Diary Entry 1: Moving West

Diary Entry1: Moving West

Dear diary,

I have just left the warm bed I loved, my strong shelter that I have rested in for many years. It is now all far away. Right now I am about to leave Fort Independence and start the longest journey of my life. I am on a wagon train heading to Oregon.

Finding a wagon train to join wasn't too hard. Somebody asked us and we accepted. The journey hadn't been too hard so far. I knew it would soon change. I looked back at my life in Ohio while it wasn't too far away.

My name is Matt and I am fifteen years old. My dad, Nate Page is the best blacksmith in Ohio. When we get to Oregon, my dad is going to be a blacksmith, and he is training me to be one too. He has two oxen, two mules, and one horse. Besides them, I am his only family. We had decided that we should go to the open spaces of Oregon. There it would be easy farming and that means easy eating. Our house back in Ohio had one kitchen, two bedrooms, and a front porch. My dad and I feel nervous about moving west. We are worried about the long trip. It was hard to leave our home and pack up all our stuff. We had to leave many things behind.

Already on our trip we have been delayed by a broken wheel. It was a minor problem and we will face many more. The trip to Oregon trip will bring us many surprises.