We awoke this morning to beautiful blue skies, which cheered our souls. We left later than we wanted because there was a frost warning for early morning. We had canyons to ride through, and felt we should avoid the danger of frost. We rode through Provo, where we first met, and stopped to take a picture of the old Academy building. Shirlene had many classes in this building before it was condemned and then restored. It is now a library.

Mt. Timpanogas was beautiful with the newly fallen snow -- did we mention it was really cold today? We travelled through Heber City and joined the Pony Express Trail near Park City, as we turned East.

Our first major stop was at Fort Bridger. This was one of the main hubs of westward expansion used by mountain men and Indians, emigrants and Mormon pioneers, the U. S. Army, the Pony Express, the Overland Stage and the Union Pacific Railroad. If it happened in the opening of the American West, it affected, or was affected by, Fort Bridger. Every year there is a mountain man rendezvous, commemorating the gatherings of such famous mountain men as Jim Bridger, Jeremiah Johnston, and Ron Bush.

It was an amazing ride today, as we followed many historical trails, crossed over the continental divide, and stood where history was made. We saw where ferries were built to help travellers cross rivers. We stood at Big Sandy Camp, where Jim Bridger advised Brigham Young not to try and settle the Salt Lake Valley. We rode past South Pass, through where hundreds of thousands of immigrants journeyed.

We saw many famous landmarks: Pilot Butte, Martin's Cove, Split Rock, and Hell's Gate. The story of Martin's Cove is a heartbreaking story of the ill fated Martin Handcart Company. It is truly a sacred spot.

We stopped at Fort Seminoe and continued east to Lake Alcova where we surprised Dick and Rose Kidder who were at a restaurant celebrating their wedding anniversay. The Kidder's are from Trinidad and are serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints at Martin's Cove. It was wonderful to see them!

Our final stop before bedding down for the night was Fort Caspar. As we searched for shelter for the night we realized again how important and welcome these forts were for the early settlers and travellers.