that it was very exposed to winter winds and summer sun. We could build deeper into the large stand of trees on the property but that would put us a lot further from the water. We moved on to look further. The next piece of land was deeper into the trees in the northeast corner of the valley. It was about two and a half hours out from the lodge but so far the route to both properties had been fairly clear with only shallow waterways to cross making it an easy travel to town. We had been climbing through the hills though and that would add time and distance to our journeys. This area had several streams and creeks running through it or perhaps it was just one winding it's way here and there. It had a comfortable feeling to it, plenty of rolling hills, and more trees than the previous one. We stopped there for lunch and wandered around for a while finding some really nice clearings that might serve for homesteads. We put it high on our list but were determined to check out more places. We traveled for a couple more hours, looking at several areas that showed promise but they were deep in the timber with little natural clearings. We turned from there to the south. The Northeast river was somewhere in front of us now but I wasn't sure how far. We traveled along a broad flat piece of land, a plateau of sorts, one of many that cascaded down towards the lake to the southwest. From this point they looked like giant steps. This one was maybe a mile or so out from the east face of the valley and we could see more steps above us, all covered with variegations of green and browns and gold and dotted here and there with huge rock outcroppings. It was beautiful but pretty rugged territory but we were tired and we chose a nice clearing with a small spring to stop for the night. We had been gathering wood along the way and it was only a matter of a few minutes to get a fire pit dug in a keyhole shape and start a fire. While the others were setting up tents, digging a small latrine, and tending to the animals Mom and I busied ourselves with a simple meal. We had set fruit and vegetables to soak in the morning and Mom got them both boiling in separate pots while I mixed flour with venison fat and some of our precious supply of baking powder and salt to make biscuits. I didn't bother to form them into biscuits. I divided the dough in half and in one put a bit of honey and in the other a blend of savory seasonings. Once the food was boiling I dropped spoonfuls of the dough into the liquid on top, savory on the vegetables and sweet on the fruit, to make dumplings. While they were cooking I pulled out the package of venison that we'd sliced ahead of time and set up one of our small grates over the small end of our fire pit and raked red coals under it. When the dumplings were almost done I laid the venison over the fire and quickly grilled the meat. To go with it we had cold clear spring water knowing it was most likely safe as it came directly from the ground. It was a simple but filling meal. After everything was cleared away and the animals settled for the night we spent some time just sitting around the fire discussing all we'd seen today. There were many suitable places but we all knew that we had some criteria that so far hadn't been met by any of the areas. We would keep looking. Before long we were banking the fire and crawling into our beds.

When I used inches as a base on the map I printed out (it might be different sizes depending on the size printed) it figured to be five by seven inches approx.. That means on mine the milage is different across than it is down as far as trying to divide it down into an inch = X miles. Taking the top measurement of ten miles divided by five inches that means an inch = 2 mile. Just roughly using those parameters I figured we were about 5 mile from the lodge so we are both in the same ball park dependin where you put your acreage Annarchy. I realized that we were going to have a real difficulty trying to figure out our plots when they ended up being so small. (640 acres to a square mile divided by 40 would be 16 plots per square mile [3200 total 40 acre plots in the valley] or if you are going by 80 acres for a couple it's 8 plots per square mile) That's why I suggested the 1/2 by 1/2 inch square on your map as a base. It's more than it would be but we are not measuring! LOL Does anyone care that I give them more 'space' LOL or do we need a different parameter to help us get an idea of distance? Annarchy, I really wish you would draw those images. Would it be possible to do an aerial view once your cabins or ? were built maybe? Or even before if you can find a land mark? That would be neat.

That is EXCELLENT Michael. It is exactly what we all will be doing, taking this a step into the realities of how far and how long and how hard. You set the way and the rest of us can follow in like mode. I've been trying to figure our milage too and it will take us about that long as well. Q and MT3B, you better add a bit more to your time. Probably more like four hours unless you're riding a horse, then about half that or bit less. Also, for a reference as to the size of the valley if you are using the map...It's almost impossible to show what one 40 acre plot would look like. We found that the size of the trappers cabin or the lodge is actually about the size the whole plot would be. For ease of use however, we'll just say that your 40 acres is about a half inch square if the map is 5" by 7". It will give us the feeling of space at least. We're not going to be picky about boundries unless we have to be. Once we can describe to Michael where we'd like to be on that map, he will try to add a letter to the spot (remember it's going to be difficult to place unless you can SHOW him or be specific like above the letter F in falls or something). The letter(s) will indicate your acerage is in that area. That's close enough.

(It's nice setting here in the great room, the smell of delicious food wafting in from the kitchen. I'm glad to see so many people gathered today but I'm not looking forward to giving them bad news. I agreed to do it though so I guess I might as well go stand in front of the fireplace and do it.) "I'm really glad to see so many here. We're missing a few who are fighting illness and some who are on their homesteads already but before we get to our services today I need to talk with you about an issue that will affect us all." "Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones received a message from the Rockin' J and the news is not good. The chaos we left behind is getting worse. The stock market is plunging and this time it shows no signs of stopping though TPTB are desperately trying to pull it out one more time. People are losing money and jobs left and right. Banks are closing and with no loans farmers are forced to stop planting. Transport companies are forced to hire security people to ride with drivers or have just simply gone out of business. " "I guess what I'm trying to say....is that the supplies we all ordered, besides the few packages that came with the messengers from the Ranch, are still not there. The expected mule train is not coming any time soon. Jacob and Joy are desperately trying to find other sources of supplies for us but even when they do they can't get them delivered or they are hijacked along the way. Like others, they have taken to ordering only COD so they don't have to pay for supplies someone else has. Unfortunately, the companies that are still in business will only work for cash. They are trying to get together a team to go pick up food but it's going to be dangerous to try to get it home." "Some of you may be getting low on supplies and we need you to take inventory and let us know what you need. The Benefactors have a large supply of long term storage food here at the lodge and no one will be allowed to starve but those foods were intended for use in case our crops failed or we had a natural disaster. If we use them now there is no guarantee that we will be able to replace them. It would be better if we managed to come up with substitutes. The substitutes will, of course, depend on what you need but there will be plenty of wild foods soon to tide us over until our garden start producing. The game will most likely be plentiful for now but the animals will be winter thin and won't provide as much meat as we'd like." "We will have to be extra careful with harvesting both plants and game. We don't want to over hunt any one species. With so many of us suddenly descending on the valley, and at least to begin with depending on the game, there is a concern we might draw the herds down too far to be safe. We don't how many of these animals winter over in the valley and if they have a natural migration to and from it. It would be a shame if we inadvertently changed the basic biodiversity of the area or to chase them out where they could be decimated by the hungry hoards looking for food. Mr. Hughes has been put in charge of trying to get a herd count on the bigger game animals and would like your help with that. He'd also like to get an idea of the small game population out there. Keep your eyes out for what you see and how many." "I want to suggest that when you find wild edible plants that you never wipe out a whole planting of them. Always leave at least one third to one half in any given area whenever you harvest. That should assure the continuation of the species in it's own growing habitat. There are many plant ID books among those we brought along, which, by the way are already in the library room in the lodge but not shelved yet. We were hoping that Lori would take some time soon to help with that. Please though, do NOT eat anything you do not have a positive ID on. If in doubt, do without. Get someone who does know to help you with it." "One last thing before we begin our hour of fellowship, don't be afraid to ask for help or instructions. We each have different skills and knowledge and we're all willing to share them with others. And please, don't hesitate to spread your own knowledge and skills around. We're going to find out real soon that no one here will have need for money. Our money may not be worth anything now as it is and if the market crashes, it will be worth even less. We will have to find another way of fair trade. If a person needs someone to help him in his fields and he doesn't have a neighbor to exchange work with then perhaps one of the younger people would be willing to do it in exchange for training, or perhaps some sewing done or for food they don't grow. Or better yet, just out of the goodness of their hearts. We're all going to have to work together, especially these first few years, to make it. While we are working together, we'll be building a community that cares. "

((((((((((((((((MT3B)))))))))))))) I'm so sorry you are sick. There seems to still be a lot of that going around. Make sure it's not the H1N1. Get well soon. I'm also hoping for a service at the Lodge today. The last couple of times CeeGee has blessed us with them they have been in the afternoon as they have obligations IRL on Sunday morning. Should we make it a pot luck meal? Say elevenish? Gives everyone time to get there if they leave early, and get home before dark. Okay, in talking with Mt_Rider, she has asked me to take everyone back a step here and instill some REALITY into the UNreal scene...I'll attemt to do that in a few posts here in the comment section. One of the first things we need to figure out is distance and time in the valley. How long DOES it take everyone to get from their homesteads to the Lodge? Let's take MT3B's homestead as an example as it seems to be the most distant. The map is not to scale but if we roughly divide the distance between top and bottom as being 20 mile, and we allow for her going kitty corner up to the Lodge, it could concievably be ten mile or more if she couldn't go a straight line, which most likely she wouldn't be able to because of terrain. An oxen team, having more strength and less speed than a horse, can walk about as fast as a man can walk, sometimes a bit faster if they are not pulling a heavy load and depending on the oxen. The averages I found on the web were that an ox can walk between 2 and 3 miles an hour. (Someone might find different figures because what I saw was really various) That would be consistent with the 10 to fifteen miles a day we made on the trail with an hour or more rest at noon. Using that as a guide, if MT3B used oxen, pulling a wagon, to get to the Lodge it would take her roughly 3 1/2 to 5 hours one way. If she were to use horses it would be faster as they have more speed and less pulling power. And if you are riding or the horse is pulling a light buggy, it would be even faster. Michael, can you tell us how long it might take you to get from your homestead to the lodge, allowing for slowing down for river crossing using your horse and buggy? The average I saw for a horse pulling a wagon was 5 to 6 mph. Not running that is. Plowing is another consideration. What we will be plowing is native soil, perhaps rocky in some areas, very thick sod in others. A garden area might be plowed in a day but a field for grain is going to be another story. An acre was originally designated by the amount of land that one man could plow using one oxen in one day, but you have to allow for the time it takes to turn an oxen at the end of a row, that's why an acre used to be a furlong long as there were not so many turns to make. Pioneering is slow, steady, work that is hard on animal and man alike. Teams need to be rested often and worked carefully. I mention this, as I will be mentioning other things here, to have you stop and really think this through. We won't be setting up a homestead, even if we do already have a living quarters on it, in a few days. Life will be at a much slower pace than we have all been used to. A trip to the Lodge will not be an every day thing. We won't have instant access to food and goods unless we have stored them or can find them in the wilds. It's fun to dream in all sorts of things but we will have to be careful that what we 'experience' (write) will be in keeping with the realities of this UN reality scene or we won't gain the knowledge that this whole endeavor is meant to teach. Remember as well that we have a pretty heavy readership and we won't want to decieve ourselves or them as to the work involved and the skills we'd need to learn. We will have to place ourselves (in our minds at least) in an ISOLATED 10 mile by 20 mile WILDERNESS valley, without any ammenities except what was here to begin with and what we brought with us. (and what we ordered if that EVER comes, We'll let you know later about that so don't write it in the scene yet). [The B's have the advantage over us of bringing in various items over the years which you will find out about as we go along) Go back over your lists. Check what you have and then do some thinking. Did you choose well? Only time will tell you that. I'll add more later but for now, I'm just looking forward to our Sunday Fellowship.

Dogmom4, I add my encouragement to Quiltys. Just let us know if you'd like to join us and we'll figure out a way to make you a part. We can always make you Mr. Jones' neice and you already ARE in the valley just waiting to choose your homestead. I'm glad you are enjoying the thread. It is one of the most interesting writing projects I've ever been involved with. I like it too...

I was able to talk with Mt_Rider tonight. She was helping the cat hold down the bed but was in good spirits as long as she was laying down. She is thinking of us all but until the MS allows her to be up and about longer than just to get necessities done she will need to rest. MS is strange. A flare can come on fast and go away just as easily so we can look for her to pop in as soon as it allows her to do so. I know we are all missing her and wish her a speedy recovery. Please keep her in your prayers. ((((((((((((((((((( Mt_Rider )))))))))))))))))))))))))))

What a day it's been. The kids are not back yet and the rest of us are becoming worried. They took a radio with them but we haven't been able to reach them with it. Considering they hadn't planned to be back until tomorrow I should not be worried, but you know how moms are? I got a chance to ask SF how MT3B was doing and was relieved to hear she was better. I also talked with Quiltys about Mt_Rider and we decided to go see if she was awake. When we reached the small log building the same lady was setting in the front area. I recognized her right away as one of the women who had been helping Chef around the fire. We chatted for a few moments and I found out she was only at the medical building to help out in case Mr.Mt_R needed anything and to sort of run interference so MtR could get her rest. When I explained to her that Quilty's was one of the nurses that would be using the building to work out of she was apologetic that she'd turned her away earlier. Quiltys reassured her that she shouldn't concern herself about it and then talked to her about being a contact person for Dr. Mt_R and Quiltys when they weren't there. She readily agreed and then we went into the back area where we found Mt_R propped up in bed with their cat laying beside her. She said she was feeling better but Q and I both knew that with MS it was anyone's guess when it would allow her to be up and around. I only stayed a few minutes before giving her a gently hug and and left Quiltys alone with her to check her out. Later in the day I found myself in a meeting with Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones and Mr. Hughes. Yesterday a couple of riders had come from the ranch carrying some packages and a few letters but the news from the Ranch wasn't good. None of the supplies and equipment the Benefactors had ordered for the valley had come in and neither had the bulk of the orders everyone had been expecting. There was so much chaos in the cities and towns that they had posted guards at the ranch even though so far they'd had no trouble. The news is that we can't expect the mule train to come and we are on our own with what we already have and what we can hunt, find, or grow. They wanted to know what I felt our chances were for making it through the months until we could start harvesting produce. I thought about it for a long time before I replied. I told him honestly that most of the people along, theirs and ours both, had no concept of what living a primative life would be like but that we had come this far and I doubted that anyone wanted to turn back, especially if it was getting worse out there. We knew when we came on this journey that we were going to be living a very simple, and even primative life and we were prepared to do it if needed. I was told that the Lodge has a large supply of long term storage foods and we'd be able to use them if it was needed, that no one would starve but it might not be what people were used to. I told them I'd encourage the others to take stock and report in and once we knew we'd be more able to decide something. I left the Lodge a bit unsettled but not really concerned. If what I have seen so far is any indication, the valley would soon be teeming with wild foods but like the long term storage foods, it might not be what they were used to. I went next to talk to Chef about the foods he'd been using to feed us all and what that supply was like and he told me that it was doing okay so far but that he'd be a lot happier if they had the gardens started and the Plexiglas up on the greenhouse so they could get that going. We took stock of what dried beans, peas, and other seeds he had and then talked for a while about doing some sprouting and he was interested. He'd used sprouts before but had never grown them. I told him I'd be in tomorrow to get him started with it. I was thoughtful as I went to the wagon to prepare to do the chores. By the time darkness came I was more than ready for bed. My last thought was a prayer for the safe return of my family tomorrow.

Thanks for putting those nifty instructions in the thread Lori. And I love you adding a bit to the journal too. Gives us both perspectives on building the homestead. Rounds it out nicely.

Quiltys was talking about directions and I realized that perhaps we needed to recap some of what we knew about the valley in order to put us all on the same 'page' (okay, I meant that literally LOL) in writing. First of all the cast of characters: Jacob and Joy Rock own the Rockin/ J ranch, our last connection with the outside world. Clarence Smith and Jacob were old military buddies. Over 20 years ago they realized that things in the country were going bad and decided they needed a plan B. They soon paired up with Edward Jones and together Smith and Jones bought the "very hard to access" Big Valley meant to be a retreat from the chaos they suspected would come. The valley has always been wilderness. There was never a town there and was unknown about with the exception of the few trappers who came to it and that one homesteader a hundred years ago and we have no way of knowing why they left. (Those buildings were only preserved because they were built solidly of logs perhaps) Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones are our Benefactors. They purchased most (but not all) of our wagons and teams, arranged for all the permits, licenses, fees, and paid for all the other expenses of getting the wagon train to the valley. They are generously giving the land to us if we are willing to 'prove up' within a couple of years. We are indebted to them for asking us along and giving us this opportunity. The lodge and the medical building that is all that makes up the 'town' at this point is their home. They have given us the use of it for a meeting place but eventually we will need to build another building for it, perhaps the church. Mr. Hughes was "brought on board full time to plan each detail of the route and security." (He also seems to have been given charge of arranging the claims). The Chef was hired but was also given a claim if he desires along with various other people not specifically mentioned. Some of the B's group is family and/or friends of the B's. They tell us though, "at any rate, there could never be enough within our circle to populate that Valley with the skills, crafts, knowledge, specialties, and just sheer numbers required for a decent chance of a self-sufficient colony." (my emphases) That is where WE come in and why we were invited into the circle. This thread has evolved and the information about our lifestyle has evolved as well but throughout it all one theme appears. We are isolated from the world and we want a new life, not one like the one we left behind. It was never our intentions to have us all live like cave men. We are trying to build a thriving community, one that is self-sufficient. HOWEVER, the descent into the valley was purposely intended to emphasize how difficult it is to reach here and also how difficult it would be to bring in large items, like tractors, combines, motorized vehicles, power plants, and etc. unless we want to give away our location and bring things in by big helicopters. We have Annarchy's quad and the B's most likely have a couple of those as well, but the ability to bring in fossil fuel is extremely difficult at best. (we're sure going to try to get some in for those for emergencies though) We are dependent primarily on solar or hydropower for energy. Wind energy might be possible but the wind currents in the valley would have to be carefully considered. We also have very little contact with the outside world. The mule train we are expecting with our orders of goods may never get there though it is hoped that a regular contact and mail service can be established between the valley and the Rockin' J, and we might be able to establish a system to sell products anonymously to the outside world. THAT IS,,, until the chaos gets close and then even the Rockin J family will be moving to the Valley. After that we are on our own, having only occasional dangerous forays out of the valley for 'gleaning' trips. If the country manages to right itself, then that's a different story but for now, we aren't counting on it. That's just hitting some of the highlights to get us started but I hope that makes the intentions more clear. We will eventually have to come to some decisions for the 'community' as a whole but we'll take them as they come (or we throw them at you LOL). We can have some 'barn or cabin' raisin's but you will have to get the logs ready ahead of time so we can get it up in a day, just like the settlers did (We'll all bring food LOL). We may be called to defend the valley or we may face a natural disaster or emergency together. Lot's of things might happen, you never know. You are all doing a super job. I love the idea of Q doing a 'visiting nurse' thing. If CGA joins us she can help with it as can Mr. MtR. The medical building is also there for use and I'll look up the description of it as soon as I get time and post it. I know it's got a few rooms and a loft for the 'staff' to stay over when needed (by the way, I bet we find Mt_R there resting). Now I'm off to try to play my own homestead.

COOL Lori, that's using everything! Would you like to put that somehow into the thread too. There might be some who are not reading here who might enjoy that description. It is JUST what we need to know. Thanks! Snapshot, I'm glad you are enjoying this as much as we are.

(((((( Quiltys ))))))))) That's a gentle hug as I know pain too.

Me TOOOO Lois, me too. Glad you are enjoying it though. We'll take you next time.

I only went with the eighth because today was a friday and it was the 8th so if we look at our calendar we'd know the day and the date at least but it can be whatever the majority of you want it to be.

As near as I can tell, Today would be Sunday, May 9th. That is using MT3B's April 4th date as Easter and counting the days forward. Michael was the fairly consistent at getting us up or at least telling everyone good morning and that helped a lot. Now, I may have missed a day or two here and there but that's as close as I can get. How do you want to work this? Would you like to just declare today Friday, May 8th so we can get on a day and date that we can glace at our current callendar and easily identify just changing the month from January to May? Remember though, that 'ties' you to what your garden would do IRL timeframe...as in it's going to be the end of January before you start to even think about getting salads and etc. (three weeks?) We'll have to fill in with our building and hunting, and every day life. We will need to really think through, realistically, how easy it would be to clear land, cut trees (how many can we cut, drag in, debark, and etc in a day IRL?), dig or plow up soil, maybe dig wells (now that's not going to be done in a day good thing we all have nice springs handy), etc. Whatever you decide, we are just in time to get our early crops in and late for starting some of our seedlings like tomatoes and peppers and such but they will catch up fast now that the sun is higher in the sky and the days are longer. There is lots of wild edibles in the valley and we will not only be able to 'find' them but learn how to preserve them, if possible, for later use. (we weren't in time for Maple syrup but there MIGHT be honey bee trees??? later)

I'm going back through now to try to figure out an exact date for us. I'm pretty sure we are no later than the end of the first week in May but I'll let you know.

It's nice, just setting here in the great room at the lodge, soaking up the heat from the big fireplace. It has been an emotion filled day. First was part of my family leaving on horseback early this morning to explore the area we hope to have our homestead. DD, DSIL, and her daughter and SIL packed enough food for several days, tents and sleeping bags just in case. Her oldest and his SO and little brother stayed behind with DH, Mom, and I to tend the livestock and try to make some order out of our wagons. We are also repacking the Camper wagon as that is what we will take when the rest of us go to look at places they have found. They were only going to be five to seven miles away at any given time but it still was hard to see them ride out. One of the reasons it was so hard was because I desperately wanted to go too. It wasn't practical of course. I knew I could not ride a horse and we aren't sure just what the trail conditions are in that area. As it's hillier it's possible that we won't be able to get the wagon into some of the areas. We might have to clear trails first. Besides that, I wanted to take a day or so to do laundry and clean the wagons well. Once we get to our homestead we may not have the access to water we don't have to carry from a stream or river and the means to heat it easily as we do here with the big wood stove in the kitchen. Then of course there were the returning members Quilty's and Mr. Q, Mt3B and SF and family, and Michael and Lori. It was wonderful to hear that they had found their land and I enjoyed hearing all about them. I only hope our own search goes as easily. I've told MT3B that I would be glad to have her use our buck for her doe and we've arranged to leave them together in a small temporary pen here at the lodge along with one of ours that will be in soon too. That way we won't have to move them before they are ready. Her and I talked about the puppies and how they will be old enough in a couple of weeks to wean. She said she'd work on SF in the mean time and we chuckled. He had already been over to see them a couple of times today. They should be able to pick up both doe and puppy at the same time. I just hope that we can find homes for at least a couple more of the puppies. Sasha has proved herself an excellent hunter for a Saint but it's going to take a fairly large amount of feed to keep all of them fed. Then tonight was really heartwarming to have so many of us setting around visiting and having a good time but it was also bittersweet because we knew that many would be leaving again in the morning and it might be a couple of weeks before we see each other again. One of the things we talked about was our supplies. Because we didn't get what we'd all ordered before we left the ranch some were getting low on the things we couldn't furnish for ourselves. No one knows when or if that mule train will get here. Mr. S said we shouldn't look for it anytime soon though. It looks like we're going to have to find substitutes for what we are low on for a while. It was suggested that we all make a list of the things we are really low on and will miss and maybe we can work together to find an alternative. Coffee was mentioned first thing. We can substitute a roasted grain product for that easy enough but it doesn't contain the caffeine and it isn't a perfect taste substitute. It's more like a Postum taste. It's the substitute the pioneers used though so we probably can as well. Well, I guess I better get myself out of this wonderful cushioned bent willow rocker and go out to check on young DGS. He's used to being with his brother but he wasn't too happy about his Mom and Dad leaving without him, especially after all he's been through the last couple of months and in a strange place. I think Grandma and Grandpa might challenge the younger 'kids' to a board game or two. I bet they beat us...

(((((Annarchy))))) Do not apologise. First of all because we were all a bit confused as to what day it actually IS, and second of all,,,,it really IS fun to have bloopers. We've all made them. (though truthfully, I never even caught that one of yours) The rivers are about the width of a regular two lane highway and yes they run all year round. The North river seems to be about five mile long and the North East one about six if you go by the size of the valley as being 10 mile by 20 mile. But remember the map is not really to scale so it's easy to hedge on that if you need to.

Smiling at MT3B. We'll have to swap once in a while. You have the nurse and I have the chiropractor. Our guys are accident prone sometimes too.

AH and Q, Mt_R has figured some of this out but I'm not sure when she will be up to posting, hopefully today. In the mean time I know that the idea was for each of you to write a description of your land and tell where it was located and that would be part of the 'deed' to the land (instead of the usual legal descriptions that are difficult to understand and we don't need for our purposes LOL). I don't believe the land would have to be square or rectangle. It would most likely follow a natural boundry, as you said Q, if there is one. A river, a stream, a natural rock face, hot springs or natural springs, etc. As we've been told that we can 'find' those types of things on our land it will give us the luxury of writing them into our descriptions. If they are major things not on Michael's map they might have to be decided on but then perhaps he would be able to include them eventually on a revised map much like they did when exploring any wilderness for the first time. You each get forty acres of land. That would be eighty acres for a couple. Just remember that on the map that is a very small area. If my figures are correct that would be one eighth of a square mile. (640 acres per square mile, divided by 80, should equate to 8 homesteads per square mile doesn't it?) There are 200 square mile all together in the valley. That would make it unlikely that anyone would have a really close neighbor but I do like the idea of discussing the boundry lines with 'neighbors'. I would love to have neighbors nearby. So far we only have Mt_R and she's a few mile away. (anyone want to join us on that NE river? ) We have the Benefactor's group of unknown people that might concievably want to be in the same area if any of the writers aren't close enough. We can always use them as 'neighbors" couldn't we? Speaking of B's people. I'd like to remind everyone that Mt_Rider mentioned the possibility that some of the readers might be enjoying this so much they'd like to join us. She suggested that they can always become one of the B's people and enter into the fun that way. I believe we'd all welcome more writers.

That's a facinating look into diving. Thanks Annarchy. I would have put you in that river to check it out but I would have been too worried. I wondered if that rope might be more hinderance than help. KNowing what the current will do to a rope, I was afraid it would entangle you though I know that deep sea divers use hoses and lines. One thing that most everyone has been sort of skating around is the fact that these wagons were purposely built for floating. (Mt.R saw to that herself just for this scene LOL) Part of that is because it's such a foreign idea to most people. Vehicles don't float, only boats float!! These wagons are part both. In this case, if the river bottom was full of mud it would be an advangage to have them float/swim that area instead of try to drive/walk through it. It was how the pioneer managed it. They often had more trouble fording than they did floating. I did have them starting upstream and heading down to the other side. That gives the oxen or horses the same advantage that you would have as a diver. They go with the current and as long as the current is not too swift, they can stay ahead of the wagon using the current to propel them along with their swimming ability. When our GS and I were studying covered wagons last year we had fun trying to "float" our 1/12 scale conestoga wagon in running water (the spring fed stream), in the pond, and on a hand built raft built to scale. Ours wasn't even water tight but it did amazingly well. We lost it the first time on the raft but didn't have it secured enough and it moved. The second time across went fine. It was not only fun but it was a great learning tool. We had done hours of research on them being used by the pioneers beforehand but that hands on experience was priceless. I am in awe of the things that we've all been able to learn from these threads. I can just imagine what is to come. Annarchy, will you and GS be 'diving' any of the rivers in the valley? I would love to hear what is there under those streams and lake. I would almost believe there would be a possibility of gold in that area (silver minds too) but of course, that wouldn't do any of us alot of good if there is nothing to buy with it. Is there other things that could conceivable be found? NO! Don't tell me, just let us know if you find something interesting, maybe that big wash pan I lost coming across.

Phew, got us all safely to the lodge, fed, animals squared away and into bed. More fun tomorrow I'm sure.

We had only traveled a few minutes when the Lodge came into sight through the trees and only a few minutes more before we were pulling up in front of it. It was wonderful and unremarkable all at the same time. Much bigger than I had expected, almost like a small inn. It is built almost entirely of logs but someone has taken the time and care to bring in windows give it the look of a home. (This next is taken directly from Mt_Riders initial description [with a bit of sprucing up on my part] and I believe it works well) Initially the Lodge will be the central meeting place for whatever. It has a library room so we can get our precious books into shelter immediately. [did anyone bring battery operated smoke detectors? ] I has a huge communal kitchen both indoor and an outdoor one too. Eating/meeting area. There is already a small medical clinic cabin separate from the Lodge. Just two exam areas, office and two rooms with two beds each. There is a sleeping alcove up in the loft for any medical person who ends up being there overnight with a patient. We take a few minutes to discuss how we will arrange wagons and then finally decide on a half circle near the kitchen area of the lodge to take advantage of only one or two cooking fires depending on how the kitchen is set up. We can already smell cooking odors coming from the area and I realized that Chef must have come directly to the lodge after crossing the river to start a meal. Once we get the wagons set and the teams unhitched we are able to turn them lose in a corral near what looks like several outhouses. The livestock has been herded into a small fenced pasture just to the side of that and we are told that the stack of slough grass hay standing in front of the pasture can be used for whatever we need to feed. It looks like a huge stack but I know by now how much those animals can eat and that pasture won't last long without that hay or grazing the animals daily outside the fenced area. I didn't think we'd be there long though as we are all anxious to look over the land. We all had a chance to get cleaned up and our clothes changed in a large utility room at the lodge. We didn't bother heating it but carried water from an outside pump and made do with a quick wash. It was such fun to be invited into the Great Room of the Lodge to eat our supper. Long tables had been set up and the fireplace was lit to dispel the cool night air. With lanterns lit here and there it was almost like a scene from the past. All we were missing was our prairie dress and our loved ones that had gone south. We didn't inspect the rest of the lodge though some of the B's people were going to be sleeping there. Tomorrow would be soon enough. The meal was a simple stew but the biscuits were hot and slathered with jelly and we had plenty of the nourishing food. We didn't stay long to enjoy the atmosphere though. We were tired and there were still chores to be done before we retired for the night. Some of us stayed to help Chef with the clean up and with setting huge bowls of sponge for bread for tomorrow, while others went to tend animals and settle them in for the night. Then one by one we headed for our beds.

I'm not even sure myself WHERE we are at MT3B. It's been a bit of a roller coaster ride for me the last couple of days. I'm working at a sort of disadvantage with Mt_R not feeling real well yet (she could use some prayers by the way) I'll TRY to get those of us who crossed the river to the lodge as soon as I can and maybe even through the night (short sleep? Groan!) today yet. That should put us on the schedule of those who went south. Quiltys, That is a wonderful idea. We can do that with the others too, CGA if she joins us and Mr.Mt._R, and others who have a specialty as well. We can send the message by 'pony express' that way....(or our equivelant of it anyway)

Hopefully you will be able to click on the picture to enlarge it. If not let me know. Enjoy