Final Days of Driving...and Home!

Saturday, September 25th, was one of our longest days of driving: Rapid City across boring Wyoming and back to Logan. Kyle also really wanted to stop and see Devils Tower. That added a couple of hours to our day, but we figured that being this close, how could we not stop? And it was cool to see. It was also National Parks Day, so we got in for free. Bonus!

We also saw lots of these:

Then we continued our journey across Wyoming. On this random, two lane highway in the middle of nowhere, we suddenly passed this sign: Kyle and I looked at each other and said, "What was that? We have to turn around." So, we did and lo, and behold, it was Martin's Cove. The site that the rescue team from Salt Lake found and rescued the Martin Handcart Company as they came across the plains and were caught in an early snow storm, miserable conditions, and no food. They rescued them near the site of the museum today and took them about three miles north into a little cove (now called Martin's Cove) to get out of some of the wind and harsher elements, although the temperatures were still about 11 below zero!

Today this is an amazing historical site. The spirit was so strong and the stories the senior missionary couples serving there shared with us were remarkable. They have little ATV/golf carts that take you up into the cove. You cross the Sweetwater River, where the four young men carried most of the survivors across because they were too cold or weak to make it across themselves. This is truly sacred ground. Being able to stop here for just a couple of hours became one of the highlights of our trip.

Clockwise, starting upper left: on the ATV out to the cove, the monuments commemorating the men who carried the people across the Sweetwater all day, the Sweetwater River, looking up into the cove on the south side where the pioneers would have rested for a few days before continuing on to the Salt Lake Valley.

Back at the museum/historical site, they have handcarts for you to try pulling. We all took a turn. The kids loved the mini ones:). There were actually hundreds of these in a field near the museum: 50,000 youth come every summer come to reenact the trek along the same trail as the handcart companies. What an incredible opportunity!

Even though stopping at Martin's Cove delayed us another couple of hours, it was well worth it. Kyle & I had talked about taking a different route home but afterward were so glad we had somehow decided to take that highway. It was a wonderful experience.

We continued the journey on to Christine's house, arriving about 11:30 p.m. and falling in to bed exhausted. Sunday we enjoyed another wonderful Sabbath with Christine and her family and my mom and Grandma Ruby. We had a yummy dinner at my grandma's house and rested...out of the car!

Our final leg was the well known path from Logan to Salem. The kids did well but were oh, so glad when we pulled into our garage Monday night. A fabulous family trip, exhausting and full of good times and wonderful memories. I loved how it had such wonderful elements of U.S. history, church history and valuable time with so much family. I feel so blessed.