The long, hot dusty trail to Phillipsburg

INDIANOLA, Neb. - One summer, I took our two oldest daughters on a one-hundred-mile trail ride from McCook, Neb. to Phillipsburg, Kan. This ride was scheduled to take approximately one week, and we were to appear in the Grand Entry of the Phillipsburg Rodeo.

The horse that we took was the same "Baker" that I wrote about in a previous story. By this time, he was five years old and had a lot more training miles on him, although one never knew when he might blow up!

I don't remember exactly how many places we camped each night, but the girls and I remember how awfully hot and dirty the trip was.

One afternoon, the girls were both riding in the back of another group’s wagon and I was plodding along behind. I felt relaxed and had taken my legs out of the stirrups as my back and knees were throbbing and I was trying to stretch them out. Before I had time to react, the horse bucked and I did a backflip over his rear end. The girls were screaming and thought I'd broken my neck. Of course, the horse stood there looking down at me without a care in the world. He never gave me another episode for the rest of the trip.

When our kids talk about history, we like to revisit what it may have been like to be some of the pioneers that covered the width of the country by horse and covered wagon. We can tell you that when the temperatures reached 105 degrees Fahrenheit and we had no ice, little water except to stop at windmills, and no access to showers, the dirt would collect in all cracks and crevices that made the trip even more uncomfortable. Our kids definitely admired those brave souls that led to the settling of our nation.

Farmer Tom never had to worry about us leaving for such a trip again. Not saying it wasn't an experience, but the kids will tell you that it wasn't something they would ever want to repeat.

There were no cell phones, and we were very unprepared. I didn't own a credit card in those days, and I didn't take much cash as I hadn't anticipated spending any. Meeting Farmer Tom and our other kids was better than winning the lottery. He actually came with a trailer to attend the rodeo and bring us home. The motel beds and swimming pool were the best treat after such a long trail.

Have a good one!