Omaha and Council Bluffs

We had a long drive yesterday from Denver to Omaha, but arrived by 5:30 p.m. yesterday and set up camp at NP Dodge Campground, right on the Missouri river.

It was a couple of miles to Winter Quarters, the church historic site where the saints set up camp after four months slogging across Iowa in the spring of 1846. They decided to wait till 1847 to cross the plains, and planted crops and spread out in Iowa, across the border.

We enjoyed the visitor's center and cemetery, which are situated right next to the LDS temple.

We enjoyed the tour of the visitor's center led by Sister Spencer and Sister Hafen. The first sister was from Alpine and knew many of our friends, and the second one had an Uncle in our ward!

This morning we went to the Kanesville Tabernacle in Council Bluff. It was where the first solemn assembly in the church was held and where Brigham Young was sustained as Prophet in December 1847.

We loved the video at the visitor's center, which told a lot about my relative, Henderson Cox, who lost his life at Tragedy Springs as the Mormon Battalion was starting off from San Francisco to go to Salt Lake.

Then we slogged across Iowa. It rained most of the way. It also rained when we set up our tent trailer.

We have a lovely spot close to Amanda and right on the Iowa River at Coralville Dam.

Unfortunately, the vent in our tent trailer ceiling is not sealed well and sprang a leak! Nothing is easy when you're crossing the plains!