The weekend near the little lake went well. It turned out to be more
pleasant than the first visual impression made it out to be.
The "youth" in camp did some campfires and got to relax. Most
everyone took a visit to the lake, with some fishing for trout, and
others swimming their horses in the water. I took each of my three
down, and they got cleaned up in the water, and did a little
swimming. The trip into Ely for food, laundry, shopping etc. kept us
in touch with civilization. We did some riding during the weekend on
the trails above camp in the mountains. Although it was a dusty,
dirty camp, it was a nice place to stay the weekend.

Monday riders had to trailer about 6 miles out to pick up the trail.
This day was one that we were warned had only one known water spot,
and no place for crews to meet riders. Riders were to ride smart,
like they would not have water, and take good care of their horses.
The weather was cooler than it had been, with some clouds, a little
rain, and even a little hail on some riders. We skipped this day, and
headed to the next camp. We passed through Ely, got water, fuel,
dumped the holding tanks etc. on the RV's, and a little more
shopping. Vickie bumped a rock or some thing with her black water
holding tank, and punched a hole in it. Thankfully after we had
dumped it. We got supplies to patch it, and headed to camp. This camp
is in a small gravel pit, and not all the rigs could fit. After we
got settled in, we went for a short ride. On the way in, Hank got
goofy, and I popped a spur a little to hard in him, and he set off
bucking again. Yep…..I hit the ground. Just a scratched elbow.
Tomorrow, the stinker gets to do 25 miles…

June 29th, Butte Valley to Tippits

Saddled up Hank, and Vickie rode Wizard. The trail started up through
the small pines, and up over the mountain, and down into a valley.
Many mustang tracks scattered in this area, but we did not see any
out and about. It was a cool morning, and the horses were ready to
go. We passed an old cemetery, with wooden grave markers, then out on
to a wide gravel road, through a canyon. So far, Hank is doing well
for his first real "distance" ride. It is a lovely day. As we left
the canyon, we entered a very long stretch where we cross the sage
brush covered desert. I much prefer the mountain trails, but to have
a mountain, we must have low areas. We are on the original Pony
Express trail. As we trot along, Hank and I are out in front, when
the jerk spooks, my feet come out of the stirrups, he is goofy,
jumping around, and I can't grip with my legs on the sheepskin cover
on the saddle. (plus he is VERY wide, and hard to grip anyway) So, I
make another unscheduled dismount, and he goes down the trail to the
horse behind him. I gather him up, climb back on, and we trot and
trot, and trot for a long time across the desert. He needs to just
get a good work out, which he does. We come to the highway crossing,
and one of the riders husbands is there with water for the horses,
and snacks and Gatorade for us. A very pleasant surprise! Then up
another graded road, over another pass, and into lunch. I call it a
day for Hank, at 26 miles, but Vickie rides on, and does the whole 50
miles. A scattering of rain hits some riders, but it is welcome by
most. I head off to camp, and find it in another corner intersection
of sagebrush and sand. At least we have plenty of room for everyone!

We have had a few riders leave the ride already, and it is only week
two. There are a few holding tanks ( RV water) that have been
damaged, a couple rope burns on the horses from getting tangled in
their ropes, and a few crew / rider squabbles. Welcome to the XP…………

Day 8, June 30, Tippits to Willow Springs

Today it is time to try a full 50 mile day with Rockhe. He has only
done one 50 mile ride, and that was last year. Today is a good day to
do so, as it is fairly flat, with less climbs over-all. Vickie has
Sara ride Thunder in the morning. She is excited about actually
getting to ride on the Historic Pony Express trail. Heading out of
camp, across the sage brush covered desert, we catch up to Stephanie
from Atlanta. She has been doing just 25 miles with her horses each
day. We also ride withy Skip and Sue Dyke from California, who we
camped next to many times in 2001 during the 2000 mile ride from MO.
To NV. The crews are able to meet us today a few times, next to the
roads, to offer the horses water. The road / trail passes a few
ranches, which offer the only specks of green in the brown desert
terrain. The riders cross into Utah today. One state down, three to
go. A few historical markers are along the trail, including the
Lincoln Highway, and Deep Creek XP station. Lunch is in Ibapah. Not
much of a city, but they do have a Rodeo Arena! Sara changes horses,
to ride Wind Warrior the second half of the day. Rockhe is doing very
well, and after our one hour lunch, we head out on the trail again.
We have a long stretch of desert, and a climb up over another pass,
and down into the next valley. With our GPS's in hand, we start on a
section of original Pony Express trail that is hard to see. This is a
national historic trail, yet is it slowly disappearing, where future
generations might not ever be able to see where the Pony Express
riders galloped across the country to deliver mail and news. After a
long warm day, we arrive in Calleo, where the Willow Springs XP
station was located. The real treat is, we are camped on GRASS!!! A
wonderful green pasture. No dirt, no sage, and the sounds of cattle
off in their pastures. A lovely spot. The owner of the property gave
us a tour of the XP building that is still standing. This little
community is 80 miles from the nearest real town. The have residents
who know some medical skills, and if there is a fire, they have a
couple small fire pumpers. It is a hay and cattle area, and they love
their lifestyle, and probably don't look forward to those trips to
town to do business and shopping. Rockhe finished his 50 miles in
great form. Stephanie from Atlanta, also decided to ride the full 50
miles (her very 1st 50 mile ride) , and she and her horse were
looking great at the end.

July 1, Day 9, Willow Springs to Dugway

Today was going to be interesting. I am riding Gambler, but our
friend Dave Rabe is going to ride my horse Hank, and try to do the
full 50 mile ride. Hank did very well on his 25 mile ride the day
before yesterday, and we think he is ready to try a 50 mile ride.
Dave is an excellent rider, and can deal with the horse being
naughty. He has ridden tens of thousands of miles in endurance, and I
know he will take very good care of Hank for me. We leave our little
green Oasis in the middle of nowhere, and head out the road, and then
on to the Pony trail again. I am starting to feel more in shape, and
my horses Gambler is feeling good too. Hank is being a good boy, and
Dave must think I am crazy when I say he can be goofy at times. The
trail was a lot of the original pony trail, often hard to find, even
with the GPS way points. The morning started out with a nice cloud
cover, but the afternoon turned very warm. It was nice to have crews
meet us again at the road crossing with water for the horses and
riders. We rode in a group of about 6 – 8 today. Joyce Sousa, Tinker
Hart, Heather Hackworth, Laura Hayes, Laura Horst, Dave Rabe, Vickie
Greene and a few others came and went as we trotted our horses east
towards our goal of Nebraska. Our in the desert sections, we have to
watch for Badger holes, to keep the horses from stepping in them. An
endless job in some sections. We had a couple climbs up over some
passes, with forever views of the valleys below. At lunch, Tinkers
hubby accidentally got into some mud, and the rig got stuck, but
before to long, other crew members were pitching in to help get their
rig out. I am watching my horse Hank as Dave is riding him, and
seeing this horses is enjoying this. He seems to be very content to
trot along all day. At the end of the day, coming into yet another
lovely camp at the corner of sage and sand, he was one happy horse,
who was NOT over tired, and still had some get up and go if needed. I
am very proud of him for doing so well. Gambler also did well, and
my only real sore spot was the bottom of my feet, from walking down
some of the hills. Two 50 mile days in a row for me, and I am feeling
like I am starting to get into good shape.

We are not going to ride Friday, and head on into Salt Lake City
instead, to get started on the weekend chores, to get ready for week
three. Vickie's patch on her holding tank is working, but now my tank
is acting up, and leaking, so we need to look into that little issue.
The ride Monday will start in WY, as we trailer past the last parts
of Utah. I am ready for some time in the city, before we head that
direction. I need to dump the photos on line, and this silly little
journal……..

Friday, July 2nd, Salt Lake City

After some searching, we found an equestrian park to put our boys in
some stalls for a couple nights, while we get some things done in
town. (laundry, fixing a leaky black tank on my camper, shopping,
cleaning etc.) I am sure the horses are as happy as we are to get
out of the dust and dirt of the desert. On the way out of camp this
AM, we saw a small band of Mustangs running across the sage and sand.
A beautiful, and breath-taking sight. Later we saw a large herd, that
seemed BLM controlled, near a feeder. They were not bothered by us
driving past them. It was sort of sad to see them so calm and
unbothered. More like a herd of ranch horses, than Mustangs. A couple
of Pronghorns were also sighted as we drove out of the desert, and
into Salt Lake. We decided to splurge, and get a motel for the night
(maybe two). I was VERY excited to find the room had a bath TUB, and
not just a shower. Ahhhhhh, a nice soak in a hot tub!!

The horses are looking great. I had them loose in the arena at the
fairgrounds, and they are all moving well, and are as sound as can
be. Some riders are having some lameness problems with some of their
horses. It is tough when you only bring a couple, and one has
something happen, leaving you just one horse to ride. A few riders
have left the ride completely for various reasons, some to return
later in the ride. Monday we will start our trek across Wyoming. So
far I have ridden just 180 miles of the trail in the last 8 days of
riding we had available. But Wednesday and Thursday I did both days,
(50 miles each day, different horses) and was feeling pretty good.
The heat is not bothering me as much as before, and my knees have
been better. The soles of my feet have been tender from walking down
some hills with the wrong boot / sock combo, but will work that issue
out in the next week or so. I am actually amazed how good I am
feeling over all, since I was not in the shape I wanted to be in at
the start of the ride.

I'll try to get to a truck stop when I can, to do another update.

Jonni