Wednesday, April 7, 1847

"Yesterday was General Conference.  Since "leaving" on Monday we have been camped 7 miles from Winter Quarter waiting for the other family to gather.  Yesterday, we left our camp and went back to Winter Quarters for General Conference where Brother Young preached a wonderful sermon and was formally sustained as the President of the Church.  We are told that it might be a week or two before everyone is gathered and we actually begin traveling.  Spent part of the day fishing and had a good catch.  In good spirits."

The official starting place for the Mormon Trail is generally listed as Council Bluffs, Iowa but also sometimes Winter Quarters (Florence), Nebraska where the Mormon Pioneer Trail Museum.  This is the site of my first restaurant review and menu (Florence, not the museum).  Trying to write a food blog / history blog / travel blog can be very difficult when you don't have the opportunity (ie funds) to travel the route yourself.  So I do what all great writers in history have done in similar circumstances, I rely on other's knowledge.



Today I found a restaurant that is close to the trail in Florence called Big Moma's.  One of my favorite shows on the Food Network is Diner's Drive-In and Dives and this restaurant was featured on one of the episodes.

Big Mama's features traditional southern cooking, which I happen to love (probably because I served my mission in the south.)  Anyway, feel free to check out the episode on youtube at http://www.flavortownusa.com/big-mamas.aspx#.T4CMBftumSo.  Tomorrow, an authentic pioneer recipe. Until we meet again.

Friday, April 2 - 3 Days until we begin to gather for the trek west.

We've got most of the supplies for our trek.  Gathering tonight with other members of our party to go over final preparations.  Once we leave Winter Quarters, there won't be much chance to get additional supplies until we reach Fort Laramie, and then they will be horribly expensive.  The following list was taken form "The Immigrants Guide to the West" and is for a family of four.  We have a sight more people then that, so will be taking two wagons and double the supplies listed below.

Food - 600 lb Flour, 120 # Hard Tack, 400 # Bacon, 60 # Coffee, 4 # Tea, 100 # Sugar, 200 # Lard, Rice & Beans, Dried Fruit, Baking Soda, Corn Meal, Dried Beef, Molasses, Vinegar, Salt, Pepper and Eggs.  We also are luck to have a few chickens to take with us and a milk cow.

Cooking Equipment and Tools - Dutch Oven, Skillet, Kettle, Reflector Oven, Coffee Grinder, Tea Pot, Butcher Knife, Ladle, Table Ware, Water Keg, Matches, Hunting Knife, Rifle, Pistol, Shot and Powder.  Also, Augers, Gimlet, Axe, Hammer, How & Plow, Shovel, Spade, Oxbows, Spare Axles, Kingbows, Ox Shoes, Spokes, Extra Wagon Tongue, Heavy Ropes and Chains and a Block and Tackle Set.  In addition, Clothing, First Aid, Lighting, Sewing Repair, Cleaning & Washing Supplies, Bedding and a Spyglass.

What else am I forgetting?  I'll double check everything in the morning.

Picture is Courtney of the Oregon Trail Museum and is entitled, "Mormon Emigrant Family".  If this was my family there would be more boys and less girls, and possibly (I can't tell) one less wife.

See you on the trail in 3 days.

Five more days to the gathering of the wagons (April 5th).  I'm excited to begin this journey.  It's been a busy time gathering the needed supplies for the four month trek across the grassy plains, up over  the Rocky Mountains and into the Great Salt Lake Valley.  If you're going on this virtual journey with me, you'll need to get a good, stout wagon, some mules or oxen (recommended) and the needed supplies.  I'll post a list tomorrow of what you'll need to (virtually) pack.  Good luck until then.

Picture is from the Mormon Trail Center at Winter Quarters (Omaha NE.)  Which is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.