May 19, 1847 ~ Wednesday

19^th we crossed the worse sand Hill Bluff of about one
mile that we have crossed on the journey & what made it still
worse the rain was pouring down upon us continually we travled
about 1/2 mile on the flat & camped untill the rain was over for
the time being we started again at 3 oclok but it soon began to rain
again hard we travled untill 5 oclok & camped for the night on the bank
of the river we travled 8 miles by the wheelometer 8 miles

I rode forward during the day in the rain & picked out the road
we had the most water fall during the day and evening that we
have met with on the whole Journey

May 20, 1847 ~ Thursday

20^th we came 7 miles & camped for our nooning on the North
side of the Platt opposite Ash Creek that comes through the
Bluffs to the Platt on the south side of the river whare the
oOrigon road first strikes the north fork of the Platt several
of the brethren went over in a boat that we were taking with
us & exhamined the rock Bluffs, road, creek, &c & returned
with some Ash, rock, wild curands & cherry &c we came
on 8 3/4 miles & camped for the night we crossed a large
creek about 12 rods across it which we supposed it to be
A creek that Glos Cload called the Rawhiyde we had a
vary good road most of the day on the bank of the
River, we have passed A good deal of rock Bluff on both
sides of the river, & some on the south side of the river
was formed into natural terrices, rotundas, squairs &c 50
or 100 feet high looked liked good foundations to build
foorts & fortications & strong holds upon they resemble
the work of Art & look some like the old castles
of England & Scotland they were level on the top. A short
distance above Ash Creek there is A beautiful ceder Island
in the river which is a good Beacon to show travelers wha
res the oregon road strikes the river. we have had
a cool, windy, cloudy day whole distance 15 3/4 m

Brother Egbert drove Br Pratts carriage tongue into
the hind end of my carriage & broke in the end bord
& the water came in when it rained so that it wet my
again things & to day Br Fowler run his waggon into
it again to day but when I spoke to him about it He denyed
it which caused some words between us. we had some
little rain to day. The Bluffs on the opposite side that I have
described above are named Castle Bluffs & the stream that was called
raw hide is called Castle Creek

May 21, 1847 ~ Friday

21^st Before we left the encampment Br Clayton put up a guide board
with the following inscription for the benefit of the next camp
from winter Quarters 409 miles from the Junkction 93 1/4 ceder
Bluff 36 1/2 Ash Hollow 8 miles, & 133 from Fort Laramee
we travled to day 7 1/2 miles & nooned in the Afternoon 8 m[iles]
& camped for the night. we saw 8 or 10 Buffalo today but
have not seen but few for several days we saw some deer &
Antilope to day I killed A Bagger with the jaw bone of a
Buffalo. Just as we got to A camping place two Indians came
from the Bluffs riding towards us & made signs for us to come
to them several of the brethren went, it was A sioux Indian & his
wife they talked by signs awhile & went away distance of the day 15 1/2 miles

May 19, 1847 ~ Wednesday

19th we crossed the worse sand hill bluff of about one mile that we have crossed on the journey & what made it still worse the rain was pouring down upon us continually we travled about 1/2 mile on the flat & camped untill the rain was over for the time being we started again at 3 oclok but it soon began to rain again hard we travled untill 5 oclok & camped for the night on the bank of the river we travled 8 miles by the wheelometer 8 miles

I rode forward during the day in the rain & picked out the road we had the most water fall during the day and evening that we have met with on the whole journey

May 20, 1847 ~ Thursday

20th we came 7 miles & camped for our nooning on the North side of the Platt opposite Ash Creek that comes through the bluffs to the Platt on the south side of the river whare the Origon road first strikes the north fork of the Platt several of the brethren went over in a boat that we were taking with us & examined the rock bluffs, road, creek, &c & returned with some ash. rock, wild curands & cherry &c we came on 8 3/4 miles & camped for the night we crossed a large creek about 12 rods across it which we supposed it to be a creek that Glos Cload called the Rawhiyde we had a vary good road most of the day on the bank of the River, we have passed a good deal of rock bluff on both sides of the river, & some on the south side of the river was formed into natural terrices, rotundas, squairs &c 50 or 100 feet high looked like good foundations to build forts & fortications & strong holds upon they resemble the work of art & look some like the old castles of England & Scotland they were level on the top. A short distance above Ash Creek there is a beautiful ceder Island in the river which is a good beacon to show travelers wha res the oregon road strikes the river. we have had a cool, windy, cloudy day whole distance 15 3/4 m

Brother Egbert drove Br Pratts carriage tongue into the hind end of my carriage & broke in the end bord & the water came in when it rained so that it wet my things & to day Br Fowler run his waggon into it again to day but when I spoke to him about it he denyed it which caused some words between us. we had some little rain to day. The bluffs on the opposite side that I have described above are named Castle Bluffs & the stream that was called rawhide is called Castle Creek

May 21, 1847 ~ Friday

21st Before we left the encampment Br Clayton put up a guide board with the following inscription for the benefit of the next camp from winter Quarters 409 miles from the Junction 93 1/4 ceder bluff 36 1/2 Ash Hollow 8 miles, & 133 from Fort Laramee we travled to day 7 1/2 miles & nooned in the afternoon 8 m & camped for the night. we saw 8 or 10 buffalo today but have not seen but few for several days we saw some deer & antilope to day I killed a bagger with the jaw bone of a buffalo. Just as we got to a camping place two Indians came from the bluffs riding towards us & made signs for us to come to them several of the brethren went, it was a Sioux Indian & his wife they talked by signs awhile & went away distance of the day 15 1/2 miles