Texas Star trail ride
From LaGrange, Tx to Austin Tx.

Friday – March 2, 2012 I left about 10:30 from Antlers en route to Lagrange, Texas for the 53rd annual Oficiasl Texas Star Trail Ride. Novella is a trail boss and this will be the first time for me on this ride. I arrived at the Fayette County Fairgrounds at about 5:15. I registered($75), purchased a weekly meal ticket($115), and one radio ticket($25). I got all the instructions for tomorrow and bed me, my horse, and Lacey (my dog) down for the night.

Saturday – March 3, 2012 the next two days were going to be a round robin ride from camp. Today was a 13 mile ride. We had five wagons and 15 riders. There was a dance, silent auction, and awards this evening. I spent about $95 in the silent auction. I won the trophy for coming the 2nd farthest for the ride(375 miles). Tom and Linda from Illinois got the award for coming the farthest. I’ve written on a few other rides with Tom and Linda and they are a very nice couple. Tom also got the award for being the oldest rider again(72 years). I’m glad I didn’t win that award!!

Sunday – March 4, 2012 I guess I volunteer too much. After spending 34 years in the military, I should know better. I’m now one of the scouts! We covered another 13 miles today and are losing a few of our riders and wagons for tomorrow. I met Rick last night when he got in the camp after the ride. Rick was one of the riders on the San Antonio ride, a week ago, and is quite the dancer. Rick rode only today and then had to pack up and go back to work.

Monday – March 5, 2012 I am definitely one of the scouts, now. Besides the 2 – 3 ride officers, there is only me, Wade, and David do in the scouting. Wade and David are the rear scouts, I’m in the middle, and Novella or Carolyn are in the lead. We left with only 2 wagons, 4 riders, and 4 scouts. It was a hard day because we rode the four lane highways from Lagrange to Smithville Texas most all of the way. Was over 23 miles and it seemed like twice that with cars and trucks whizzing past at 70 mph, only six – 10 feet away from my horse!

Tuesday – March 6, 2012 we had a nice place to stay last night with full hookups for the trailer. I got to refill my water and watch a little TV before bed. I did run out of propane in one bottle for the heater during the night and it got a little chilly. I lost my way going to the next camping site, but eventually found my turn and got there just in time to catch the bus back to our horses. The day was nice and the temperature was warm enough to ride only in a longsleeve shirt. The winds did come up during the day 15 – 20 mph. Novella gave each of us scouts a special scout badge. We rode with 5 scouts,3 wagons, and 8 riders. Still on the same major roads and had to deal with traffic most of the day. Still it wasn’t my day. I lost ( but later found) my flag at one-stop and lost ( and did not find) my radio at another stop. We only did about 15 miles but ended the day with a delicious, all – you – can – eat, Stew.

Wednesday – March 7, 2012 we rode today with three wagons, seven riders, five scouts, and 14.7 miles. The day was overcast and slight drizzle off and on. We rode into a city park at Bastrop and we, again, have electricity! It was a good day in the life of a scout. We have police escort for about two hours. A dance tonight looking like more rain tomorrow. The chuck wagon crew (which fed us 3 good meals a day, at $115 for the week) had made to order T-bone steaks, baked potatoes, salad and rolls for supper.

Thursday – March 8, 2012 we had a special meeting of all current riders in Wagoneer’s this morning at 6:30 AM. We had been watching the weather report and it was indicating rain and thunderstorms for today and continuing rain through Saturday and the Austen area so as a safety factor and most of the riders not wanting to ride in the rain is agreed that the ride should be canceled. I do regret it because I wanted to ride into the Austen livestock and rodeo grounds. So, I started my long journey back to antlers Oklahoma. I’m looking forward to doing the ride again next year and hopefully completing it and going to the Austen livestock and rodeo for the weekend.

Yesterday, after we got the animals taken care of, we had to start the generator and run the A/C just to get some relief.  I was hearing Soldier’s shoes click once and awhile and was worried that he might be trying to throw one of them.  I did check them and they were tight, but didn’t want to take a chance.  Curt (the minister of the Heart of David church and his wife, Kem came by, again, to invite us to their Wednesday evening worship.  We said we’d be there and I asked Curt about a farrier.  Interesting, enought his cousin is one and he immediately called him and indicated he would be her around 3:00.  The farrier came.  His name was Randy and he had been in the business for over 21 years.  He’s had back problems, recently and has even had surgery, but was still shoeing horses.  He gave us a break on the price.  It was ONLY $80.  He says he gets $90 to $120 per horse and (a note to my son-in-law, Mark) he does natural balance shoeing (he even had the shoes) at a base price of $160.  Mark, I think you might not be charging those Okie and New Mexico people enough!!!

About an hour later, 2 bicyclists were riding by and saw us.  They rode right over and threw their bikes down.  “Are you the one who’s riding to California”? one of them said.  “Yea, but how did you know?”  It seemed they had stopped by the same store I did to get something to drink and the people there were telling them about me and my ride.  I’ll bet those people at the store thought they were having such a “wierd” day seeing two groups of peopl riding from coast to coast on the same day.  One of them horseback and the others by bycycles.  We chatted for quite awhile.  Their names were Kerry and Cam.  They were riding for the cause of getting more good drinking water to the people of Etheopia.  We wished them a safe journey and they went on.

Finally, I was able to take a shower and Sharon and I went to the local cafe for some supper.  I had beef tips in gravy and Sharon (being a vetegarian) had a veggie plate.  I couldn’t eat all my place, but I was sure saving space for the orange sherbert ice cream.  We finished supper and went straight to the church.  It started at 7:30 and they were doing a bible study of 2nd Theselonians.  There were only 6 of us there, but we sure did have some good conversations.

Today, I tried to get off to an earlier start, but spent 20 minutes just trying to load Blade.  We have to remember not to feed him in the morning untill he is in the trailer.  He’ll go in to eat and today we feed him first before trying to load him.  I told Sharon to meet me in Fremont and we would decide what to do from there.  I rode only about 8 miles, but was already getting hot.  She met me in Fremont and we called the local police to see if they know of a place to park.  They didn’t have anyting in town (and even overnight stabling of horses was against the law), but referred us to a Church of Christ church that was just outside of town.  The preacher’s name was Travis.  I called and he said “sure, come on down but we don’t have any shade”.  I said that all we needed was a place to park our rig. Thank goodness we stopped, again.  Even with the fans going, we were still sweating inside the trailer.  I said the heck with it and started the generator so we could use the A/C.  It’s still running!!  Tomorrow will be an interesting day.  I don’t plan on riding the complete distance to Selma (20 miles), but don’t know where we will find a place to park.  There isn’t any towns along the way and it is just farming country.  There isn’t even space to pull along side the rode and park.  We’ll just have to wait and see.  I’ll let you know what happens.

Traveling the roads is the “pits”!!  I only have a few feet between the road and the ditch (which soldier refueses to cross).  I tied up and laid in the shade once for about 45 minutes and again at a Baptist Church for about an hour.  I was able to get water at the church and earlier at a lady’s house which I knocked and asked her for some.  I also had mistake number 2 for the day when I hurridly tied Soldier with the reins and……he definitely broke them.  I spent another 30 minutes trying to repair them.

I got an early start, today (7:00 local) and was going to try to beat the traffic going into Winterville.  Well…..I beat some, but Soldier and I did a good job going down main street and across traffic lights.  I wasn’t a half mile from town and was going to slide over into a field, when I spotted a black snake with what looked like yellow bands on him guarding my entrance.  I figured he could have the field and we just trotted on.

Sharon did an excellent job of finding a place to park for the night at the fire station in Castoria.  The owner and local farmer specifically if she was “packing” in any way because of so many migrant workers in the area.  Of course she answered “yes”.  She sure has been a blessing…..taking care of Blade (daily) filling the water tanks, cleaning the inside of the trailer, getting gas for the generator and pickup (just to mention a few).

Anyway, because of the heat and humidity, I’m cutting down on the number of miles each day.  Tomorrow it will either be 8 or 12 miles, depending.  Don’t count me out……yet.  Oh..by the way….if you want to see some pictures, go to Sharon’s blog of www.theadventuresofdaisy.com

I ate my sandwich while riding and the temperature really started getting to me.  I can’t believe that I drank over 6 bottles of water and I’ll be Soldier drank over 6 gallons!!  It isn’t really fun traveling roads that have very little shoulder!!  I hope tomorrow is a little better.  I am only traveling about 16 miles to a town called Castoria.  Sharon has the task of getting diesel for the pickup, gas for the generator, and water for us and the horses.  I hope a girl from Arkansas the do Multi-tasking!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway…..I”M beat, but glad the LQ has air conditioning.  I only wish I can take it with me on the ride.  It’s suppose to be in the 90″s most of the week.  With the humidity……it must be 120.  You breakout is a sweat just standing still (or sitting still as I do on Soldiere).  Night for now and I wish evey veteran a happy Veteran’s Day and “welcome home”;

We stopped by one of the parks owned by Grenville (which was on our route) and got permission to spend Monday night there with the horses.  Now I’m working on the next few days.  Tina called and said she is still having trouble with her pickup and is definitely going to have get a new truck.  She has a lead on one, but won’t be able to get with us till she gets a new truck.  She will join us on the ride when she gets a new truck able to pull the trailer.  I’m going to assume it’s going to be at least another 3-4 days in the least.  Meanwhile, I’m starting the ride on Monday.  The first day is about 22 miles.  I’m starting with soldier.  Sharon will babysit Blade and the dogs.

Mark Davis is planning on a meeting with the media tomorrow (Sunday) or when we start on Monday.  He is interviewing us later tonight and is taking some pictures for the Journal of AMBA.  He gave us some handouts about AMBA to hand out to interested individuals.  Anyway, Sunday will be a good day of rest and an opportunity to do last minute preparations.  I have pictures, but will add them, later.  Stay tuned……..

Well……we (sharon, me, Daisy, Cotton, Lacey, Soldier and Blade) left home on Thursday, enroute to Washington, NC to start this Ocean to Ocean ride.  We spent Thursday night at a PILOT truck stop.  There were over 100 trucks at that stop, but we found a large openeing at the rear.  I guess no one wants to park in the rear.  This is after we tried to park in the Natchez Trace State Park.  It was a horse park, but after trying to park in about 3 different sites, we just gave up and went on to the PILOT truck stop.  That is a story in itself!!

Today (Friday), we drove to Nashville and stopped long enough to let Sharon visit with her best friend, Pat.  I think Pat may just decide to act as a driver for Tina when we get close to Arkansas.  Speaking of Tina, I don’t know if she will eventually make it.  She had to turn back home, yesterday, because of a bad shake in her pickup while she was driving.  She found out it was a transmission bracket.  She went back home and they were to order her one and have it put in, today.  She called later this afternoon and said they had the wrong bracket and they would have the right one for her tomorrow (Saturday).  This is going to delay the start of our ride one day and we should now start on Monday.  That’s also why I’m taking a little more time getting to Washington.  We should be there tomorr (Saturday) afternoon and Tina should be in ther by Sunday morning.  We are currently parked in The Home Depot parking lot in Statesville, NC.  The Manager was good enough to let us spend the night here.  The horses are doing fine for having to ride all day in the trailer and it has now been 2, going on 3 days.  They get to rest when we stop to eat or fill up with gas.  I water them each time we stop.  Sharon and I walked them for about 30 mnutes this evening before feeding them and then feeding ourselves.  We got a treat, being able to walk to the Golden Corral for a good supper.  The dogs are riding real fine and Daisy and Cotton are spending the night sleepping with Sharon while I get Lacey.  I could and need to write more, but my computer is dying and I’m getting a little tired, myself.  Hopefully……more tomorrow when I get some time.  HAPPY VETERAN’S DAY!!! (weekend)

Riding in the rain

Wagons

Blade tied to the wagon

Well…I’ve waited almost another whole week (after the ride) to post about my event.  A week ago last Friday, Sharon drove in from Fort Gibson to go with me on the Oklahoma 89er Land Run Wagon Train trail ride from Bray, Oklahoma to Norman.  We left at about 2:00 and arrived at Clear Creek Lake in Bray, Ok at about 5:30.  I took Blade (my new black Mustang) to be able to work and train with him a little more before my coast to coast ride and thank goodness I took him instead of Soldier.  We left Saturday morning with an overcast and 50% chance of rain.  It did “drizzle” on us most of the day.  Sharon was able to hitch a ride (for the week) with Royce and Loretta in their wagon.  Sharon was also able to take Daisy (her pomeranian dog) with her each day on the ride.  Sunday morning we awoke at 5:00 in the rain and I decided not to ride that day (because of the rain and mud).  Monday it was still raining (off and on), but bundled up and forged forward in the rain.  Besides, I had gotten stuck in the mud and had to get my rig out to the next stop for the day which was at Lindsay Rodeo arena.  Tuesday we left Lindsay (again in a light rain) for Maysville.  Again, slight drizzle off and on during the day, but arrived (dry) at the Purcell Expo Center and were able to hook up to both electricity and water.  Thursday was just overcast, but we rode to Tom Thomas’ Ranch at Slaughterville, Ok and arrived in decent (but very winday weather) in Norman on Friday.  Saturday was the parade in Norman and it was a fairly nice day and an uneventful ride.  Altogether, we rode over 115 miles.   The ride was led by Jason Kirkwood (president), Matt Bullard (vice-president), and Lisa Wright (wagon master).  It was a good learning experience for both me and Blade.  Blade has now connected to the wagons and any time a wagon moves out…….he, automatically, starts to follow it.  He just can’t stand still and paces all the time.  When I tie him to a wagon, I have to tie him short so he can’t move around…..much.  When I tie him to my trailer, he moves so much that by the next couple of hourse there is no longer grass where he’s tied or (if it is raining) nothing but a mud puddle. 

Blade's Mud Hole

 This is the last major ride before my coast to coast (which starts at the end of this month).  That is also when my next major adventure begins……..