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Last of the Saddle Tramps: One Woman's Seven Thousand Mile Equestrian Odyssey
Historically the world of equestrian travel has contained an exciting mixture of unique men and women. Some are adventurers seeking danger from the back of their horses. Others are travelers discovering the beauties of the countryside they slowly ride through. A few are searching for inner truths while cantering across desolate parts of the planet. Then there is Messanie Wilkins. She was acting on orders from the Lord!
In 1954, at the age of 63, Wilkins had plenty to worry about. A destitute spinster in ill health, Wilkins had been told she had less than two years left to live, provided she spent them quietly. With no family ties, no money, and no future in her native Maine, Wilkins decided to take a daring step. Using the money she had made from selling homemade pickles, Wilkins bought a tired summer camp horse and made preparations to ride from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific Ocean. Yet before leaving she flipped a coin, asking God to direct her to go or not. When the coin came up head several times in a row, one of America's most unlikely equestrian heroines set off.
What followed was one of the 20th Century's most remarkable equestrian journeys. Accompanied by her faithful horse, Tarzan, Wilking suffered through a host of obstacles including blistering deserts and freezing snow storms, yet never lost faith that she would complete her 7,000 mile odyssey.
"Last of the Saddle Tramps" is thus the warm and humorous story of a humble American heroine bound for adventure and the Pacific Ocean. The classic tale is amply illustrated with photographs.
215 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 14, 2021
The year is 1954. Mesannie Wilkins at 63 is the last of her generation on her farm in Maine. The doctor has given her 2 years to live, providing she rests. With no one to work the farm, Wilkins figures she can rest in the saddle. So with the Lord's blessing she packs her belongings on Tarzan, the horse, and with her young dog, takes off for California.
It doesn't take long for people to notice this traveler, and the press sees a news worthy subject. So as she makes her way through snow, rain, and heat, over mountains and through prairies and cities, TV crews note her progress and spread the word. Consequently she doesn't camp out as often as she expected. Much of the time she sleeps in private homes, stables, motels, and jails. The police are very accommodating at watching over her. Her journey takes much longer because she is often stopped for interviews, requests for autographs, and invitations to various celebrations. In fact she becomes a national celebrity as she continues on her way, loaded down with letters from all over.
Wilkins delights us with her tale of her fellow travelers--dog, horses--and interesting encounters with friendly and generous people. There are emergencies, however, as she experiences extreme weather, illness, and nefarious characters. But her reliance on the Lord is not disappointing.
Here is a refreshing read that is captivating, witty, and heartwarming.
It doesn't take long for people to notice this traveler, and the press sees a news worthy subject. So as she makes her way through snow, rain, and heat, over mountains and through prairies and cities, TV crews note her progress and spread the word. Consequently she doesn't camp out as often as she expected. Much of the time she sleeps in private homes, stables, motels, and jails. The police are very accommodating at watching over her. Her journey takes much longer because she is often stopped for interviews, requests for autographs, and invitations to various celebrations. In fact she becomes a national celebrity as she continues on her way, loaded down with letters from all over.
Wilkins delights us with her tale of her fellow travelers--dog, horses--and interesting encounters with friendly and generous people. There are emergencies, however, as she experiences extreme weather, illness, and nefarious characters. But her reliance on the Lord is not disappointing.
Here is a refreshing read that is captivating, witty, and heartwarming.
February 21, 2016
This is a very good book about a lady in her 60’s that started out on a horse with her dog from her home in Maine and road horseback to California. She was treated very well by people across the country and very seldom had to sleep out in the open. She slept in barns, jails, fine hotels and people’s homes. When Mesannie left Maine she had only her horse, her dog and the clothes on her back. She traveled through all kinds of weather – heat and freezing ice and snow – but her determination never faltered. She met all kinds of people along the way and financed her trip by selling postcards. She was even proposed to by a goat herder. This story touched my heart and I was sad when it was over.
January 18, 2015
I love love love this book! Annie is a Mainer top to bottom and you just have to love her for it! (I may be a bit biased and I'm a Mainer myself)
When life has her truly down and out she packs up with her two best friends her horse and her dog and sets out to follow her dream of going to California. She experiences a lot of kindness along the way and chronicles them with the New England honesty!
If there were ever a book that I would love to see made into a movie this would definitely be the one!
When life has her truly down and out she packs up with her two best friends her horse and her dog and sets out to follow her dream of going to California. She experiences a lot of kindness along the way and chronicles them with the New England honesty!
If there were ever a book that I would love to see made into a movie this would definitely be the one!
December 18, 2009
She is down and out. She is 63. Eisenhower is President. Her family is all dead. Her house has been forclosed. Her Dr. says she has two years to live. She has no money. The Maine winter is fast approaching. She does have a horse and a small dog....and a dream to see California. Thus her adventure begins begins. What a treasure this book is! I read it in one afernoon.
September 12, 2023
I had just finished reading the book about Annie Wilkin's trip from Maine to California, The Ride of Her Life, by Elizabeth Letts, when I stumbled upon this version of the trip which was written by the main character, known as "Mesannie" Wilkins in this book. I had to read it on the computer as I couldn't find the book to purchase. This version was by the person who made the trip across the USA in 1953 to 1955 on a horse with her dog and a second horse part of the way. Loved this version of the story. They were pretty much on tract with each other, but the version called The Ride of Her Life was filled with lots of history. This version was a quick read. Very easy to read. Enjoyed it very much. (While the Ride of Her Life takes a little more to read, it is very worth while. Enjoyed it too.)
July 23, 2022
A wonderfully inspiring tale of a woman who refused to give up and never lost hope. I highly recommend it to anyone who thinks their life is over. I discovered Ms. Wilkins by reading The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts, but honestly I would recommend this book first. It has more information in it and is just as entertaining.
September 26, 2021
I was surprised that I enjoyed the book so much. I found it at our local library. Essentially, a woman, in her later years, has lost the family farm, and has nothing to her name but her horse and her dog. So she saddles up and travels 7000 miles to California from Minot Maine . The story, which is autobiographical, covers a period of 16 months during the 1960s. A few photos are included.
As a life-long horse lover, I have always imagined crossing the country on horseback. However, this was not to be. I would not have had the courage to endure the trials this woman, Mesannie Wilkins endured. But her travels unleashed my imagination, and I found myself totally caught up in the story.
The book is no longer in print, and I imagine you might only find it at a library.
As a life-long horse lover, I have always imagined crossing the country on horseback. However, this was not to be. I would not have had the courage to endure the trials this woman, Mesannie Wilkins endured. But her travels unleashed my imagination, and I found myself totally caught up in the story.
The book is no longer in print, and I imagine you might only find it at a library.
September 14, 2025
I had already read The Ride of Her Life and found it very interesting but was hoping this book, written by Mesannie Wilkins herself might bring new details and insights, and it did to some extent, but not much more.
What this book did have though, and I felt like the first book should have included, were more pictures and different ones than can be found online. It really added to the story for me to see her in the various situation s she describes in the book.
I’m still amazed that, growing up in the ‘50s and ‘60s, I never heard about her before I discovered the books. All the same, it was a good book and a quick read … I enjoyed it.
What this book did have though, and I felt like the first book should have included, were more pictures and different ones than can be found online. It really added to the story for me to see her in the various situation s she describes in the book.
I’m still amazed that, growing up in the ‘50s and ‘60s, I never heard about her before I discovered the books. All the same, it was a good book and a quick read … I enjoyed it.
February 7, 2022
Out of print and hard to get book, I loved this book. It mentions area places, Bear Mountain etc and she is such a good story teller. I pray it gets back into hard cover print, it's such a moving and sweet story. I hope she lived a long time, they tell her at the beginning she has only a few years to live.
September 27, 2022
Messannie Wilkins wrote this memoir / creative non-fiction with her tongue firmly in her cheek, and made me laugh all the way through. Her persona was wonderful, funny, charming, strong and more, while the story of the ride was inspiring. I highly recommend this book and don't know what took me so long to read it.
Want to read
February 12, 2023I want to read this. It is 130-200$$ on Amazon. Not in my local library (actually none in any library in Canada that I an find), so cannot get it that way. Would anyone who has a copy let me borrow it??
December 7, 2023
I sure enjoyed the time I spent with Mesannie! I read The Ride of her Life by Elizabeth Letts first, and while I liked it, I love Mesannie's memoir so much more. Her voice came through in such a personal manner and the writing was vibrant with her humor and good sense. Highly recommend!
January 26, 2020
This book is hilarious and heartbreaking. A must read.
Read
June 15, 2021One of the few books I would ever read again.
September 13, 2021
Loved reading the journey of this tough Maine woman who rode across country on horseback with her dog. Very interesting! & she came from just a few towns over from where I live!
December 2, 2024
No doubt about it, Mesannie Wilkins had the gift of God's Providence in her life!
September 2, 2025
This was such an amazing story about such an amazing person, this book was in her own words! I'm happy to have read and it learned of her adventures from coast to coast. I highly recommend this book.
February 17, 2015
This was a light, entertaining read! I love reading about real people, and Mesannie is as "real" as they come. She wrote about her cross-country experience in such a matter-of-fact way, and while it was no literary masterpiece, it was humorous and engaging. Her fearlessness, her courage to pack up and leave everything behind, her incredible faith that everything would work out, her trust in the kindness of fellow Americans along the way, was truly inspiring.
August 14, 2009
Loved, loved this book, so glad I was lucky enough to find it at a garage sale. Finding out of print gems like this will keep me going to them for quite awhile.
Mesannie Wilkins was a real character and I enjoyed reading about her 7,000 mile trip on horseback across 17 states from Maine to California. Well written and a real page turner.
Mesannie Wilkins was a real character and I enjoyed reading about her 7,000 mile trip on horseback across 17 states from Maine to California. Well written and a real page turner.
May 28, 2014
An interesting time capsule of a woman's cross-country horseback trek. Even though it's told in a somewhat terse style (oh, is this woman EVER a Mainer!) based on notes, recollections, and diaries, Ms. Wilkins' personality, perseverance, and tolerance of hardship come through in quiet subtle ways, so it's not until you sit back that you realize what an amazing journey this was.
April 25, 2011
Really different kind of story. I liked it a lot. Lots of historical interest, real adventure, and the story of a woman who just wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.
April 20, 2013
Being real, the story speaks volumes for the guts of women.
February 9, 2015
After reading Mesannie Wilkin's wonderful and adventurous book I feel, at 62, invincible, inspired and encouraged all at the same time! Think I'll go for a ride!
October 4, 2016
Here is a courage and daring rarely matched.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews