The Pony Express Reride: Did you know it’s running today?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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I intercepted them this morning on Fort Churchill road. There were two riders and a few support vehicles. I was heading east, and got some pictures as they passed, but then was stuck behind them and the trucks for a while.

But, soon after, they stopped for something, and a lone pretty blond gal took off. I followed her, nothing in-between us for a couple miles. She was maintaining a brisk pace, like a slow trot (5-10 mph). It was kinda fun to watch. Got past at a wide spot in the road, went ahead for a good spot to get better video of just her. Got a nice shot of her going on past.

Went home and fed the dogs. This adventure was right during their breakfast time. But they like to ride.

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Dang, they’re coming right through my town, but I have to go to the office to work now so I won’t be there when they come through.

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That’s too bad, @WildaBeast . Did you at least see or hear anything about it?

Very cool! When you say ‘kinda fun to watch’, that is how I imagine it. You were looking at how things were there 164 years ago.

This morning I hit the gym @0800 for an hour and then will head east. The Folsom History Museum, 823 Sutter St, Folsom CA, is 145 miles away and I should be able to meet the rider:

@1130 ⇦ PE scheduled to arrive
@1115 ⇦ I should arrive

That’s cutting it a little close and that’s if I don’t have to make any stops this morning, or hit traffic. Maybe an ambitious schedule but that’s the soonest I can possibly catch it. That’s my target, and we’ll see.

@Gatopescado , unfortunately I couldn’t make it out to meet you. Bummer. That’s twice in two years that I’ve missed meeting you. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to make that happen.

The Folsom History Museum has exhibits and history of the California Trail and the Pony Express Trail. I might stop in briefly, 10-15 minutes only, or I might just head to the next station:

@ 1216 ⇦ PE to arrive at the Hazel Ave (Fish Hatchery) ▲ 38.6337, -121.222 [DD coordinates], a 10 minute drive from the Folsom History Museum

After that there are a handful of final stops before the final station and the end of this year’s Point Express ride:

@1630 ⇦ Old Sac Pony Express Statue ▲ 38.5832, -121.504 [DD coordinates]

We should be there for that, and I anticipate a celebration there. It should be fun. I plan to post some pictures.

Finally, depending on how it’s going and how much energy I have I may head farther east to the only Home Station in California, at Sportsman’s Hall Pony Express Home Station ▲ 38.7501, -120.6113 [again, DD coordinates]. The PE is supposed to be there @0507 this morning (approx 10-15 minutes from now, as of this writing). It would be cool to see a Home Station, where riders could sleep — in essence, a sparse hotel in the 1860s. Maybe more like a youth hostel.

If I make it there then it will be a 175 mile drive home tonight.

Let’s see, all told that would be:

• 145 mile drive east, home to Folsom History Museum
• 30 mile drive west, to the Pony Express Statue
• 60 mile drive east to Sportsman’s Hall Home Station
• 175 mile drive west, back home

410 miles total, starting @0900 this morning. I’m starting to feel like a Pony Express rider.

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We got to the Folsom History Museum 10 minutes early, but the rider had already gone through. I’m writing this from the next station, the fish hatchery. There PE should be coming through in 5-15 minutes.

This lady, Pam I think, is the California President of the state association.

Bike rack:

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Keep those pictures coming, @Bullitt!

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We’re in Old Sac now. Will be chilling here for about 2 hours before the final rider comes in. We did catch the riders and mail bag exchange at the fish hatchery ▲ 38.634, -121.2243, the station after the Folsom History Museum.

@Railer13 these photos are for you!

We met the outgoing rider. He’s the one that will take the mochila, or mailbag, from the incoming rider.

Outgoing rider talking with support staff

Outgoing rider pointing to the route he plans to take

Outgoing rider, while waiting for incoming rider, visits a horse in a trailer.

Incoming rider arrives! Of the two riders on the left, the incoming rider is the female rider on the right. The male rider on the left is her husband.

Outgoing rider, at right, dismounts to take mochila from incoming rider. An interesting factoid is that the incoming rider, when she passes the mochila to incoming rider has to sign a form that’s in the mochila. Every rider on the trail signs that form. Well, nobody had a pen but I did so they used that for the signing. I saved the integrity of this Pony Express run! :slightly_smiling_face:

Outgoing rider, standing and holding his horse, approaches incoming rider to accept the mochila.

The outgoing rider at right secures the mochila.

Zoomed in on the mochila.

Mochila secured, he’s ready to go.

Mochila. As a motorcycle rider I’ve had soft saddlebags, and hard. So I was curious about these. I’ve never had leather. I ride BMW, not Harley.

He’s off! If you hear the William Tell Overture, you’re not the only one. :slightly_smiling_face:

Away!

BullittBoss pets the incoming horse.

Husband of incoming rider

We’re with the incoming rider.
So, get this, this couple lives on Oahu’s North Shore and they volunteer to do this every year. Interesting.

On their vest they wear the flag as it looked in 1860

Interesting factoid, each rider carries a bible on them, just like they did in 1860-1861

Certified bible

Here in Old Sac, the final rider should arrive approx 1730U (U for Pacific time zone). Right now it’s 1530U.

More to come…

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Question, @Bullitt: approximately how long is each ride? And are the horses walking, trotting, galloping, or a combination of paces?

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IANAE But I am learning fast. For the real pony express the average overall speed was 10mph over the course of almost 1,900 miles. See @Gatopescado ’s post above when he met the rider. He speaks to speed.

The horses were changed approx every 5–10 miles. The riders switched horses and each rider rode approx 75-100 miles for their shift. 10 hours in the saddle, ouch.

For this re-creation each ride is approx 3-5 miles, as per my understanding. The horses trot or gallop. Yes it’s a combination. Again see @Gatopescado .

They try to avoid paved roads but in some instances they can’t avoid it. At the museum, Pam the California Association President said that Wyoming and Nebraska have miles and miles of beautiful dirt roads.

Take all of this with a grain of salt. I just recently learned of this annual reride.

HTH

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I saw a video and pics. Explained it all to the grandkids. Showed video and all your pics @Bullit.

They loved it as much as me.

So fun.

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This is the trailer I got stuck behind for a mile or so, before making a breakout with only the rider in front of me.

I was following on a well-traveled dirt road and was behind the rider for maybe 3 miles. She maintained 5-10 mph, never as slow as walking, but never in a full gallop. Still made pretty decent time. Horse tripped once and nearly went down but recovered. I was worried about that for a second or two. The support crews had not caught up to us at that time.

Great pictures! I got video, but don’t know how to post it.

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OK, I just looked at the FAQ on the website. I learned that the legs vary in length from 2-5 miles, and the riders try to average 10 mph, just like the original PE. Some riders ride more than one leg, and there are about 650 total riders. Total length is 1966 miles.

I’m trying to figure out next year’s schedule, so I can put it on my calendar.

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Umm… .

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After the final rider arrived in Old Sacramento we drove east to the Sportsman’s Hall home station. We had dinner there, and it was after 11pm when we got home.

It was a fun day. My final pictures and descriptions are here —

[Album] 2024 Pony Express re-ride arrives in Sacramento CA, 27 June
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Cool pix, thanks!

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Sure thing! It was a fun day, albeit long hours and miles.