Arrived in St Joseph, Missouri to celebrate this year's Pony Express Reride.
History of the Pony Express:
The Pony Express started in April 1860 with a route that ran from St Josepth, Missouri to San Francisco, CA. Stations were established every 75-100 miles to house riders and relay stations were put up every 10-15 miles to supply fresh horses. The last delivery was made in November 1861. Riders ranged from teenagers to age 40. They could not weigh more than 120#. The riders carried 20# of mail and 25# of equipment. The company employed 80-100 riders with several hundered support workers at the way stations. Horses galloped 10-25 miles per hour. During a route of 75-100 miles a rider might change horses 10 times. Mail was carried in four locked boxes called Mochila (knapsack). The Pony Express charged $5 per half ounce of mail, later dropped the price to $1.
The Pony Express was short lived due to the invention of the telegraph.
The Pony Express reride relives the historic route of the Pony Express, using hundreds of members carrying the mochila. This year it ran from St Joseph, MO to Sacramento, CA. Next year it will run in reverse. There is a GPS tracker in the Mochila, so you can follow the ponies by using the QR code.
This year special because the US Post Office issued a set of Horse stamps that were issued today in conjunction with the start of the Reride.
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| Set of 20 horse stamps, cancelled commemorative envelope |
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| Program of today's event |
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| Canceled set of stamped envelopes |
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| pin that USPS was giving away today |
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| Mochila carrying letters (I have two in here - one going to Chloe in England) |
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| Mochila in position for the ride |
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| Ponies on display |
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| Riders |
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| Riders - They will do the ride close to Seneca KS |
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| President of Pony Express National Organization - from California |
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Each rider signs the Mochila
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