Bucklands-Park

October 17, 2017  •  2 Comments

 In today's post we are sharing an excerpt from our "2015 Journal Following the Nevada Pony Express". We have an Ebook in the works to be published soon. 

In 2015, the plan was to visit Pony Express Stations along Highway 50 in the State of Nevada... We have since added California and Utah! I hope you enjoy reading this tid bit of part of our day two years ago. 

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~ October 16, 2015 ~

... It was overcast and 60*, quiet and calm with just a breeze blowing through the Cottonwood trees… it had been a great visit at the Fort Churchill campgrounds. I enjoyed my coffee, fed Rider and started getting things situated in the trailer to hit the road. I took a look at my maps to plan my day while eating my banana and a few Vanilla Wafers for breakfast. After finishing the cleanup of our camp site and hooking up the trailer, (in one shot I may add!) we were off to Buckland’s Station.

[Historical Note: Samuel Buckland signed a contract with the California Central Overland Pikes Peak Express (Known as the Pony Express) to be a relay Station for it’s operations. A short few months later the Pyramid/Paiute War began and the Army built Fort Churchill near by. It was needed in order to protect the XP Riders and the California Emigrant Trail. The Pony Station was moved to the Fort’s Headquarters building.]

    At this historical site today, stands a two Story House that was once used for the Stage Coach stop, a Hotel and a Trading post. Across the Street are a few buildings, barns and some corrals, all located behind a large parking area near the road. Which facilities were used for the Pony, I am not sure, if any. Some research states none of them. Regardless, I captured lots of photos of the old buildings and barns! Also, for you tractor buffs out there, there were many in the pasture next to the barn closest to the highway. The sign said that the locals put them there on loan for the site to display many of the different types of farm tools used over the last 150 years.

CEP_nv_bucklands-0861Horse DrawnHorse Drawn implement at Buckland's Station.

    There is a nice park next to the parking lot with large trees, barbeques, a few tables and more farm art. The trees were already showing their Fall spirit by beaming with beautiful colors of yellow and orange… in the midst there were a few old fence posts and a hay rake under one of them. I managed to capture a photo and one of them had Rider under it… well, more like he “photo bombed” my shot!  Funny boy! I then decided to turn my camera on him… on purpose… I captured him with a stick in his mouth while laying in the beautiful fall leaves and looking at me. It was a puppy cuteness overload photo!

  CEP_nv_bucklands-08672015 Bucklands - RiderRider poses with a stick in his mouth while lying in beautiful fall leaves. We were visiting the Buckland's Station Park.

    We walked back to the parking lot and I picked Rider up for us to take a selfie with my phone to share later on social media. We were in front of one of the leaning buildings by the gate. I have to admit, it was difficult to stop taking photos here, as I have a strong love for old barns and the like!

    While opening the door to my truck to load Rider…I heard one of the strangest things… it sounded like there were horses running and one whinnying… I looked from toward the area I heard it, but there were no horses, anywhere I could see…It gave me chills… my mind immediately thought of a Pony Express Rider running in for his next mount! It was truly strange, and regardless of what it was, it was a blessing for me to have that feeling even if it was for only a few moments… to have the feeling as if I was back in time and seeing it… feeling it… live! I thanked God for the experience and got into my truck and we headed out...

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...Stay tuned for the Ebook! Thank you for "Riding Shot Gun in Spirit" my friends!

 


Comments

Gary Maston(non-registered)
Looking forward to the e-book.
David Moniz(non-registered)
Hope to read more very soon.
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PONY EXPRESS!

Howdy! Thank you for choosing to follow along with us!

In order to catch you up to speed, if you are just joining in, I want to let you know about my personal project. My faithful companion, Rider (a gorgeous Australian Cattle Dog) and I, have been traveling on an Adventure, for a few years now… following the Central Overland Pony Express Trail.

Carla and Rider at Round FortRound Fort is between Ibapah and Callao Utah. It is also called Canyon Station. The Pony Express Canyon Station was further West of here though... This rock fortress was built the year after the Pony Express had ended.

Currently we are working on a Photo Journal, that will be an Ebook, with our personal experiences on the road. I started this journey, due to a visit to Fort Churchill, with my family in 2014. I read how it was built to protect the Pony Express Riders and the California Emigrant Trail. I have always been fascinated with the old West, and that of course included the Pony.  On that day, surprised to find such a fortress still standing, I wanted to know if there were more!  The photos I have captured, of these gems in the desert, will be in a Photo Book/Coffee Table Book. There will also be some History of the Stations, Station Keepers, Hostlers and the Riders.

Very naively I started this journey with the thought that the Pony Express "Auto Route" would drive me conveniently near all the ruins... Well, that was silly, and now I know better!

Please continue to "Ride Shotgun in Spirit" with us as we visit Historical Places along the route, and visit many Museums that house Archives of the daring young, and some not so young, Riders of the Infamous Pony Express!

Occasional we will also share with you many of the other sights seen along the way while traveling through California, Nevada and Utah.

We have decided to stop the book and journey for the time being at Salt Lake City, UT for a couple of reasons;

  • One) We have thousands of Photos with just these 3 States alone.
  • Two) The History of the Riders is pretty much split as Salt Lake being the middle. Though geographically that is not so. The 2 Divisions that will be included in our first book, are at the most Western end of the Trail.

There are 3 more Divisions from Salt Lake City to St. Joseph Missouri. Lord Willing, we will make a book Two!

We are so blessed to have YOU to share this Journey with us.

THANK YOU!

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