FROM: Petra Keller
PST
Where do I start! What an experience to get to see the start of the Re-Ride in St. Joseph and help document and live report along the way!
I flew out on Sunday to Kansas City and made my way to Arleta’s to stay in Marysville! Flying into Kansas City I saw how much water was overflowing the Missouri. How awful for all those affected by the floods.
We (Arleta, Alicia and I) leave early Monday morning to head to St. Joseph. The departure ceremonies do not start until 2:30 but we wanted to get there early and do a few things, including stopping at the Pony Express Stables. While there we met Cindy, the executive director. Who was kind enough to give us a tour while on Facebook live. If you haven’t seen it check it out! We explored the museum a bit and then went onwards to do some exploring around town before going to the Patee house.
At the Patee house, we find Dean who had the Pinger so that I would work with Brian from NPS to make sure it is all set. Well … it does not start smoothly – the pinger is not pinging. Ugh! Not the way to start the Re-Ride, trying to make sure I have a clear view of the sky I walk down the street and stand in clear view of the sky. A half hour later and it still does not pick up, Brian and I are scratching our heads trying to figure out what to try. I think to get a fresh set of batteries and start over, so I go to find Dean (the keeper of the batteries). A fresh set of batteries and back to my spot on the street. Time is ticking – now it is 2:20 PM and the show start soon, we still need to get the pinger in the Mochila. 2:24 … keep refreshing my phone screen to see if the pinger started to show on our website. 2:27 … and what do I see … a PING! Off to the Mochila with the Pinger and get it in the pouch. Just in time for the starting ceremony at 2:30 PM. I had originally hoped to do some interviews at the Patee House to post to our page. Unfortunately, that did not happen … but the Pinger started working! Phew! Shout out to Brian & Sarah at NPS for all their work for our follow the ride map! I did get to report live from the start – which I know our Pony Fans appreciated. There were a group of 5 riders that did the Missouri leg to Elwood, KS. While standing at Patee House – I chat with a couple of Pony Fans – Hans from Austria who now lives in Canada and Gary the photographer who is planning on traveling the entire route and taking photos. We run into each other at various locations and I hope to see them again in Nevada!
I knew it was a short distance to the handoff for Kansas just across the bridge. Arleta, Alicia and I wanted to be in Elwood to report the arrival and handoff to Kansas. We made it and I talked Roy Winkler (KS) into helping me report live as they crossed the bridge. The handoff to Kansas was successful. The Kansas team does their swearing in and ride captain Dave Sanner is the first one to leave. While in Elwood, I learn from Dave what section I will ride Melva’s horse, Rascal. Melva and Dave were kind enough to have me ride a section in Kansas. We caravan along with the support teams through Wathena and onwards to Troy, where I ride. The leg before mine, I meet up with the trailer that has Rascal, I mount up to check stirrup length and adjust them. All good – we load him back up as the rider is coming in and then follow to my leg. The terrain is dirt pack road, with lush green fields around. I start my section and Rascal moves out nicely! I guess about a 2-mile leg. He is a wonderful ride and I am reminded of riding through Germany in my youth with the similar green landscape. We hand off to the next ride team and load up Rascal and off the teams go! We follow for a bit and then veer off to find a place for dinner.
Tuesday morning – we head into Marysville to the Pony Express Museum and Barn. They have breakfast going for folks and we enjoy the wonderful location. We have a great breakfast and are waiting on the Rider arrival. I explore the Museum and we report live from inside the barn. We tour the building a bit and then head out to await the arrival of the mail. A good group of fans and riders gather at the Museum to witness the exchange. Some more reporting to Facebook and off we go to the next place to see. We make it to the Trail Junction and meet the riders for the next leg.
After the exchange, our next stop is Hollenberg Station. I met Kristina Crook there, who I had been communicating with about our Pony Letters for Veterans Program for the Reno Rodeo. She hands me the letters that they had collected for our veterans! That has been so wonderful to see how many locations, schools, states have been participating! We will be carrying those during the Reno Rodeo 100 years celebration on Patriot Night! Back to Hollenberg, I see Hans coming up to the station and we chat a bit about the Pony in German! Seems appropriate as the station has some German influence. Then the ‘Rider’ shouts and we turn to see the rider coming up the green hill up to the historic station.
Our next stop will take us to the Kansas/Nebraska line where the Kansas Division hands off to Nebraska. This happens at the Tri-County Marker. (Washington County in Kansas, Jefferson & Gage in Nebraska) and in the middle of nowhere along a dirt state road. We joke as we drive along the road that Alicia who is driving is in Kansas and Arleta and I are in Nebraska. We arrive and see the Gronewolds (Lyle is NE president) ready to great the inbound mail. Amongst the mix of horse trailers and red shirts, there are several other cars parked by the trails marker. I am curious to find out about our pony fans and go to talk to them. First is a guy from Fargo, ND – who had heard about the Pony Express while watching a documentary on roads and two guys from NV were talking about the Pony Express Re-Ride. “Fargo” researched it and found out about the Re-Ride. Not only did he decide to come check it out and witness it, but he also has a letter that is being carried in the Mochila going to San Francisco! How fun is that. Another group of folks are standing on the back of a pickup keeping lookout for the inbound rider. Come to find out, it is a family from all across North America (Canada, FL, NE, MI, GA) that were in town for a family reunion. They learned about the Re-Ride while visiting Rock Creek Station and decided to come check out the exchange. I visit with a few more folks from the Reunion group when I hear “Rider”! I look down the road and see the inbound rider, I get ready for my live feed and recruit Lyle to help me narrate what we will be seeing. A swift exchange and the Nebraska outbound rider dashes off, this by far has been the most exciting exchange I have seen on this re-ride.
Our next stop is Rock Creek Station, this is the place I turned around when I followed the mail the previous year. It only seems appropriate that that is the place I turn around and head back. If you haven’t been to Rock Creek – it is a must stop! While waiting amongst all the historic buildings and waiting for the inbound rider, I start talking to one of the folks. Guess what another German speaker! I tell her about our Pony Re-Ride and about that we actually carry mail in the Mochila! Then the “rider” call and we turn to see a rider dashing into the venue – how cool! A swift exchange and they are off! We walk back to the Visitor Center and say goodbye to the Gronewold’s as they follow the Pony across Nebraska and we head back to Marysville.
On my way back to the Kansas City Airport, I stop in Seneca to visit the Pony Express Museum there. Such history in this part of the world and the buildings are so different in comparison to the buildings I have seen out west.
I head to the airport – only to get caught in a downpour and even hail! And head home to be ready to ride in NV! And of course, follow the mail via our website and provide updates.
