26TH ANNUAL OATBRAN
26th ANNUAL OATBRAN SEPTEMBER 24-30, 2017 “NOTES FROM THE MOCHILA” A Mochila (Spanish, pronounced [mo-chee-lah], for “knapsack”, “pack”, “pouch”) is a removable lightweight leather cover put over a horse’s saddle. In the nineteenth century, it was used as a mail bag by the Pony Express. The eighth-of-an-inch leather cover draped over the saddle on a horse. There were slits cut into the leather which allowed the saddle horn and cantle to protrude through. Riders of the Pony Express made quick exchanges to new fresh horses, usually within a few minutes at each remount station on their route across the United States. The mochila was removed from the exhausted horse and swiftly placed over the saddle of the new fresh waiting horse that the relay station had for him. SEPT. 24: MONTBLEU CASINO, STATELINE: EVENT CHECK IN / DINNER / ORIENTATION / INTRODUCTIONS: Oatbran – Bike the West Team set up event registration & check in by 1:30pm and continued to prep all the vehicles for the tour… Participants started checking in early and all riders check in before 6:oopm, with exception of Rose (No Show) and Steve, who had emergency medical surgery issues with his wife. The remaining 27 participants will start tomorrow and Skip will join us in Austin, NV. Dinner was great food provided by Montbleu in the Convention Center Meeting room and the Chili Rellenos were to die for… Plenty of food including Tamales and Fajitas… and desert choices… Orientation went well with all participants listening attentively… 9 Multi-Bran Riders and 19 new riders… Introductions were read from their profiles followed by drawings and prize giveaways… Crew meeting to follow with assigning rest stop locations for the SAG Vehicle Teams. Reggie Peterson, Phil Alvarado, Kanan Miller, Arnold Harding, Michael Chapman & Trevor Brown… New Team members this year include James Styles, Corey Bolton & Di Bolton… The Crew headed to the HQ Bar for a cocktail and to discuss assignments. SEPT. 25: RIDE DAY #1: “A TASTE OF NEVADA” LAKE TAHOE TO FALLON Reggie Peterson set up Signage on Hwy 50 for the start and I along with Larry Burton shot photos of the group in front of the big blue bike in the Valet parking area of the Montbleu Casino… All riders got on the roadway safely… on route to Spooner Summit… Phil & Kanan at First Rest...
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