Travelling these last few days had us thinking about the “Westward Ho” pioneers and the desolate conditions they drove their wagons and families West. Without even concerning the water issue – though there were more opportunities/options back then before civilization came this way – women walking behind or alongside the wagons must have suffered sun stroke. Can you imagine – they had on long sleeve floor length dresses over petticoats (also long) and snug full body underwear. If that wasn’t enough then they had on thick hose/stockings inside highheel/hightop shoes.
The wind, sun and/or rain was beating down on them day after day and the landscape didn’t seem to change much from scrub high dessert to rocking high dessert. The bravery or desperation of these families drove them to new lives out here in the South West. Then there were the outraged original residents of this country (Indians) that were less than pleased to see another wagon train headed towards them.
For us being exhausted, dirty, with grit in our eyes seems simple in comparison. We pulled into a campground hooked up to clean cool water and electricity turned on the air conditioner, took showers, and crashed for a couple of hours before hitting the local cuisine options for dinner. Well there was one problem, the winds are driving grit into Ruthi’s contacted eyes making it very difficult for her to see. We ended up buying another pair of sunglasses with a wrap-around feature that seem to help.
