Pony Express Trail riders heading east

A Pony Express rider, decked out in blue jeans, bright red shirt, yellow bandana and black cowboy hat, made his way north on Curry Street at a gallop much to the excitement of about 50 onlookers as the National Pony Express Association re-ride came through Carson City on Wednesday.

Traveling ahead of schedule, Bob Moore made his way through the applause to hand over to Jason Royer, the next rider, a mochila filled with personal letters commemorating the annual re-ride.

"It's neat to experience this," said Royer, who is riding for the 11th time with his mount, Moose.

"It's always exciting to be a part of history," said George Lange of Salt Lake City, national president of the Pony Express Association. "This ride and the association is dedicated to the preservation of the trail and keeping history alive through public education."

Peter Binhack of the Czech Republic was in Nevada to take part in the re-ride.

"I've been riding here since 1997 and enjoy being a part of it," said Binhack. "We have a sister organization in Europe of the Pony Express Trail. We have a similar history there."

A support system of the re-ride is the Sierra Intermountain Emergency Radio Association. The association has members who follow riders providing updates through a telephone hotline.

Tom Crews, a member of the association who maintains a Web site for the group, said Nevada is the lone state with this type of support team.

"Nevada is the only one," Crews said. "They are incredible. It would be helpful for other states to do this."

Organizing their family reunion around the re-ride are direct ancestors of Alexander Majors, one of the founders of the Pony Express Trail.

Melody Kittle, from Albuquerque, N.M., planned the reunion to be held in Reno. Fifteen family members from Washington, New Mexico and California sat on the curb and in folding chairs awaiting the rider's arrival.

"We are the third, fourth and fifth generations of Alexander Majors," said Kittle, whose husband, David, is a rider.

Betty Finley, visiting from Lafayette, La., was in Gardnerville on "horse business," heard of the event on the radio and decided to see the ride for herself.

"It's neat - that's all. I wanted to see it," Finley said.

Carson City resident Sue Jones saw the re-ride in St. Joseph years ago as her family was leaving for Texas.

"I saw it when I was in fifth grade," said Jones, sitting next to her husband, Ken. "I'm glad to get to see it here. It's really special."

Before riders mounts their horses, they autograph the mochila. At the close of the ride, the ending state has the option of auctioning it off or keeping it as a piece of history.

A second round of applause erupted as Royer headed to the next station in Dayton. He was escorted by Deputy Bruce Greenhalgh from the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

Fast facts

What: National Pony Express Association re-ride

When: June 1-11

Where: Sacramento to St. Joseph, Mo., 1966 miles

Information: Call the Nevada hotline at 265-1808 or go online at

www.xphomestation.com