The New World
I recently came across a Pony Express marker way off the Pony Express Trail. It sits in Rio Vista, California, and commemorates the New World, the river steamer that may…
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December 29, 2021
Rockville Station
I believe Rockville Station is the next station west of Gillespie's Store in Vacaville. At least, I haven't found references to any other. [Well, there is a plaque at a…
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April 12, 2021
Five Mile Station
Five Mile Station is last station before you get to the western terminus of the Pony Express Trail in Sacramento. As such, it's not really part of my collection of…
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April 12, 2021
The Antelope
Riding through Old Town Sacramento the other day, I came across a Pony Express memorial that somehow I'd never seen before. I happened to stop to adjust something on my…
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February 25, 2021
Gillespie's Store XP Monument–Front
Gillespie’s Store
Gillespie's Store is the next station west of Halfway House (Silveyville). It sits in front of Heritage House, a restaurant in the heart of old downtown section of Vacaville. Vacaville…
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February 2, 2021
Pony Express Bridge Monument–Front
Pony Express Bridge
Took a ride the other day (December 10, 2020) to view the Pony Express Memorial in West Sacramento. Good thing too, as due to increased COVID restrictions, we're asked one…
December 11, 2020
Halfway House
Halfway House is another station marker west of Sacramento. It sits in the former town of Silveyville. As the inscription on the bench states, the residents of Silveyville packed up…
December 1, 2020
Solano House Station Monument
Solano House
The western terminal of the Pony Express is in Sacramento, as is the end of the Pony Express Bikepacking Route. Even so, the first eastbound XP rider left from San…
November 27, 2020
Open gate on Tong Road. Google Maps still shows this as posted No Trespassing.
Scouting: Cameron Park to Old Town Folsom
Last July (2020), I scouted two routes between Cameron Park (actually, from Shingle Springs, a little to the east) and Folsom. The ride report is here. Based on that trip,…
November 13, 2020
Pony Express marker at Simpson Pass
Scouting: Sand Springs to Simpson Pass
For my last Nevada scouting trip this season, I headed back out to Fallon for a ride I've been looking at for months: The Pony Express Trail from Sand Springs…
November 7, 2020
Scouting: Carson Sink Station
This is the third of three reports on the route between Sand Springs and Carson Sink Stations. Part 1 ("Sand Springs Station to Simpson Pass") is here, and part 2 ("Simpson…
November 7, 2020
The markers are nice, though you can't always see (or ride a straight line to) the next one
Scouting: Simpson Pass to Highway 95
This is the second of three reports on the route between Sand Springs and Carson Sink Stations. Part 1 ("Sand Springs Station to Simpson Pass") is here, and part 3 ("Carson…
November 7, 2020
View of the station site approaching from the parking area
Sand Springs Station
The ruins of Sand Springs Station are on the short road to Sand Mountain Recreation Area, a hugely popular off-road vehicle destination. The recreation area has an RV campground that,…
October 23, 2020
Looking over Cold Spring toward the station site entrance
Cold Springs Station
The ruins of Cold Springs Station are accessible from US 50 about 60 miles west of Austin, NV and 13 miles east of Middlegate. There are two locations marked "Cold…
October 23, 2020
Aspens along Smith Creek. This area was known in Pony Express times as Quaking Aspen Bottom.
Scouting: Basque Summit/Smith Creek Ranch
Scouting a route to Basque Summit is a particularly interesting story. As I've mentioned elsewhere, the original XP Bikepacking Route goes through the Desatoya Mountains (known as the Se-day-e Range to…
October 22, 2020