So many Hand Carts

The week we were the Handcart Wranglers was a busy week. We went to RCH to pick up hand carts that had been used by trekkers during the week about 3 times. This particular day we had to go to Sage Camp ground to drop some hand carts off. We were pulling two trailers with a total of 22 hand carts. Hand no idea we had a flat tire until we were turning into Sage campground. The dust from the road kept it too dusty to notice a problem. Notice how shredded the rubber is. We got this tire changed with the help of a guy who had his young family with him from Idaho for a day trip to see the sights. We were on a one lane dirt road. He stopped to help. We were back on the road and almost got to the black top, about another 8 miles down the dirt road, just to bet another flat tire. What a day!!!!!

I went jogging this morning and thought this would be a great picture. We have about 140 handcarts at our site for trekkers who come to our site and go on trek. The picture below has a cool picture of the new Visitor Center between the cart wheels.

Robin & Jeff come for a visit, Yahoo!!!

Robin and Jeff came for a quick trip. Arriving on a Friday at 11:00 pm and left Saturday at 7:00 pm. Not a long stay, but we had so much fun. A missionary couple left the day before for home and the trailer they were living in won't be gone for another month, so they slept there. We took them to Rock Creek Hollow and to the Wind River Mountains.

We saw a fire chopper sucking water out of the resivoir and heading to a fire.

We have been over the dirt road to RCH many times. You can't go too fast because the road is lined with sharp rocks. But today Doug went a little too fast and look what happened.

How many men does it take to change a flat tire???? This guy stopped to see if we needed help. They couldn't figure out how to get the spare tire down from under the bed of the truck. If all else fails, read the info book.

Took them to Gannet Grill in Lander. It was pretty yummy. Thanks for coming to see us you two. We so appreciate it. Love you so much.

Girls day out!

All the sister missionaries from both the Martin's Cove and the 6th Crossing Sites went on a shopping spree to Casper Wyoming. Christopher Banks store in the East Ridge Mall had a special just for missionaries. An hour before regular hours, they took 25% off of sale items for the missionaries. It was a great fun day. After shopping we all met at Olive Garden for lunch. All 65 of us. I rode with Sister Hege, she had invited Sim, a new convert who brought her little boy Simon. Sim and her husband Jimmy own the Muddy Gap gas station, that is between 6th Crossing and Martin's Cove. They are from India. The attend church with us every sunday at the Cove. Simon is 3 1/2 and a very smart boy. He is always the life of the party around all the grandmas in the crowd. We became good friends. He thought my sunglasses were great fun.

Fun surprise! Friends from Home

We had a fun surprise while at church at Martin's Cove over Labor Day weekend. Brad and Tode Hafen came up and said hi and gave us a hug. Tode and her first husband were my Sunday School teachers when I was a laurel in young womens. I will never forget her kindness and friendship then. She helped me to make my Junior prom dress when I was in high school.

We made arrangements to meet up with them the next day and take them around the sites by 6th crossing. We met them at Rock Creek Hollow and then went to Rocky Ridge with them. Brad and Tode were on a mission to Africa when we were on our Mission in New York. She kept an awesome blog of all their amazing experiences in Africa. Thanks for the fun memory, so glad you were there to pull us out of the mud bog. luv ya

Always an ADVENTURE!

Our Fearless leader, all bandaged up!!

Elder Bagley a week after his accident when he fell off the new 3 story visitor center we have been building all summer long. This is the first and only major accident while working this summer.

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Sister and Elder Hege, assistant director couple are being presented with a quilt the sisters made in the humanitarian center this summer. Thanking them for all their love, kindness, service and hard work this past summer.

Elder and Sister Bagley, the directors are also being presented with a quilt made by sister Vinton in behalf of all the sisters in the humanitarian center. We love you all and are so blessed to have had the opportunity to know you, serve with you, be lead by you, enjoy and admire your example and hard work. We will "Always REMEMBER you!!!"

Accidents happen!!!

August 30th we had a couple of accidents at the new visitor center site up on the hill. Doug was working on the decking with Elder Peterson. Elder Peterson was below on the ground cutting the wood and then getting it up to Doug on the deck to nail in place. Doug was sitting on a support beam bent over backwards cleaning out the area next to the logs where the deck supports were being nailed in place. Elder Peterson didn't see him, thought he had gone in the building for something. Just as Elder Peterson was chucking the cut 2X4 up on the deck, Doug turned around where he could be seen and got it right in the face. Knocked him out for a bit. Elder Peterson had to fun around to the front of the building to get up to the second floor where Doug was at. He helped him to the truck to go down the hill to the trailer and get a bandage and stop the bleeding. Doug was a little dingy for a while. Just as they were headed back up to the building site, another missionary was headed down to the village to find Doug, the site paramedic, to help with Elder Bagley, the director, who had just slide about 25 feet off the roof of the building. Doug was able to help with Elder Bagley as he ended up going to Lander in an ambulance with a broken and dislocated shoulder, broken ankle and scruffed up face. Angels were definitely among us, as usual, blessing the construction and those who serve there. It was another one of the "miracles on the sweetwater river". Elder Bagley could have been killed, or even had head, spinal or internal injuries. Doug could have lost an eye, or had a subural hematoma. He did experience a concussion, which has had some lingering effects. Both are on the mend. Poor Elder Peterson felt so awful for not seeing Doug. Accidents happen Elder Peterson, no worries!!!

Two weeks later, he still had a nice shiner for Braxtin's wedding pictures.

A quick dip in the HOT SPRINGS

We went to Thermopolis after a day of work to let the guys relax in the "Bath House". Sherrie and I stayed in the lobby visiting with the lady behind the counter. Brought some crocheting to keep us busy for the 30 minutes the guys enjoyed in the bath house. It is free to the public. When the government bought these hot springs from the indians at the turn of the century, part of the agreement was that some of the water would be free to the public. At the "bath house" there is an indoor and out door pool.

A few of the natural beauties of Wyoming

P-Day, a visit to "Sinks Canyon"

I should have put the lower picture first before this top picture. The lower picture shows you where the river sinks into the ground in this cave area. A quarter of a mile down the road it re-surfaces. There are huge fish in the little pond where it re-surfaces. We hiked up to the Aggie Popo Falls, followed the river up the mountain to these beautiful falls. What was supposed to be a mile and a half hike ended up being a round trip of about 7 miles. A beautiful several hour adventure.

These two pictures were taken in the cave area where the water disappears in the earth. "Sinks" right into the ground.

Finally when we reached the falls we found it worth the trek. Above are the lower falls and the picture below is at the upper falls. there is a natural rock slide where kids were sliding on their bums into the pond below.

Thermopolis Hot Mineral Springs getaway

We enjoyed a weekend away about 70 miles north of us at Thermopolis Hot Mineral Springs. The Jacuzzi at the motel we stayed at has the hot mineral water piped in. It was a nice time together at this little get away.

Trekking on the Nation Historic Trail (NHT)

The water Buffalo is a water tank the trek groups can get from us to haul extra water in. The tank shifted in the truck and they couldn't access the valve to fill up their 5 gallon jugs that ride in their carts. They had to play tug of war to pull the Buffalo to the edge of the tail gate.

Here the priesthood brethren are walking up the hill, they have been called out from among the sisters in preparation for the women's pull. It always tugs at my heart to watch the priesthood walk away. What would we do with out the priesthood in our lives? The sisters stay at the bottom and I have the opportunity to visit with them about honoring, cherishing, supporting the priesthood in our lives and helping them know they can do "HARD THINGS" as they prepare to pull the hand carts up the hill. Food for thought: "What's in your hand cart you are pulling and is it worth it's weight?"

While on the NHT we are not suppose to get off the trail for any reason. An agreement made with the BLM. So when we arrive at any bog on the trail, we tredge right on thru it. Many a shoe is lost and swallowed up in the bog.

We loved the opportunity to share pioneer stories with the trekkers while trekking with them. These pioneers have become our friends. We love them and are so blessed by their sacrifice, faith, obedience and charity.