Back roads

"Sixth day morning 18th [Friday, October 18,
1867] Thankful for another clear, still, warm morning. Henry & Alson greasing the wagons. Jane frying meat & cabbage for breakfast. Cynthia & Eddie just got up. My shoulder and back lame this morning. Jane has just ironed me with a hot iron. Ready to load up & start again. 11 o'clock, stopped to water. Henry & Eddie gone to a house to see if we can get some apples. Came back without any. None to spare. Got a wooden bucket full at the next orchard for a dime. Noon. Stopped to feed & eat dinner in a large prairie beside a rickety fence just before a house. got some water to drink but none for the poor horses.
Nearly as warm today as midsummer, makes the horses sweat. Nice breeze from the south helps much. Left 2 tracts, 'Family Secrets' and the 'Dream of Heaven'. Came through a large body of nice young tall timber today. Been traveling through Hancock County, Ill. nearly due E. Are now in McDonough. A great deal of fruit through here, apples clear of worms. Camping in a little grove by a branch 7 miles west of Prairie City. I have had a lame shoulder & back all day. Got corn at 50 cts a bushel & 25 cts worth of hay."

I can't imagine that the fields were green like this in October when Ann & Henry traveled. We see mile after mile of corn and soybeans separated by small stands of trees. These back roads are really lovely.

Interesting that Ann seeks relief for her shoulder & back ache with a hot iron!