Wagon Train

South Dakota is celebrating its 125^th Anniversary of its Statehood.  One of the events occurring for the celebration of the anniversary is a wagon train.  Consisting of 45 wagons with their passengers and numerous horseback riders, more than 200 people will cover a 250-mile trip over 17 days ending up in the state capital of Pierre on September 20^th.

Today it stopped in Mitchell, SD while we were still there and to our delight we were able to photograph several of the drivers, wagons, mules and horses that make up the wagon train.   Settled in at the local rodeo grounds in Mitchell for the night.  They will rest here for tonight and through tomorrow, then have a celebration before continuing on their journey Wednesday morning. 

The feeling they may acquire along the road may indeed give them a small sense of what early pioneers experienced.  Breathing the cool morning air, hearing the sounds of horses, tack and wagons being prepared for the day’s trip, passing fields of grass swaying in the breeze or sharing stories at the end of the day around circled chairs are just a few of the possibilities that might recreate the feelings of pioneers within these modern day adventurers.

 By chance we heard of their adventure and found them.  We are glad we did.