Most of the group met at the Stake Center to load up the busses on Monday evening. Rick and I had already left in the morning in our own vehicle in order to drop our kids off with Rick's sister, Gerilyn, in Ogden. We visited with family members there for a few hours and then met up with the busses in SLC about midnight. We drove a few of the leaders to Wyoming in our 15 passenger van and arrived at Martin's Cove around 6:45 a.m. beating the busses by about 45 minutes. This is the first time I have left Jenna, my nine month old, for more than a few hours. I was worried because I am nursing her and she has never taken a bottle very well. I had to bring my pump and sneak in times to use it during the trek.
After the rest of the group arrived, everyone ate breakfast (although everyone's dishes were packed and so we were trying to drink our yogurt.) We listened to some talks at the Visitor's Center and watched an excellent video which I found very touching -- I couldn't help shedding tears throughout it. Unfortunately many of the kids were so tired (from being up half the night on the bus) that they slept through it. I saw Thomas Steed's name (Rick's 3rd Great Grandfather) on the plaque in the Visitor's Center. We picked up the handcarts and prepared to leave for our first trek to Martin's Cove.
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