Greetings,
June 8, 2011 – Ogallala Nebraska to Julesburg Colorado – Julesburg is the only Pony Express stop in Colorado. The XP trail only travels across Colorado for a few miles and Julesburg was a trading post and military outpost in the 1860s. Julesburg is named for the French trapper Jules Reni, and the Pony Express in Julesburg is best known for the feud between Jules Reni and Jack Slade. Accounts of the feud differ, but the essence is that Jules Reni and Jack Slade had a disagreement and guns were used. From the historical writings it appears as if Jack Slade was disagreeable in nature and after the initial confrontation, Jack Slade came back to Julesburg and killed Reni. Eventually, Jack Slade met his end in the loop of a hanging rope in the Montana gold camp of Virginia City. Today, Julesburg is a farming, ranching, and railroad community. Julesburg still serves as a way stop on Interstate 76 between SW Nebraska and Denver.
We rode in across the farmland of SW Nebraska. The weather was cool, breezy, and pleasant. The air is dry and I feel more at home. We are near the Front Range of Colorado.
Cindy and I stopped at a truck stop in SW Nebraska and I looked at a US highway map mounted on the wall. We have come a long way since we stood on the bank of the Missouri River a few weeks ago. Even though I am generally riding shorter distances than the full 50 miles, I think my strategy is valid. Many people's horses are footsore from the roads. I think that my horses could go indefinitely at distances from 25 to 40 miles per day around five days per week. I still have two sound horses and a good crew. Others have not fared as well. The Nebraska roads have been tough.
Best Regards,
Tom N
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