CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — For 65 years, the trail ride has been taking cowboys and cowgirls from here in Tynan to San Antonio and it's a tradition they are hoping to keep alive.
It's a journey unlike any other. The cowboy way, on horseback and wagons!
Assistant trail boss, Jarred Pollard, has been participating in this journey for as long as he can remember.
"Me and a few friends of mine we grew up on this ride, we're trying in a sense to keep it going," Pollard said. "Just trying to keep that cowboy tradition alive we're a dying breed."
A dying breed he said...but far from gone.
He has gotten his children involved and said it's that sense of family that keeps him coming back.
"We're all a family here try to keep everybody motivated going down this road, everybody is here to help each other, that is what a family does," Pollard said.
As the horses are fed outside, inside, the Corpus Christi Downtown Lions Club provided a hearty meal for the long days ahead.
Manning the grill for the trail ride is Luis Irigoyn, his second year on the ride.
He also wants to see some new participants join in.
"It's time for new comers, there's a lot of older generations that have done this so long time to pass the torch down to some of the 'youngins'," Irigoyn said.
The eight-day journey takes riders from Tynan to Beeville, to Pettus and on...
As the ride honors those who came before and are no longer here, they also seek to bring new riders on to help keep it going.
Like, 18-year-old Jaycee Polasek. It's the Karnes City high school student's first big ride and this year's queen.
"I've always wanted to do this since I was younger, always been a dream of mine before I went to college it makes me emotional because its awesome to see everybody getting together riding and having fun," Polasek said.
A dance will be held Friday night at the Tynan Recreation Hall. The public is invited for $10 dollars a person. Children under 12 are free. There will be a live performance by The Steel Water Band.
Another dance will be held Saturday and the public is once again invited at their Beeville stop.
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