While most people have probably not heard of the small town of Tekoa, which is nestled in the Palouse not far from the Idaho border, it was the destination foremost in the minds of Chehalis residents Susan Roden and Kathy Cunnane when they departed Easton on May 19.
The 220-mile cross-state horseback trek would take 16 days to complete, which included 12 days in the saddle and four rest days.
On the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders Ride, Roden and Cunnane were joined by approximately 130 riders, bikers and team members along the trail, many riding for a few days and returning to regular life.
Out of these, only 23 rode every mile of the designated Palouse to Cascades trail to reach Tekoa, finishing Saturday afternoon, June 3. White scarves were awarded and a celebration dinner was held that evening in Tekoa.
Each morning, the horse trailers were moved at 7 a.m. to the next destination. The riders were then transported back to the horses, where they mounted up and rode ahead to the campsite. Upon arriving, corrals were set up for the horses overnight, while riders camped in horse trailers or campers. Dinners were provided most evenings after a group meeting, often by a food truck, and sometimes by local churches or community groups. Three riders rode out around 6:30 a.m. each day to mark and clear the trail. A drag rider was the last to leave camp and make sure nobody was stranded on the trail.
The highlights of the trail were two tunnels, a group parade through Ellensburg, the Renslow trestle that spans I-90, the Beverly Bridge that stretches over the Columbia River and the Tekoa trestle. Often the heights were more of a problem for the riders than for the horses. The longest day was the 25 miles from Renslow to Beverly, which required eight hours in the saddle.
The John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders Association was founded in the early 1980s after the railroad line was decommissioned in 1980. Much work has been completed over the years on the trail and the campsites.
For more information, visit www.johnwaynetrailride.com.
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