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Along The North Escambia Trail With A Wagon Train

The scene Wednesday very well could have been a postcard snapshot of Molino in the 1800’s. Blue skies with a few puffy white clouds floating along in a gentle breeze, piney woods along the road with the melody of birds singing.

There was the sound of horseshoes — clump, clump, clump — and of chains rattling used to connect horses, mules and tack to handcrafted wagons. This was a real wagon train, over a half dozen strong with outriders for protection.

But this was May 2016. And in our modern zip-zip fast paced world, wagon trains tend to draw a bit of attention. And that is the point on the annual wagon train ride to the Tate High School FFA Rodeo. The ride started Saturday in Monroe County, AL. It ends Friday night at the Escambia County Equestrian Center in Pensacola for Tate FFA Rodeo’s Grand Parade.

It’s a nearly 25 year old tradition started by the late Selmer Thompson with a ride from Barrineau Park to Pensacola. This year is the fifth week long event.

At just two horsepower, or mule-power each, it’s slow ride with a top speed of about three or four mph that provides the opportunity to take in the surroundings. And to be neighborly, speaking and waving to the bystanders that gather along the highways or in their yards to watch the unique picture of Americana pass by.

“This is a great way to travel,” trail boss Darryl Wilson said. “There’s just nothing like it.”

Catching up with the ride Wednesday afternoon on Crabtree Church Road, our photographer was greeting by the smell of grilled ribs as the group finished up a lunch break before hitting the trail again. There were no escort vehicles, no trucks full of supplies. This was a real deal, old-timey wagon train through the countryside.

For more photos, click here.

But it’s not a total step back into time — some of the wagons have battery powered lights and radios — with country music, of course. One wagon was equipped with a BBQ grill mounted at the rear. No need for a drive-thru when the ride is a self-contained, on the move BBQ house. And, along with big comfortable captain’s chairs, a couple of the wagons even had on-board bathrooms.

“This has been a good ride,” Wilson said. “The weather today has been perfect.”

The group spent Wednesday night camped out near the ballpark on Crabtree Church Road. On Thursday, they will travel south on Highway 99 to Barrineau Park Road and cross over Barrineau Park Road into Baldwin County where they will make camp Thursday night. Then Friday it’s on to the rodeo.

The Tate Rodeo beings at 7:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday at the Escambia County Equestrian Center.  Advance tickets are available at Farm and Nursery Mart, Hill Kelly Dodge, Farm Bureau Insurance (Nine Mile and Molino), Jimmy’s Grill, and Barnes Ace Hardware. Tickets are $8 for adults and $3 for children in advance and $10 and $5 at the gate.

For more information about the Rodeo, call (850) 937-2308.

For more photos, click here.

Pictured top and bottom: A wagon train travels through Molino Wednesday afternoon. Pictured top inset: The view of the driver’s seat. Pictured bottom inset: Pulling out after lunch. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.