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Oklahoma native Lou Shuman shares tales of her journey at the Bandera Kronkosky Library on Thursday, Sept. 1.
Photo by Amber Mangold
September 2, 2022
Oklahoma woman embarks on Great Western journey
78-year-old travels the Great Western Cattle Trail in 1909 wagon
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Crossing state lines in a 113-year-old horse-drawn covered wagon, Lou Shuman is on a mission from God.
“I’m listening to Him to guide my journey,” the 78-year-old Oklahoma native said.
With the ultimate goal of making it to Bandera, Shuman’s 1,100-plus-mile round-trip journey began May 31 without an itinerary, schedule or cell phone. Retracing the steps of her 19th century ranching predecessors, she stops when and where she and her two horses choose.
The Great Western Cattle Trail was used from 1874 to 1886 to move herds to market. The trail began in Bandera and ended in Dodge City, Kansas. The full trail extended past the Canadian border into Calgary.
Several years ago, a Western Trail monument was erected near her property in Buffalo, Okla., planting the seed for her next epic adventure.
Shuman arrived in Bandera County earlier this week, more than 90 days since she left home. She stopped by the Bandera Kronkosky Library on Thursday for story time, regaling tales of her travels to a captive audience. Look for her covered wagon in Saturday’s Labor Day Celebrate Bandera Round-up parade down Main Street.
“I’m listening to Him to guide my journey,” the 78-year-old Oklahoma native said.
With the ultimate goal of making it to Bandera, Shuman’s 1,100-plus-mile round-trip journey began May 31 without an itinerary, schedule or cell phone. Retracing the steps of her 19th century ranching predecessors, she stops when and where she and her two horses choose.
The Great Western Cattle Trail was used from 1874 to 1886 to move herds to market. The trail began in Bandera and ended in Dodge City, Kansas. The full trail extended past the Canadian border into Calgary.
Several years ago, a Western Trail monument was erected near her property in Buffalo, Okla., planting the seed for her next epic adventure.
Shuman arrived in Bandera County earlier this week, more than 90 days since she left home. She stopped by the Bandera Kronkosky Library on Thursday for story time, regaling tales of her travels to a captive audience. Look for her covered wagon in Saturday’s Labor Day Celebrate Bandera Round-up parade down Main Street.