Anywhere you see a symbol next to a subject, click on it to see more links about that subject.

I camped beside Lake McConaughy near Ogallala, Nebraska , my first night out. The symbolism of being camped next to where the Oregon Trail passed by when it was heavily used in the 1840's and 1850's was very meaningful to me. Just as those pioneers were on a journey of discovery, so am I! But my life today is so much easier than what the pioneers had to contend with as they passed by here, following the North Platte River during this section of their long journey to the west coast. See if you can find information on those pioneers and make a list of their daily chores and compare them to my jobs that I have to do as I travel along. Compare the speed with which we travel now, compared to then. See if you can find out what foods the pioneers ate daily and how they dressed. Did they have air conditioning on hot days, as I enjoyed that day at the lake? What were the dangers for them? Pretend you are a child on one of the wagons moving along the trail and write a letter to your friend back home describing your daily life.