The 33rd annual all-volunteer retracing of the Pony Express route between California and Missouri makes its way through the Panhandle Thursday.

The non-profit National Pony Express Association switches directions on the 10-day 1,966 mile trip each year, with this year’s roughly 700 riders going from St Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California.

The ride continues around the clock…although not at the breakneck speed of the original…so part of the trip across Nebraska and the trail’s dip into northeast Colorado takes place overnight.

Although the association says riders may be as much as 2 hours ahead of or behind the listed schedule, they’re expected in Chappell at 2:00 a-m MDT, Sidney at 4:30, and Bridgeport at 8:00 a-m.

From there, it’s Chimney Rock around 9:00, Scotts Bluff National Monument about 11:00, the Nebraska-Wyoming state line at Henry at 2:00, Torrington at 2:30, Fort Laramie at 4:30, and Guernsey at 6:00. Each will have a brief stop for changes of riders and horses, giving the public a chance to visit with the participants.

This year’s Pony Express ride left St Joe Monday morning at 10:00 CDT and is scheduled to reach Sacramento a week from tomorrow at 10:00 am PDT after crossing 8 states. The schedule, reports from the trail, and pictures are available at the National Pony Express Assocation website www.xphomestation.com.

The original Pony Express had 157 stations about 10 miles apart, roughly the distance a horse could travel at a gallop before tiring. Although a legendary part of American folklore, it operated for only 18 months…from April 1860 to October 1861…before it was replaced by the telegraph.