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San Francisco Mounted Patrol officers Charlie Elllis and Sgt. Robert Totha escort Pony Express rider Jeff Babbage through downtown San Francisco. Babbage was the first rider on a journey to St. Joseph, Mo., celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Pony Express rider Jeff Babbage, right, of El Dorado, Calif., prepares as riders commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Pony Express make their way through downtown San Francisco, headed to Fisherman's Wharf. The destination of the anniversary journey is to St. Joseph, Mo.

Photo by Richard Gwin

"It all started watching cowboys and Indians on TV. Now I come back every year." Peter Kwoka, 61, from Berlin, Germany, is an a active member of the Pony Express ever since a 1987 U.S. vacation when he saw the riders in Virginia City, Nev., and fell in love with the ride. On June 8, he took to the saddle in Nevada as one of the riders for the three-week 150th anniversary journey of the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Susan LaFrance, rides her horse, Folsom, California, near the Malcolm Dixon Red School on June 7 as part of the 150th anniversary ride of the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Pony Express rider Weston Wright of Wellington, Nev., takes off from Woodfords Station on the Nevada/California border on June 8, heading east to Genoa, Nev., on the third day of a three-week journey from San Francisco to St. Joseph, Mo.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Ken Memmott, 55, of Sciepio, Utah, rides from Ruby Valley, Nev., to Simpson Springs, Utah, on the third day of the three-week ride to St. Joseph. Memmott's great-grandfather George Washington Perkins was one of the original riders for the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Peter Binack, 62, of the Czech Republic, flew about 6,500 miles from home to ride for 20 minutes into the ruins of Fort Churchill south of Carson, Nev., on June 8 as a part of the anniversary trip.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Two riders gallop across the desert south of Carson City, Nev., stirring up dust on June 8, the fourth day of a three-week journey to St. Joseph, Mo., to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Stoney Tennant, 70, of Dayton, Nev., talks about the rock walls inside a former Pony Express Station. The walls were built from leftover rocks from an 1860 gold mine.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Heading east across Nevada, riders pass the ruins of former Pony Express stations along U.S. Highway 50.

Photo by Richard Gwin

The ruins of Cold Springs Pony Express Station sit on the south side of U.S. Highway 50, tucked into a hillside with a cool stream of water next to them.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Pam Ryay, of Nine Mile Falls, Wash., rides her horse northeast from Dry Creek Station on June 11, the 6th day of the three-week anniversary journey. Temperatures were in the 50s during the day for the rides through mountains and desert-like conditions, and dropped to the 40s overnight.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Loading up the mochila at Grub Wells Station, Nev., on June 11. Pony Express re-riders were on their 6th day of a three-week ride from San Francisco to St. Joseph, Mo.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Wooden grave markers at Fort Pierce, Nev., mark the resting place of an 1861 Pony Express rider and two U.S. Cavalry soldiers from 1864. The markers are in a valley not far from Eagle Canyon Station.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Matt Herty, 29, of Salt Lake, Nev., takes off from Lookout Pass on June 14, the ninth day of the three-week journey commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Pony Express re-rider Peter Fillerup 56, of Heber, Utah, rests on June 14 while showing off his beaded gloves before leaving from Lookout Pass, Nev., with the leather knapsack called the mochila.

Photo by Richard Gwin

A riderless horse is led into Simpson Springs, Utah, by Diane Workman of Bluffdale, Utah, on June 18 to honor her grandfather Demar Brimhall, a longtime rider who would have been 95.

Photo by Richard Gwin

A riderless horse is led in to Simpson Springs, Utah, on June 13 by Diane Workman, 42, of Bluffdale, Utah, to honor her grandfather, long-time rider Demar Brimhall. Brimhall would have been 95. The boot turned around in the stirrup signifies a fallen rider.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Raymond MIles 27, of Tooele, Uhah, a Pony Express re-rider does a little stunt on his horse on June 13, the 8th day of the re-enactment journey to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

With snow on the Wind River Mountains along side them, Cindy Watkins, 27, and her horse Socks head east along Wyoming Highway 28, on June 15, the ninth day of the 150th anniversary commemorative ride of the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

"It really rubs off on you", Lisa Lacey, of Rock Springs, Wyo., says about her first time taking part in the Pony Express re_ride. Lacy stopped to water her horse Dakota and rest on the banks of the Green River after riding across desert terrain on June 15, the ninth day of the 150th anniversary commemoration of the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Pony Express riders warm up their horses as clouds move in over the desert of Wyoming, near the crossing of the Oregon and Mormon trails.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Wyoming ride captain Jay Jensen 59, of Casper rides his horse Whisper toward Fort Seminoe, Wyo., past a lazy steam.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Wyoming ride captain Jay Jensen 59, of Casper rides his horse Whisper toward Fort Seminoe, Wyo., on Wednesday.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Wyoming ride captain Jay Jensen 59, of Casper rides his horse Whisper toward Fort Seminoe, Wyo., on Wednesday.

Photo by Richard Gwin

A rider readies her mount next to a old train at Douglas, Wyo., on Thursday as riders headed east toward Fort Laramie, Wyo., accompanied by 60 mph winds.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Gary Gwin, of Red Desert, Wyo., heads into Granger, Wyo., on his leg of the anniversary ride of the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

The leather mail pouch knows as the mochila lies on the ground with signatures of riders in Douglas, Wyo.,, as re_riders gather to ride toward Fort Laramie on Thursday, the 12th day of the anniversary ride of the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Mounted and ready to ride, Paula Hess, 59, of Casper, Wyo., gets ready to make her 20th Pony Express re-ride from Fort Seminoe, Wyo.on her horse P.J., a leopard Appaloosa.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Pony Express re-rider Paula Hess, 59, of Casper, Wyo., heads east past Devils Gate in the background, toward Casper, Wyo. on the 11th day of a three-week ride commemorating the Pony Express.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Patches and medals on a rider's vest demonstrate how dedicated the riders are to the Pony Express and telling that story to others.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Pony Express re_riders in Cozad, Neb., take an oath on Sunday, June 19, 2010, before making the ride from Cozad, Neb. towards Fort Kearney.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Pony Express riders from Cozad, Neb., from left, Chip Bullock,52, and Aaron Hueftle, 14, stand at the Old Pony Express Station in Veteran's Park for a pictures before heading off on Sunday toward Fort Kearney.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Waving his hat to the incoming riders, Merritt Skinner 5, of Ogallala, Neb.,, was one of several town people greeting the Pony Express riders on June 19, 2010, at Ogallala.

Photo by Richard Gwin

The Mochila arrives at the bluffs near Scottsbluff, Neb., Friday June 18, 2010, and pushes on to Sidney, Nebraska in the late afternoon for a dedication of a Pony Express Memorial at Cabela's.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Pony Express re-riders from left, Don Parmenter 82, of Gering, Neb., and Trail Captain Max Cawiezel, of Scottsbluff, Neb., carry the mochila near Chimney Rock in Nebraska on Friday June 18, 2010 as the riders head to Sidney, Neb., to dedicate a Pony Express memorial.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Pony Express re-riders carry the mochila near Chimney Rock in Nebraska on Friday June 18, 2010, the 12th day of the three-week anniversary ride of the Pony Express, pulling in to Sidney, Neb., to dedicate a Pony Express memorial.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Flags fly high in front of Cabela's in Sidney, Neb., on Friday June 18, 2010.

Photo by Richard Gwin

A Pony Express rider passes a mail box along a Nebraska rural road on Sunday June 19, 2010,the 15th day of the Pony Expresss Re_ride from Cozad, Neb. toward Fort Kearney.

Photo by Richard Gwin

Casting reflections in water fro a overnight rain in Oak, Neb.,, a Pony Express re-rider rests with his horse ready to make the next leg of journey on Sunday June 20, 2010, from Oak to the old Hollenberg Pony Express Station in Kansas late in the afternoon.

Photo by Richard Gwin