May 20th, Day 34:  We were all up at 5.00 am so we can head off early for the Rocky Mts. I think all of us are really tired because at the Fort we all just done we wanted, but now we are back to a schedule and we definitely have to stick to it if we want to get to Oregon City. I can see the Rockies from the wagon - they look really hard to cross. 

Father has got his map out and he is planning the route we are going to take. I don't know how we are going to manage it, but we'll try our hardest. Back in Independence everyone was talking about the famous Rocky Mountains saying "They'll be to hard to cross. I know no one who has crossed them", but I think they only said that because they are jealous of us leaving Independence and going to dig for gold. Another story I have heard is that there is a bear who lives in the Rocky Mountains and his name is Fuzzy and he is the most fiercest bear in the world and he comes out at night to get you. Once again just another Folk tale.

We passed this abandoned wagon today

May 29th, Day 43:  The weather has been miserable today, it was bucketing down earlier and I think it can't get any worse.  Hailstones came battering down at full force.  Gale force winds started to rise up and, before we knew it, our wagon with us in it nearly blew over into the nearby river. The hailstones were sore when they hit against your skin. This has been the worst day so far.  I was soaked right through to my skin and I was very cold. Later on in the afternoon this thunderstorm got even worse.  Lightning came flashing down and scared the heck out of us. It was so bad we stopped the wagon in a forest and we all sheltered under a tall tree. We were sheltering there for one hour till the storm went off. We were back on the trail again, but something wasn't right.  The wagon was going slower.  It was because the ground was all slushy with all the watery mud. Not a good day today, I would say the worst so far.

June 9th, Day 54:  It is 5.00 pm and Rosie and I have just experienced the most dangerous thing that ever happened in our lives. We were attacked by a grizzly bear. It was horrible. What happened was we went to go and collect wood for the fire and we heard a growling sound from behind the tree and, all of a sudden,  "aarrrrgh"!  

This is what the bear looked like.
I think it is "Fuzzy".

A huge fury brown bear came jumping out from behind the tree.  I was terrified.  Rosie and I ran, but I tripped over a stick.  I got up quickly, but it was too late. The bear scratched me on the face, I fell to the ground, the bear leaned over to pick me up and I picked up a stick and poked him in the eye. It howled like mad. I got up quickly and ran as fast as I could and never looked back. I told everyone and they all felt scared. Father said he'll keep his gun close by him, but in the meantime let's travel on a bit just in case the bear comes back again. So we did travel for one hour and found the perfect stop near the river. Afterwards my face was all sore and red. I thought to myself is that bear Fuzzy.

July 4th, Day 80:  Today is a special day here in America, It is the 4th of July. This is a day where we celebrate for living in America. We sing, dance and basically have fun all day. We have stopped our wagons on a straight road. It is late afternoon and Danny has just played his banjo and the rest of us sang and danced to it. Earlier on we had a water fight down at a quiet river. It was so funny,  it was our family against Danny's. I filled up buckets of water and threw them over Rosie and Danny, they were soaked. I chased Jack into the river with a bucket full of water and he fell.  He was alright, but I had to get him back for what he did to my dress so I poured the water over him with joy. The night has come and we are all sitting around the fire eating salt pork, homemade bread and drinking lots of water. What a day I've had, I could do this everyday.

July 20th, Day 96:  Today has been terrible.  Jack was bitten by a snake. It was scary. What happened was we stopped for a few hours because the oxen needed a rest and so did we. Nobody knew that Jack had wandered off. All we heard was shouting and screaming from the field near by. Then I saw Jack running towards the wagon. He ran up to his mama and said "I've been bitten by a snake".  He was bitten in the leg and he fainted shortly after it. He looks really ill. Suzy and Danny are crying their eyes out, they said they were going to stop at the next Fort to get treatment. We are all upset and now the trail isn't fun anymore, I think Jack is dying. I'm not going to write anymore because I am away to see how Jack is feeling.  

Fort Hall

Juky 28th, Day 104:  We have arrived at Fort Hall. We were already going to stop at Fort Hall before Jack was bitten. Father still had money left from selling the oxen earlier on in the journey. Fort Hall is just like Fort Laramie, but it is a bit smaller. It is situated in a small village.  It is in a good location because everyone is tired after travelling through the Rockies so they just stop here for a rest. It has got fewer rooms than Fort Laramie, but it is just as nice. Jack and the rest of his family are definitely staying here, so Jack can get treatment for his bite. Danny asked a woman in the Saloon for a doctor, but she said the nearest one is at Fort Boise and he will be coming to Fort Hall in 2 weeks time. Father and Danny argued for a while and they fell out, because the doctor wasn't coming for 2 weeks and father didn't want to wait that long so he decided that him and the rest of his family carry on with the trail (which is a selfish decision), while Jack is dying. So my family are staying here for 3 days then leaving for Oregon City. I want to stay with Jack, but father won't let me. Father and Danny have fallen out and are not talking. This is has turned out to be a disaster.  I have lost my two best friends over a stupid argument. Father is being an idiot about the situation.

Least I got one thing good out of staying here, this picture I got at the Saloon :

August 10th, Day 117:  The trail is getting more boring as these days go on. When we stop for a break I have nobody to talk to and if anyone talks in my family it's not for long. Everyone is still upset with what happened at Fort Hall. I am always sad at night because there is nothing to do. Father has hardly spoken a word.  I think he is regretting falling out with Danny and deciding to carry on with the trail. Last night mama and I had a talk about father's attitude that day and mama was really angry at him. I am worried sick about Jack - he could be dead for all I know and I will never see him again. He was like another little brother to me. This "Oregon Trail" has turned out to be the worst journey in my life, nothing good has come of it this journey except arriving at Oregon city (if we ever do).

August 25th, Day 132:  Today we were attacked by Indians for the second time, but this time there were two Indians and they had knives with them. We were all so frightened, they just came out of no place. They sneaked up on us from behind and they jumped on the canvas cover.  I screamed and they then climbed down to try to steal one of the oxen, but father got his gun out straight away and tried to shoot them, but they knocked the gun out of fathers hand. John quickly picked it up and shot the Indians before they tried to stab father. The Indians collapsed to the ground.  I was amazed at John, but also proud of him. Father was grateful for what John did.  I don't think John could take in what happened himself. The Indians tried to steal our ox Bulky.  Another outrageous day!

Oregon City

September 14th, 1850, Day 152 :  FINALLY we have arrived in Oregon City - hooray! Lots of people are here already and it even smells nice here. Oregon City looks lovely and fresh, what a great life I'm going to have here. The houses are new and there is loads of free land. My family have found a healthy piece of land with a new house beside it and we knew straight away that this was the house for us. There are lots of different people here.  There are poor, rich, average, farmers and cowboys. Oregon City is a big place and there are lots of opportunities to make money. Father has seen a gold mine near our house so he'll get digging for gold as soon as possible.

This will be my final entry to my diary and the best one. This is like a dream come true.  We have just met Danny and his family and Jack was there so he is alright. They said that the doctor came 1 day after we left and Jack got treatment for his wound. Father apologised to Danny and everyone is very happy again.

I won't be writing any more in my diary.  I have been through enough adventurous times, exciting times, scared times and even sad times and I want to have a fresh start and leave all this behind me.

Everything turned out perfect, what a happy ending.