Greetings,
June 13, 2011 – Melbeta Nebraska to Torrington Wyoming – The gypsy caravan left Nebraska today and I left Nebraska meeting one of my objectives – arrive in Wyoming with two sound horses. Whiskey and Frank are doing very well. Both horses have 225 miles on the Pony Express trails and both horses are due for new shoes tomorrow. Frank's shoes seem to show more wear than Whiskey's. We will spend more days in Nebraska than in any other state and the trails in Nebraska have mainly been section-line county roads. Many of the XP horses are footsore from the hard surfaces. I chose to ride half-days and I am satisfied with the results and the performance of my two horses. It would have been very nice to ride every mile but some of my friends that rode the XP in 2001 cautioned me not to prematurely wear out my horses in Nebraska. In a few days we will be following the exact Pony Express Trail on primitive roads and two-track trails and Frank and Whiskey will be ready.
We have seen some very fine country and met some very gracious people. I joke that I may look like a vagrant but if I wear a bandana and step out of a van pulling a horse trailer containing two horses I am treated far better than a vagrant. One my cross-country bicycle friends described himself and his partner as "bums on bikes" and I am afraid that I am not that much different.
I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing Kansas and Nebraska at the pace of 50 miles per day and I have enjoyed camping in back-lots and vacant fields. We have seen the country like few others. Also, I have profound respect for the pioneers who crossed this countryside when it was wilderness. How many of us could match the fortitude shown by the pioneers in the mid-1800s? Crossing Kansas and Nebraska was long and we generally had good weather and only minor troubles. St Joseph Missouri to Portland Oregon is a long and tough walk along the side of oxen and a Conestoga wagon.
Today we rode through the Scottsbluff area which is rich with history. We rode over Gun Sight Pass and dropped into the North Platte Valley. Gun Sight Pass is near the site of the Robidoux trading post established by an Indian trader in 1848. Today, the pass is well-maintained county road and the traders, mountain men, plains Indians, and the pioneers are only a memory. Today, they would all recognize the landforms but they would feel out of place in the valley of the North Platte River. The world has changed and those who choose to see the world from the back of a horse traveling along county roads are an oddity in 2011 America.
June 14 – Torrington Wyoming – Rest Day – Early this morning Kevin and Mike stopped into camp to shoe horses. Mike and Kevin are Natural Balance horse farriers and they will have a full day here at the camp. So far, there are at least seven horses that need new NB shoes. I found Kevin through the Natural Balance online directory and Kevin brought Mike along because of the work load. The two arrived at eight and ready to work.
Whiskey's feet still show signs of laminitis, but his feet are much improved since his last trim five weeks ago. In January, Whiskey could hardly stand so it is remarkable that Whiskey is even along on the trip and doing so well. His feet are recovering and today his shoes are one size smaller on both front and rear (ones up front and zeros in the rear). Whiskey's feet are smaller because the flaring that was due to weakness in the hoof wall has been replaced with more normal and stronger hoof growth. Kevin replaced Whiskey's front pads and Whiskey should be ready for the remainder of the trip. Mike looked at the wear on Frank's shoes and made some minor therapeutic adjustments to the shoes which should help Frank move easier. We'll spend the rest of the day shopping, doing laundry, and other chores and then we will head out for five days on the Pony Express trail before our next break in central Wyoming.
Best Regards,
Tom N
June 13, 2011 – Melbeta Nebraska to Torrington Wyoming – The gypsy caravan left Nebraska today and I left Nebraska meeting one of my objectives – arrive in Wyoming with two sound horses. Whiskey and Frank are doing very well. Both horses have 225 miles on the Pony Express trails and both horses are due for new shoes tomorrow. Frank's shoes seem to show more wear than Whiskey's. We will spend more days in Nebraska than in any other state and the trails in Nebraska have mainly been section-line county roads. Many of the XP horses are footsore from the hard surfaces. I chose to ride half-days and I am satisfied with the results and the performance of my two horses. It would have been very nice to ride every mile but some of my friends that rode the XP in 2001 cautioned me not to prematurely wear out my horses in Nebraska. In a few days we will be following the exact Pony Express Trail on primitive roads and two-track trails and Frank and Whiskey will be ready.
We have seen some very fine country and met some very gracious people. I joke that I may look like a vagrant but if I wear a bandana and step out of a van pulling a horse trailer containing two horses I am treated far better than a vagrant. One my cross-country bicycle friends described himself and his partner as "bums on bikes" and I am afraid that I am not that much different.
I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing Kansas and Nebraska at the pace of 50 miles per day and I have enjoyed camping in back-lots and vacant fields. We have seen the country like few others. Also, I have profound respect for the pioneers who crossed this countryside when it was wilderness. How many of us could match the fortitude shown by the pioneers in the mid-1800s? Crossing Kansas and Nebraska was long and we generally had good weather and only minor troubles. St Joseph Missouri to Portland Oregon is a long and tough walk along the side of oxen and a Conestoga wagon.
Today we rode through the Scottsbluff area which is rich with history. We rode over Gun Sight Pass and dropped into the North Platte Valley. Gun Sight Pass is near the site of the Robidoux trading post established by an Indian trader in 1848. Today, the pass is well-maintained county road and the traders, mountain men, plains Indians, and the pioneers are only a memory. Today, they would all recognize the landforms but they would feel out of place in the valley of the North Platte River. The world has changed and those who choose to see the world from the back of a horse traveling along county roads are an oddity in 2011 America.
June 14 – Torrington Wyoming – Rest Day – Early this morning Kevin and Mike stopped into camp to shoe horses. Mike and Kevin are Natural Balance horse farriers and they will have a full day here at the camp. So far, there are at least seven horses that need new NB shoes. I found Kevin through the Natural Balance online directory and Kevin brought Mike along because of the work load. The two arrived at eight and ready to work.
Whiskey's feet still show signs of laminitis, but his feet are much improved since his last trim five weeks ago. In January, Whiskey could hardly stand so it is remarkable that Whiskey is even along on the trip and doing so well. His feet are recovering and today his shoes are one size smaller on both front and rear (ones up front and zeros in the rear). Whiskey's feet are smaller because the flaring that was due to weakness in the hoof wall has been replaced with more normal and stronger hoof growth. Kevin replaced Whiskey's front pads and Whiskey should be ready for the remainder of the trip. Mike looked at the wear on Frank's shoes and made some minor therapeutic adjustments to the shoes which should help Frank move easier. We'll spend the rest of the day shopping, doing laundry, and other chores and then we will head out for five days on the Pony Express trail before our next break in central Wyoming.
Best Regards,
Tom N
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