Exploring the desert and what it takes for plants, animals, and people to survive (with a touch of humor).
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Friday, July 18, 2008
Pony Express Reride
My nephew, the Pony Express Rider, along with his dad, grandpa, and uncle, went to help reride the Pony Express route in June. They had a great time, and I just have to share these photos with you, because they help capture the romantic feelings associated with that brief period of history when young'uns helped keep the country united by carrying the postal mail through rain and snow, hot and cold, day and night. (Click the link above for a bit more info about the 2,000 mile ride from Missouri to California that took place during 1860-61).This is the mochila, the mail sack. The compartments can be padlocked. During the reride they carried official US mail. Here's Cousin Pony Express Rider helping another rider get ready. Lots of people turned out to help with the reride, held every June. Cousin totally looks like a real Pony Express Rider, with his slight build, young age, and fearless expression. The mail is off! The horses had to slow down while going over mountain passes... ...but on the flats they galloped! Look at the little dust cloud that Cousin Pony Express Rider and Jewel are stirring up. Can you imagine trying to gallop through this terrain during the middle of the night or during a snowstorm? Those young'uns were tough!
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My nephew, the Pony Express Rider, along with his dad, grandpa, and uncle, went to help reride the Pony Express route in June. They had a great time, and I just have to share these photos with you, because they help capture the romantic feelings associated with that brief period of history when young'uns helped keep the country united by carrying the postal mail through rain and snow, hot and cold, day and night. (Click the link above for a bit more info about the 2,000 mile ride from Missouri to California that took place during 1860-61).
This is the mochila, the mail sack. The compartments can be padlocked. During the reride they carried official US mail.
Here's Cousin Pony Express Rider helping another rider get ready. Lots of people turned out to help with the reride, held every June. Cousin totally looks like a real Pony Express Rider, with his slight build, young age, and fearless expression.
The mail is off! The horses had to slow down while going over mountain passes...
...but on the flats they galloped! Look at the little dust cloud that Cousin Pony Express Rider and Jewel are stirring up. Can you imagine trying to gallop through this terrain during the middle of the night or during a snowstorm? Those young'uns were tough!
So how much did postage cost back then?
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so exciting!!
ReplyDelete