"The Trip is on"
 Those of you who read my last post know that I've been planning for a 24-day RV trip to retrace the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.
Texas  and California particular have really stepped up with planned events. Most of my preparations for the trip are complete, with just some minor details to be worked out. The route will take me from St. Louis, Missouri on September 16th through Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and finally to San Francisco, California on October 10th. I'm hoping to see many exciting places and meet interesting people along the way!
Planning an adventure of this magnitude with an historical foundation is a monumental task that most would never contemplate. However, I would like to share something I've learned during the process: most states really want you to visit.
That may sound like an obvious statement, but they will actually help you plan your trip to their states and send you valuable information...for free!
Not only will states do this, but in some cases cities and towns will do the same. So if you're thinking of visiting Missouri check this site Click here to learn about third-party website links, Arkansas check this out Click here to learn about third-party website links, Oklahoma here Click here to learn about third-party website links, Texas (kudos particularly to Texas) click here Click here to learn about third-party website links, New Mexico here Click here to learn about third-party website links, Arizona here Click here to learn about third-party website links, and for California start here Click here to learn about third-party website links. They will send you information on everything from events to parks to campgrounds and maps.
I hope you will all follow me on my adventure beginning September 16th. And maybe you'll be inspired to start planning your own.
Happy traveling! |
"On the Butterfield Route With Casey "
 After spending the weekend dressed in an 1870s costume, complete with waist coat and pocket watch, answering questions and telling stories about stagecoaches and Wells Fargo history in the hot El Cajon Valley sun, I decided to take a day off.
So, here I sit with my road atlas, a well-warn copy of The Butterfield Overland Mail by Waterman L. Ormsby, Post-it Notes in three colors, and of course, my laptop with internet at the ready. What could I possibly be doing?
Well, if all goes as planned, I will have the unique opportunity to travel the old Butterfield mail route from St. Louis to San Francisco. What's the occasion you ask? As many of you may know, this year is the 150th anniversary of the first overland mail trip via the Butterfield Route .
As part of our celebration of this anniversary — which will include new interactive exhibits in our museums! — I'm hoping to recreate the trip in the same amount of time as the historic journey .
Launching from St. Louis on September 16 and arriving in San Francisco on October 10 (to what I imagine will be a ticker tape parade!), I'll spend 26 days on the road. I plan to blog, video, photograph and interview interesting people and places I see along the way.
As you can imagine, this is no small undertaking: which brings me back to the atlas, book, post it notes, etc.
Right now, I'm in the process of working out the logistics, budget, research and all else that goes into planning a trip of this kind. I can only imagine what planning, anxiety and excitement must have gone into the pioneers' and 49ers' preparations. It's been a lot of work so far, but I think it will be incredibly rewarding in the end. A couple weeks ago, the Olaf Wieghorst Western Heritage Day's Festival took place in El Cajon, California. It's always great to be able to get out and interact with the public in that type of environment. After 6 years, I'm still amazed at the reaction people have when they see the stagecoach, whether it's the memories it conjures, the curiosity it piques or the awe it inspires. Men and women, young and old — so many people are drawn to it.
And because I love to educate and tell stories, it was a great time.
After spending the weekend dressed in an 1870s costume, complete with waist coat and pocket watch, answering questions and telling stories about stagecoaches and Wells Fargo history in the hot El Cajon Valley sun, I decided to take a day off.
|
