Chewin The Cud - June 16, 2021

Nevada, Missouri, Friends Riding Horses Cross Country To Mount Rushmore By Frank J. Buchman “Cris and Forrest are living their dream.” The Nevada, Missouri, horsemen left home June 1, 2021, on horseback with one packhorse headed to South Dakota’s Black Hills. “It’s something I always wanted to do. We decided the window of opportunity

was right and just took off,” said Cris Rodriquez. “I really hadn’t even ridden horses until about two years ago. But then got into riding with Cris and here we are,” added Forrest Drury. “We really don’t have a set route, just follow our instinct, with advice we’re given along the way,” Rodriquez admitted. They do have solar powered cell phones with maps and also use a GPS global positioning system. Traveling an average of about 23-miles per day, the horsemen ride both major highways and country backroads.

“We try to take in as much of the different landscapes as we can,” Rodriquez said. “We have ridden up to 36 miles in a day, but that’s too much as hot as it’s getting.” “The best part of the journey though has been meeting all of the people,” Dru- ry insisted. “Everybody is very congenial, welcoming, interested in what we’re doing.” “So many of the people told us they dream about doing a similar trip. They say taking out and riding cross country is what they have wanted to do. But just never had the determination to do it,” Rodriquez said. From Ottawa the riders followed nature trails including the Santa Fe Trail to Council Grove. “We stayed there last night, and rode around the lakes today. We are camping at Alta Vista Park tonight, and heading northwest toward Fort Riley tomorrow,” Rodriquez said last Wednesday afternoon. “We often call ahead to the Chamber of Commerce or city office to see what accommodations are available,” he added. Rodriquez, 63, recently retired from working for the state of Missouri, and Dru - ry is an eighth grade history teacher. “We met at our cowboy church about six years ago, and became friends,” Ro - driquez said. “Forest got interested in riding horses, too, and we’ve had some great times. This trip is the best of all.” Formerly an accomplished endurance competition rider for about 15 years,