Riding the Trail in Kansas, Between Seneca and Hanover

Greetings,

May 26, 2011 – Riding Between Seneca and Hanover – Today was a beautiful day in Kansas. The sky was a deep blue all day. The rain yesterday was cleansing and the air was clear and clean. Frank was hot. Even at well over 20, with almost six thousand endurance miles, Frank can get very excited in a group of horses. Today he was tossing his head, rooting, and generally carrying on in a most inappropriate manner. In his activity, he even broke his left buckle on the reins. I tied the rein, took a time out, and then headed back out on the trail and Frank was very well behaved. We finished the day with a smile.

A farmer told us yesterday that he measured 8.2 inches of rain on his farm. Further west in Hanover, the measured rain was only about four inches. Either amount is enough to make some serious mud. Some rigs became mired in and stuck – in some cases seriously stuck. The farmers and the tractors were busy extricating the big rigs. Cindy avoided all the muddy roads and had a successful day.

We passed through Marysville which has an intact Pony Express Home Station. The Pony Express was set up with way stations every ten miles or so where the riders would change horses, and a home station every 75 miles or so where the mail system changed riders.

Tonight, we are in Hanover and we will ride by the Hollenberg Pony Express Station tomorrow. As you can tell by the names, we are in country settled by Germans, and I met a man in Marysville today whose ancestor was sponsored as a German emigrant by Gerat and Sophia Hollenberg – the operators of the Hollenberg Pony Express Station. In our conversation, he mentioned the Oregon Trail furrows on his land and an Oregon Trail pioneer grave as well. The grave is on the US historic record.

Earlier today, while on the road, Cindy stopped to mail a letter and enjoyed a long talk with the postmaster in Beattie Kansas. Everyone is very interested in our journey and I guess you cannot hide so many horses and the associated traveling "dog and pony show." Tonight, the people of Hanover have agreed to cook dinner for us. The hospitality along the trail is amazing and we are very lucky.

Best Regards,

Tom N