Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Past comes alive with the Okolona Trail Ride

Warm spring afternoons, four men are lazily resting under an old oak tree while two dogs and the horses rest.

The horses are still hitched to the wagons, but the steel and wooden wheels are quite while everyone simmers in the humid air.

At the feed store, the chuck wagon and two covered wagons wait for their wheels to roll.

This could be the scene out of the latter 19th century, if it weren't right along side Highway 67, at Jay's Tack Shop in the old Welch's Cafi store, in Curtis, Jay Clark, owner. Once again the area has visitors from the Okolona Trail Ride.

For two weeks or so, these four men, Kenny Sikes of Sheridan, Chester, Williams of Grapevine, Paul Wayne and Wayne Davis of Sheridan, will be driving their wagons.

Each night to be spent at a new location, such as the Saline River Bottoms, Round Hill Community Center, Bobby Higgin's Farm, and J.R. Thomas's Farm.

There were some worries for all the trail riders who usually attend the annual Okolona event this year. A year which has seen a great deal of political troubles and corrections in Okolona.

But this hasn't deterred these riders some of whom have participated in the Okolona Trail Ride for the past five years.

The conveyances carrying these four gentlemen in question were varied. The covered wagons were formed with camping in mind and have many modern parts.

However, the chuck wagon' was very authentic. It's unique in it's equipment and all original parts. Proud owner, Chester Williams commented on this wagon winning the Louisiana State Championship in Chuck Wagon Races for the years of 1993, 94, 95, and 97. With a collection of five chuck wagons, Williams has taken the championships in Arkansas and Oklahoma, also, in years past.

This specific wagon, a Ned Webber brand, was probably built in the late 1900's, and still boasts a sturdy carriage.

The riders commented on some concern about this year's ride. However, their interest in the rain showers was the primary conversation of the afternoon.

As the time wore on, the riders commented on the good dogs, Butch and Decker, one of which was seven-years-old and still walking the majority of the way to Okolona.

The cordial riders expressed all the comradery of any band of travelers who would have made the same trip ages ago. Cheerfully, they conveyed a special nickname given to one rider who is prolific in speech, Chief Running Tongue.'

The annual ride hosts upwards of a couple of hundred riders in previous years. Even if the numbers are down this year, Wayne Davis commented, "Just tell them we came all this way to go to church there."