Joe Eyler
Beautiful weather was a blessing this year during the 2016 Covered Wagon Ride from Thurmont to Taneytown on the weekend of May 29, but it sure was a very hot ride. Some people and riders, and some of the animals, had to stop midway the first day because of the heat.
This year, it was decided to fix meals the old-fashioned way and to eat together. So, with Jubilee’s donations, breakfast was prepared and served. Riders feasted on bacon, sausage, eggs, coffee, orange juice and water. Lunch was packed in a brown bag and dinner consisted of a covered dish with breakfast leftovers.
Camping took place overnight at John and Roxann Moroles’ Farm on Keysville Road at the Carroll and Frederick County line. Kevin Booth from Martinsburg, West Virginia, provided entertainment by crooning Elvis, Conway, and George Strait songs. The next morning, breakfast was fixed and cowboy church was held with Pastor Les Sims preaching the sermon.
The ride started with eleven wagons, nine outriders, and eleven passengers on Saturday, but the heat left only five teams and three outriders to finish the trip. Teams came from far off parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania.
This year’s riders included three sets of twins. One set of twins, Rianna and Sheridan Chaney, traveled all the way from Elwood, Nebraska to participate. A second pair of girls came from Mt. Airy in Maryland, and a set of boys from Lewistown, Maryland. On Saturday morning, Mayor John Kinnaird gave his blessings for a safe trip; he took many pictures and shared them on Facebook.
Mr. Jim Sayler was the wagon master this year. He started the train by saying “Wagons Ho! Giddy Up Go!” His wagon has traveled the borders of Texas, and one trip to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in 1976.
The train arrived in Taneytown on time at 2:00 p.m., and was met by Taneytown’s Mayor James McCarron. Signs were up at several places in Taneytown announcing that the wagon train was coming, and a crowd was there to greet them.
A special thanks to many is in order. Thank you to two Buckskinners, Jerry Shulze and Hayden Lambert, of Mt Airy, for the much needed help in making all the many things of labor and love happen. Also, thanks to Mrs. Sue Fair for registration.
Thank you to the food preparers: Donna Righter, Terry Miller, and Geo Anezelone, all of Thurmont.
A fall wagon ride will be held at Eyler Road field on October 14-16, 2016. If you would like to be part of this historic event, call 301-271-2023 and leave a message for a return call.
Driving his homemade replica Covered Wagon, Joe Eyler sits with his granddaughters, Brooke and Brittany, during the Covered Wagon Ride on May 29, 2016 from Thurmont to Taneytown.
