Day 2, racing the Pony Express

Starting point: Marysville, KS
Ending point: Ogallala, NE
Miles: Approx. 460

After leaving the Thunderbird Motel this morning we headed into Marysville to check out one of the Pony Express Barns. Unfortunately it was closed, but we got a good peek inside the dirty, relatively authentic building. By 9 a.m. the temperature was already climbing the 80s. We decided it would be best to hit the trail and get the air flowing through the riders' heavy gear.

We hit some substantial dirt. We were able to make good time even though the trucks often fishtailed across small areas of dirt and gravel. The bikes held up well and kept their pace, the riders pushing harder to keep balance. It was an awesome feeling to look around the path and acknowledge that we were witnessing a similar scene as Pony Express Riders would have nearly 150 years ago.

After passing through a few small Kansas towns we found the Hollenberg Pony Express Home Station. Even though it is closed on Tuesdays, we happened to run into the site administrator, Duane Durst, who was tending to the small garden. He was more than happy to open up the museum and ward of the swarms of hornets that buzzed by its doors.

Mr. Durst invited us in after turning on the air conditioner (an open window in the front room) and gave us an extremely informative view of the building. Hollenberg Station is one of the most original PE stations left. Built in 1857, the premises housed the weary riders on their westward journey. Mr. and Mrs. Hollenberg manned the station, living with about seven other people. The small second floor, which looked more like an attic, was where the riders would rest - most likely right on the floor. With temperatures reaching more than 100 degrees by this point, it was difficult to imagine how these men were able to sleep at all.


After the interview tour and a group photo with Mr. Durst, we hit the dirt again, crossing the Nebraska state line. It was hard to keep up with the riders in our 1996 Chevy, but we did our best. Until the muffler fell off. Driving across a dirt intersection, the truck erupted with sound and I shortly pulled over to survey the damage. It didn't seem to be too bad, but the pipe was not stable and had somehow come loose. We had to fix it right away, so we caught up with the rest of the crew and redirected to Beatrice, Nebraska. The other vehicle suffered a small crack in the windshield as well.

Once we found a shop to weld the muffler back on, we decided to choose our battles and hightail it to our ideal destination: Ogallala, Nebraska, about 313 miles away. The riders were ready for it.

Even during lunch, before we hit the road, the clouds were conspiring. They balled up in fluffy menacing figures, expanding and threatening storms. I checked the forecast - severe thunderstorms. We looked at the sky. It wasn't quite dark and didn't seem to really have the capacity to produce any serious tornadoes or other dangers, so I asked to ride.

Jim and Greg (the two riders) thought that would be fine. I laced up my boots, threw on a helmet and jumped on the back of Jim's BMW. Being in Nebraska was just as exciting as following the Pony Express route. The idea of real people on a real mission following the same path under completely different circumstances was nearly overwhelming. I spent the rest of the day surveying the landscapes from the back of the bike, secretly wishing that the horsepower beneath me was an actual horse.

Regardless, it was a beautiful ride. The clouds weren't exactly inviting, though. Lighting streaked across the sky, threatening to close in on us. We beat the rain and made it into town around 10 p.m., Mountain Time.

Tomorrow we plan to follow the route to Chimney Rock, Scott's Bluff and Fort Laramie in Wyoming. Then we hope that we'll be able to make it down Route 25 into Colorado to meet one of our sponsors from Wolfman. Tomorrow's forecast: Thunderstorms. I think I'll stay in the truck.

Count down: Six days, five hours left