Page 19 - Keays Diary with forward 1866 and Cover

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Friday noon May 18 – We are camped at what are called Fremont

Springs had to come some distance to stop for water, as the road runs

off the river here.

We are in the most alkali country there is I guess, it is very

white all around, but the water does not seem to affect us or the horses

though we mostly use river water; last night we were not on the river

but on a small stream, but it was not as good as the river water.

There is a Doctor in the Train but I have not heard of any sick

people.

We passed an ox train this morning, and there was a little

girl driving a team, she looked to be about 6 years old and as we passed

she flourished her whip and said "Hero Jim' as big as any one.

The river makes quite a bend here, and the bluffs are low on

this side.

Saturday morning 19 – Yesterday afternoon we crossed O’Pallens
Bluffs; here the bluffs come quite near the river so the road goes over them, for

a mile or so, on the other side and then crosses back again.

It makes it very hard on the horses, as the wind blew very strongly and

almost in front, the wind has got to be a daily and nightly occurrence.

We find it very disagreeable, yesterday it was very warm, the warmest we

have had and today is cold enough for great coats and shawls; the wind

blows from all quarters, one day it blows one way, and the next back again.

This forenoon we were hindered by a Government wood train which

we could not pass, and yet they did not go as fast as we would like.

I for one am getting impatient to reach Julesburg, where I shall

feel like I am on the home stretch.

Monday May 21 – We stayed over Sunday near Alkali Station, and