BIRD TREK

July 3,4, and 5th will be the Bird Trek. We are not going to call it a reunion because there may be some who won't want to participate or won't be able to because of the distance to travel. It will be for those who want to go for the experience. My great great grandparents John Evington and Sarah Susanna Wintle Bitton along with John's sister Jane made this trek with the Martin Handcart company. John and Sarah had only been married a few days when they left England with very little money. Their first son John Wintle Bitton was born after they arrived in Utah. He is my great grandfather.

Thursday, July 3 will be a day to pull the handcarts to the camp site. It is 3 miles. You can drive your car to the site and unload if you want to camp and don't want to or are unable to walk. Laurel has reserved a rickshaw which some of the young man can pull with a person inside. If you want to come for dinner and the fireside on either or both Thurs and Fri night that is also possible. I think the trek on Fri with the handcarts is 6 miles.

We will pack up Sat morning and leave. Salt Lake is about 5 hours away so if you want to fly in there and drive to participate for on or two days that's a possibility. There are motels in Rawlings if you don't want to camp. It is about an hour away or there are some cabins closer but I can't remember the name of the place where they are.

If you want to make a bonnet or a skirt and a scarf for the men so your family can match Laurel has patterns.

Laurel will get more information out after Christmas. She and Jess went there a few weeks ago to check it all out.

2007 would have been our reunion year but since we had two weddings, two missionaries go out and two new babies I think it would have been hard to have worked in a reunion. If you can't make the trek there may be other events where we will be getting together. We know there are two new babies due next year. If part of your family can come and others can't it will be up to you what you do. Like I said, we aren't calling it a reunion because of the distance and those who don't want to participate or are unable to. Alan, Ryan, Blair, Jordelle and Shelby have experienced treks. We had one in our stake in the mountains several years ago. Paula's family and I went on that. i rode in a wagon. It was a really fun time. I think Lindsay also went on one in her stake as a leader.

The weather could be hot, cold or windy.

When Laurel has time she will send out more infomation. I just wanted to put out the dates and a little of what I know about it.