[Listopia] The Oregon Trail: a new American journey - Rinker Buck - 4 stars

[Linda C]

Intrigued by the history of the Oregon Trail and nostalgic about a wagon trip he took as a child with his father and a brother, Rinker Buck decides to make the trip in a mule pulled covered wagon. He leaves from St Joe, Missouri with his brother, Nick, Nick's dog, Olive Oyl, 3 mules and a double wagon. The book covers his preparation, his research and lots of information on wagons and mules before starting. Interspersed through their travels are stories about people who made the trip or lived along the route, lots of history, stories about the people they meet along the way and all the things that the trip entails. They find that their trip has many similarities to the original over-landers, including breakdowns, water shortages, and physical obstacles. An interesting read but not a journey I would want to take.