The Hashknife Pony Express riders are gearing up for their 64th anniversary ride, which begins on Wednesday, Feb. 2. But on Tuesday, Feb. 1, the kick-off parade will be held starting at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Hopi Drive. The parade route will go east on Hopi Drive to Navajo Blvd., where it will turn north and end at with the swearing in of the riders at the Historic Navajo County Courthouse by a postal official, a requirement to transport the US mail.
On Wednesday, Feb. 2, the day starts at 6 a.m. with breakfast being served at the Holbrook Senior Citizens Center, then at 8 a.m. the ride begins with the first rider starting out from the Holbrook Post Office. The riders will travel down Highway 77 to 377 then will continue riding west on Highway 260 to Payson, reaching the Payson Post Office, located at 100 W. Frontier Street, by 4:45 p.m. After the mail is secured for the night, the riders will leave the Payson Post Office at 9 a.m., with the riders traveling down Highway 87 to Fountain Hills. They are expected to arrive at the Fountains Hills Post Office by 3 p.m. From there the riders and support staff will break for a private campout at the Verde River.
The last day of the ride, Friday, Feb. 4, will ride into Scottsdale with the mail arriving by 12 noon at the Museum of the West on Second Street and Marshall Way where folks can meet the riders, buy souvenirs, and visit with the riders.
On Saturday, Feb. 5, the Hashknife Pony Express will ride in Scottsdale’s Annual Parada del Sol Parade before returning home to plan for the next year.
Pony Express mailers are available at local post offices and may be submitted at the post office until Feb. 1.
