.::.STOP GLOBAL WARMING.::.

The Pony Express, which some say started as an expensive publicity stunt by the freighting firm Russell, Majors & Waddell to snag a lucrative government mail contract, turned into an 18-month adventure that still captures the imagination of western-history lovers. For more than 132 years, the lore of the Pony Express has endured. Almost yearly, people ride all or parts of the trail on horseback. From its starting point in St. Joseph, Missouri, to its terminus in Sacramento, California, the Express' 1,839 miles traversed the "central route." Transportation magnates William H. Russell, Alexander Majors and William Waddell were betting on this route to triumph over the more popular but longer southern route as the nation's choice of mail and passenger service between the Mississippi and California.

Indeed, the idealized vision of the samurai's goal was to blend of the art of warfare with other, more traditional, arts such as poetry, painting, or shodo, the art of writing Japanese symbols. Because the samurai formed the foundation for the rest of the Japanese aristocracy, it was crucial that they be educated. This would lead to a surprisingly high rate of literacy amongst this warrior caste.

While searching for family history, you will find a wealth of information by using your computer. You can search though old historical records have been transcribed or scanned and then uploaded into online databases. Years ago you would travel many miles or pay a researcher to find these types of documentations. Today you can do this online. However, you may have to pay to access some online databases.

However, the Samurai wasn't limited to engaging only in melee battles, as they were also well-trained in the use of the longbow while on foot and smaller bows while on horseback, enabling them to deal death from a distance.

My wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary "adventuring" along the First Administrative Division of the historic trail, tracking down monuments and station remains along the way, meeting the people, and having the perfect anniversary celebration for two enthusiasts of the history of the Old West. We chose to limit our travels to the First Division only because we were limited on time and financial resources -- and because that first division is located relatively near our home.

A number of years have gone by since our trip (we did it in 1992), but the people and artifacts of this colorful trail are still there and still very worth seeing. This is the first of several articles I will be writing to share our impressions and some of the things we learned about this brief, romantic period in the life and history of the Old West as we took to the trail. I hope you'll ride along with us!