New Page 1

Canadian Pony Express: Ride For Missions 5

September 8, 2007

Photo Gallery

Pictures are of our last Ride For Missions 4 in July 2005

Click on Images for Larger Picture and follow the daily journal
of Andy Gibbesh as he travels with the Canadian Pony Express.

8 July 2005 - Calgary Stampede Parade

Bob Drury, Matt Howell & Rob Ferguson cleaning tack.

Calgary Stampede parade

Gary Myer, representing Ralph Klein Premiere of Alberta receives mail with Miss Teen Canada and Pastor Len Crow.

Dave Bronconnier, Mayor of Calgary receiving mail from Pastor Len Crow.

Friends and Family,

July 8/05

We had a parade today...

Today was the day of the Calgary Stampede Parade. We were up bright and early to get our horses saddled, get the stagecoach unloaded, and get the Clydesdale horses hitched to the stagecoach. The parade started at 9:00 AM, although we were told to be ready go a fair bit earlier than that. Around 9:20 we were brought to the final staging area before getting into the parade itself. Over the course of 2 or 3 blocks all the groups were getting inserted into the parade. All of the different groups (Horses, Floats, Bands) were camped and set up in different areas, so each time we came to an intersection we would wait while a float or a band entered the lineup. After a few blocks of this everything was in order, and we continued out into the public part of the parade.

Our group consisted of Steve Crow and Brian Ferguson leading as flag-bearers. Brian had the Canadian Flag, and Steve had our Canadian Pony Express flag. They were followed by the stagecoach and the two outriders. Pastor Crow and one of the men that came with the carriage horses were the outriders. In the drivers seat of the stagecoach was Gary Stykes (who loaned the stagecoach for the ride), and the driver that was provided with the carriage horses. On the roof was Sylvia Stark with Amanda Klyn (Miss Teen Canada 2005) and Austin and Riley Featherstone, and Klara Wood on the rear-facing seat. Riding Inside the stagecoach was John Featherstone, Bruce and Brenda Nelles, and Frank and Maggie D'Angelo (Messengers International Sponsors). Following the coach were our riders: Pastor Wood, Rob and Carleen Ferguson, Matt Howell, Bob Drury, Bert Marling and Joanne. I accompanied the group on foot as photographer. The remainder of the Canadian Pony Express team set up on the sidelines to watch the entire parade.

We spent the next 2 hours walking and riding past between approximately 400,000 spectators. It was truly the experience of a lifetime, and not one that any of us will ever be likely to forget.

At 2:00, well after the parade was over, we made our way to City Hall, where we met with Ralph Klein's the Premier of Alberta, representative Gary Myer, and with Dave Bronconnier, the Mayor of Calgary, to present them with the letters we have been carrying and collecting all through our trek.

After the presentations, we loaded up the horses, packed up our tents and trailers, and prepared to head out for the farm where we were going to stay for the remainder of our time in Calgary. Before we were able to head out, we found out that we would not be able to use the farm. Fortunately Pastor Wood, and Bruce Nelles, had some contacts that were able to help us out. Our group split up, with some of us going to a farm just outside of Didsbury, and the rest going to another farm outside of Olds.

Tomorrow we become tourists, and plan to spend the day seeing the shows, events, and attractions of the Calgary Stampede. Sunday we will be visiting a couple of local churches.

For myself, I can say that I have enjoyed the experience, and will certainly miss the friends I have made along the way.

Andy.

7 July 2005 - WE MADE IT!!!

All together now for the last few miles of the ride outside of Calgary, Alberta.

Some of the Pony Express Team at the gates of the Calgary Stampede grounds.

Friends and Family,

July 7/05

We had a satisfying day...

Our last day of riding is officially over. We only had about an hour and a half of riding, ending with all 7 riders riding together for the last 5 miles. All the riders were pretty much racing each other the whole time, and tell me that they had a blast doing it. I really hope the pictures turn out.

At 12:30 we had a meeting with the media outside the Stampede gates. There were a couple of newspapers, and a TV station there. It was a fantastic photo-op, with the stagecoach out, and most of us in our official yellow team shirts.

When we were finished with the media, we made our way over to Ft. Calgary, which is the staging ground for the parade tomorrow morning. All afternoon there were horses and floats arriving. We will be group #58 of over 300 groups. There was also a barbeque hosted for everybody involved in the parade.

We were able to take the afternoon to make sure that all our horses and gear were neat, clean, and in parade condition.

As I am writing this there are fireworks going off in town, as a part of the events, and festivities that make the Stampede famous.

Although it has seemed like a long, event filled day, that seems to be all there is to say.

Andy

6 July 2005 - Day 7 of the Ride

Rob Ferguson gets a trail haircut.

Receiving a well deserved drink.

Finally on dry ground at High River, Alberta.

Friends and Family,

July 6/05

We had a shorter day today...

We didn't have as many miles to cover today, so we got to sleep in till 7:00. (We have usually been getting up around 4:00.) After getting things organized, Pastor Crow, Rob and I went back east of Lethbridge, and Pastor and I rode towards Lethbridge, while the other riders rode from Ft. McLeod towards High River. There were a few people that wanted to get in on the riding, (myself included), and with today being a shorter day we were able to do it. I rode about 10 miles, (15 KM), and I believe that the others rode around 8 miles.

When we got to the Rodeo Grounds in High River where we're staying, the people from Masterfeeds had dinner provided for us. There wasn't a local meeting, but they brought over a whole lot of Kentucky Fried Chicken. I think that there was between 50 and 100 pieces of chicken, along with salads, fries, deserts, and a cooler full of drinks. I think that we were all very pleased, and very grateful to the many people of Masterfeeds that have helped in so many ways to make our trip easier and enjoyable.

Tomorrow is our last day of riding, so we get to sleep in again. Tomorrow we finish the journey, and the day after we will be in the Calgary Stampede Parade, and we will present our letters to the Mayor of Calgary, as well as to the Premier of Alberta, Ralph Klien.

Until tomorrow...

Andy

5 July 2005 - Day 6 of the Ride

Cyprus Hills, Alberta

4 July 2005 - Day 5 of the Ride

Pastor Crow and Amanda (Miss Teen Canada) in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan

3 July 2005 - Day 4 of the Ride

Pastor Doug Woods preaching Sunday morning in Weyburn, Saskatchewan

Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan Parade where we were joined by Miss Teen Canada

Gravelbourg graciously provided dinner.

2 July 2005 - Day 3 of the Ride

Beginning of a Tornado east of Estevan, Saskatchewan

Masterfeeds Roping competition in Weyburn, Saskatchewan

1 July 2005 - Day 2 of the Ride 171 Miles covered

Bert Marling headed west for Deloraine, Manitoba

Delivery of congratulatory letters to town of Deloraine, Manitoba celebrating 125 year Anniversary.

30 June 2005 - DAY 1 of the Ride 45.5Miles covered

Checking the map before starting the first day of riding

With Letters loaded Pastor Len Crow starts the ride.

June 30/05

We started the ride a day early...

Last night the Pastor and Mrs. Crow went to a meeting at Pembina Valley Baptist Church. There were 300 or 400 people there, and they did not get back to Ft. Dufferin until close to Midnight.

After several phone calls and some strategizing we decided that due to the heavy rain, and flooding, we were going to move our camp to Niel Penner's farm in Morden, which is a fair bit drier. Niel was originally going to be our trail boss, but had to back out of this, so it is great that he can still be involved. This afternoon the Farrier arrived at Niel Penner's farm to shoe and trim 3 of the horses.

Once we got people arranged to move out to Morden, and got Bert on the road to Winnipeg to pick up Brenda and Louise at the airport, we started the Ride, leaving from Emerson, (very close to Ft. Dufferin). By 4:00 we had 45.5 miles logged in.

It was raining all last night, and part of this morning, but has cleared up this afternoon. It has also been very windy all day. I understand that the winds were up to 70KM/h, and not gusting. Partly as a result of this we have repairs to make one of the trailers. One section of the roof blew off on the road. It is well on it's way to being repaired.

Right now we are back at Pembina Valley Baptist Church. They have cooked us a roast-beef dinner. Tomorrow morning we get started into the core of the ride. We intend to have a horse running at 5:00 AM. Please pray for the horses, we injured one today, so we are down by one. Also pray for safety, Bob Drury is at the local Hospital getting his had looked at. He got a nasty cut while loading a horse into his trailer.

Well, I must sign off...

Flooded farm field Manitoba

Farrier arrived at Niel Penner's farm to shoe and trim 3 of the horses.

Roast Beef Dinner at Pembina Valley Baptist Church

29 June 2005 - Travel to Ft. Dufferin, MB

Loading Horses before departing from Dryden, ON

June 29/05

We made it to Fort Dufferin at Emerson, Manitoba around 2:30 this afternoon. Unfortunately much of Manitoba is under water. Many farm fields that we saw were wet, and most of the rivers and streams were high. We managed to get set up, although we had to make considerations for the amount of water around. We backed the trailers into the driveway but did not park off the driveway. The corral for the mares has up to an inch or two over most of it. About an hour after we arrived at Fort Dufferin it started to rain and it hasn't stopped since. We've rearranged the lodging so that nobody needs to set up a tent, but even without anybody sleeping in tents, most of us are wet.

Arriving to a very wet Fort Dufferin at Emerson, Manitoba

28 June 2005 - Travel to Dryden, ON

Arrival at fairgrounds in Dryden, ON

June 28/05

Travel Day two has ended on a higher note than yesterday did.

We drove from Kapuskasing to Dryden in about 13 hours, without incident. The local Agricultural Society has allowed us to use the fairgrounds. This is very nice for us as it gives us corrals for the horses, (which allows them a little more freedom, and us fewer problems... more on that in a minute), it also has shower facilities, which gives us the opportunity to avoid resorting to sponge baths. The facilities here has also enabled those of us in tents to bed down in some of the stalls rather than setting up our tents.

Last night did not go entirely without problems. Around 11:00, three of the horses broke loose from the trailers they were tied to. As we did not have access to corrals in Kapuskasing, we had to tether the horses to the horse trailers. The problem is that one of the horses spooked, and broke it's lead rope, and that startled 2 others who then broke free. Thankfully the horses did not wander away at all, and we were able to tie them up again. At one other point during the night one of the horses broke free, but Steve and Brian were up on night watch and were able to secure it easily.

Until tomorrow...