May 26, 1854 - Juan Hernandez

Oh, I am so worried about these wagon thieves. They steal your wagons right under your nose. I am also worried about rabid animal eating up my food supply and possibly killing me on the spot, as well as the arduous path I will need to take to get to the West. The most important thing that I am worried about is radicals. Oh how I hate radicals. They come up with the most absurd ideas that I have ever heard of like being paid a set amount for manufacturing something. But on the bright side, I am looking forward to those beautiful frontiers and amazing farm lands where there will be miles and miles of fresh green grass. I could feed a whole family of oxen in one of those pastures, and have my wheat fields stretch out all across the lands
 How will I cross that treacherous river? I guess I will have to cross that bridge when I come to it. This whole journey excites me. It was so tough deciding which items to bring. Should I pick textiles or an extra pair of boots? A lantern or three candles? During the process of choosing, I felt a need to bring everything because the items are so sentimental to me. I had to leave behind lots of materials that could eventually help me, but I chose the ones that could help me on the upcoming trail expedition. I had many regrets leaving Fort Independence.
 A main regret was all my close friends back in Texas and I wondered if I could last this whole trip. I regret leaving behind the animals at the farm to die unless someone finds them and takes them in. I also regret not bringing another stove because the one I packed broke and now I have to eat raw food. It tastes disgusting! Luckily I have no family to worry about so I do not have to be held back by someone else, and can walk the trail by myself.
 When I left Fort Independence, the first thing I did was check to see if all my valuables were still in the wagon I bought for very cheap. As I finished my supply check, I stepped in mud and my feet got soggy. Well, that ruined my whole day! I slept on one of my blankets the first night and used the other two as a cover. I woke up to a howling dog that was riding in a wagon about 50 feet away from me. Who would bring a dog on an expedition? The next month all went by very slowly, mainly because I was doing the same thing everyday: wake up, eat some cooked meat or dried fruit, walk for the rest of the day unless I needed a break. If I needed a break, it would last ten minutes. Then go to sleep. During the last few days is where the real action came. As I was walking, another man came up to me and asked if I wanted to be in his wagon train. I said yes, but then yet another man asked if I wanted to be in his wagon train. I politely declined the second man's offer and said that I was already in a wagon train. The man didn't like this fact and decided to act on it, but he took this too far. He kicked the other man in the gut, and threw dirt in his face. Another man broke up the fight and made the trouble maker leave his own wagon train. Now, no one wants him in their wagon train.
I just walked over to where the injured man hobbled and introduced myself. I got to meet everybody in the wagon train. There names are: Ruby Bryant, Nate Page, Esther Cotton and Kathleen Sanders. Both Ruby Bryant's and Kathleen Sanders' husbands were scouting out other possible members for our Wagon Train.