The Last Leg

Tuesday October 13th and a beautiful dawn start on the penultimate day of riding this year....

 Notice all the little birds on the wires ready to fly away for winter as I will shortly be doing!.....

I had not ridden far when a man in a pick-up stopped and introduced himself as Sam Perkins. It transpired that his great uncle was Tom Stevens who wrote 'Through Russia on a Mustang' which coincidentally I had started reading at home.  This was an account of a horseback ride from St Petersburg to the Crimea, although he is better known for cycling round the world on a penny farthing in 1884-6.

A curious longhorn with short horns?....

 A pair of turkey buzzards....

 I have crossed many rivers since China, but this one takes the prize for the most unusual name...

 Nearly there......

 Reaching the residential outskirts of St Joseph, the increase in traffic on the gravel roads has resulted in pleading signs.....

...not that they seem to have much effect...

I had arranged ahead to stay at the Sunset Hill Stables in Country Club, a northern extension of St Joseph urban sprawl.  This impressive facility is owned and run by Olivia Weidmaier, shown here with the elegant paint horse which is her pride and joy...

It was satisfying to relax with a cold beer on arrival (thanks Chad and Victor!)while Lady grazed peacefully by the stables before being turned out in an enormous field. I was delighted to be given use of a comfortable goose neck trailer with bed and electricity. In the evening Olivia and fiancé Chad very kindly treated me to a Mexican meal, with a Sunset Margherita on the side!

 

Wednesday October 14th.  A beautiful morning for the last leg to the former Pony Express Stables in St Joseph, and it was a enjoyable relaxed ride with time to stop for an ice cream when I hit town.  Lady is tethered to the sign!... 

 

I had planned out a route through back roads and along the banks of the Missouri River or 'Big Muddy' as it was known for its muddy waters.  The mud banks caused problems for the paddle steamers that used to ply this important waterway, and it is estimated that about 193 sank between Kansas City and St Louis.  

Successful arrival at my destination for 2015, the Pony Express Stables at the centre of St Joseph.

 St Joseph was the western terminal for the Pony Express when it started in 1860, and the old stables have now been turned into a museum celebrating this great experiment.  Although the Pony Express only lasted for eighteen months, it has lived much longer in people's imaginations, and has fired the enthusiasm of many. The Pony Express Office was situated a couple of hundred yards up the road in Patee House, which is also now a museum, and it is from there that I intend to start riding next April.

But for the moment Lady deserves a winter break after over 1800 miles of travel this year.  You must admit that she is looking well after all the mileage.

A big thank you to Olivia's brother Victor, who thoughtfully volunteered to pick us up with the trailer, saving us the long trudge back to the stables.