"BRIDGE DAY", We cross the Tappan Zee to Riverdale,New Jersy, Day 16, June 14, 1976....12mi

 "BRIDGE DAY"

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Journal Entry Monday June 14,1976,Tappan Zee to  Holiday Farms Condominium, Riverdale, NJ...12mi

Headed for the bridge, Breezy and Thunder ready to go

The Tappan  Zee Bridge

 

This was the big day and we made it with flying colors.  Many of the horses had problems with the expansion grates on the bridge, they were very wide and just one more thing to worry already nervous horses.

One of the smaller expansion grates coming up ahead, mid bridge they were much bigger

 I think we had the only horses that did not slip on the expansion grates. ( We also have the only horses with Flex-Step plastic shoes. They are quiet on the metal and don't slip. This is the second time they have saved us from a possible catastrophe.)

 The Vermont Wagon had their 4-up hitched up at Pierre Pottier's direction. They tried to cross the bridge but the front ring snapped and harness pieces flew when the apps balked and jumped at the first  expansion grate so they had to un-hitch them and lead them over the bridge.

Vermont Wagon with the appaloosa team hitched as lead team

Vermont Wagon , Jim Allred, Pierre Pottier,Ry Robinson

 There were all kinds of obstacles on the bridge , crowds above on the overpasses, tug boats in the river with hoses pumping water,horns blazing, workmen hanging off girders and still vehicle traffic in both directions . This  day was definitely a test of everyone's endurance.

We had the youngest "Wagon Trainer" with us on the bridge crossing Curt Tuchon and his mom Dawn

  We heard that unfortunately ,when we were leaving Lyndhurst ,one of the NY private wagons had a run away .They hit a pole, a woman and a stone wall.  They say the woman has 2 broken ribs & a cut jaw.  She did not move when she saw the wagon coming.  

When we got to the NJ side of the bridge  there was a huge crowd and we were stuck there for a long time meeting the NJ Wagon with ceremonies. People were crowed all around the wagons.  There were no porta-a-potties and  a lot of people needed one. On most days we were able to find some bushes,guys to the left,girls to the right ! There were no bushes here. I had a bucket in my wagon that became the group potty !  We hung a blanket to close off the back of the wagon  for privacy and it saved the day.

This picture has not aged well,but it was taken during the ceremony as we met the NJ Wagon on the NJ side of the bridge. Thousands of people were there.

   This was supposed to be a short day but with all the ceremonies we did not get in until 4 pm. The Holiday Farms Condominiums left a lot to be desired. Seems they were still under construction. We are camped in a gravel pit.

 One day a castle next day the pits !!
 We did get a chance to watch the Tappan Zee crossing on TV ! Someone hooked up a small 10" portable TV to a battery in a pick-up truck in the middle of the parking lot. On the news they said we were "The biggest traffic jam in the history of the bridge".    And  then people wanted us to sign books in the dark.

Stan Bashura, Ct Teamster sent me his journal entry for "Bridge Day":


  Monday, June 14th, 1976 and the Tappan Zee Bridge was the next most important and exciting part of our Wagon Train for me!  Who would have thought that in June of 1976, there would be a Wagon Train crossing the Hudson River via the bridge?  Big day for everyone on the Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage.

Here is my entry for that wonderful, historical and memorable day that the Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage crossed the Tappan Zee Bridge.

We woke up at 5:30 am today.  Still half asleep, I suddenly remembered.  Holy cow! This is the day we cross over the Hudson River on the Tappan Zee Bridge and head into New Jersey!  Duke York and I watered and fed the horses and we prepared ourselves mentally as we got the CT Wagon loaded up with our things and went for breakfast. I could hardly eat anything I was so excited.  Roger had a quick morning meeting just to go over what we might encounter going over the bridge.  We are going to have a very close and tight police escort as the bridge will be loaded with morning traffic.  Roger gave a few pointers to everyone and wished all a safe trek over the Tappan Zee Bridge.  All the Wagoneers and riders were all abuzz about the crossing.  Everyone was looking forward to this with great anticipation and excitement.  Duke, Bev, Geri and I then harnessed up Jack and Colonel and got them hitched up.  

Duke York with the Ct Wagon

Geri Stoumbelis

Geri saddled up Gretchen and we were ready.  Sitting there waiting for the "Wagons Ho" from Roger was nerve-racking.  We finally got under way. We had a couple of few miles to go before we reached the bridge.  I looked over at Duke and I handed him the reins to the team and said, "here Duke, you can take us to the bridge". He happily accepted. I'd never seen Duke drive a team, but I was told by Johnny that Duke was good and he could handle them with no problem.  In a few minutes, I could see that was true.  He was doing just fine.  So Duke drove us from Lyndhurst to the bridge. When we finally got to the Tappan Zee Bridge, we stopped at the beginning at the Traffic Control facility.  Roger did one more welfare check on everyone and we began crossing.  I took over driving the CT Wagon as Jack and Colonel started getting jittery right away and sweated up real quick.  It wasn't too bad until we came upon the first expansion grate where you could see right down to the water.  Ho boy!  The horses didn't like that!  I called out to Geri to try to keep close and a little ahead of Jack. He was more spooky than Colonel was. I turned to Duke and told him to be ready should I need him to jump down and help if needed. So add to the distraction of the expansion grates, the workers overhead doing bridge work, the tugboats and other boats that gathered to watch us cross blowing their boat horns, the car traffic on the bridge, it's no wonder they were spooky.  I think I was sweating more than the horses.  I looked over at Duke and he was enjoying the hell out of this!  We made it across in one piece and without incident.  I think there were a couple of issues with the other Wagons where one had to drop from a 4 up hitch down to 2 real quick, some riders had to dismount and walk their horses across, and I think one team balked and did a U-turn on the bridge!  When we all finally got across the Tappan Zee Bridge, we all pulled over to a wide rest area on the right to gather our wits, let the horse settle and to celebrate History Being made as the Bicentennial Wagon Train Pilgrimage to Pennsylvania just crossed the Tappan Zee.

Stan,Duke and the Ct Team and Wagon

News of the "Big Day" :