Wagons … east?

Ray Hascall drives his horse-drawn covered wagon up Centennial Blvd. Tuesday morning making his way to his childhood home in Collins, Mo.

Gabe Franklin

Since graduating high school, Ray Hascall has had a dream to ride horseback from where he lived in Tecumseh, Okla. to his childhood home in Collins, Mo.

“Was going to do it by horseback — figured a wagon would be more comfortable,” Hascall said.

Hascall, now retired, is accompanied by his nephew Bobby Tarver and Terria Tarver.

They left Tecumseh, Okla., three weeks ago and have traveled more than 375 miles. Once they get to Collins, they plan to turn south and go home through Arkansas.

“We’ll be on the road three months is what we’re figuring,” Bobby said.

In total, they will have traveled more than 700 miles — at 3 or 4 miles per hour — in a wagon Hascall built.

Bobby said Hascall built the wagon this past winter. Quite unlike the Conestogas that traveled over the same county more than a century ago, Hascall’s wagon has amber warning lights, foam beds and a shower.

As they traveled east along Austin Boulevard Tuesday, drivers gave them plenty of room as they passed.

“People have been real courteous,” Hascall said.

He explained that they have met a variety of interesting people in the past weeks.

Leaving Nevada before noon on Tuesday, the trio only had 42 miles left on the first leg of their journey.

“It’s been real enjoyable, I know that,” Bobby said. “You see everything. It’s real beautiful.”