Thread by @marinamaral2

THREAD (🧵)

Meet Mesannie Mabel Libby Wilkins, the inspiring woman who set out on a 7,000 mile journey from Maine to California at the age of 63 on horseback. 🐎

At the time, she was 'terminally ill'.

At the time Mesannie set out on her journey in 1954, she had lost her last living family member and was herself given only two years to live. She mortgaged her home and didn't look back.

In honor of her mother, who always dreamed of visiting California, Mesannie decided to make the trip westward.

In December 1955, she arrived in Redding, California. Her only companions were her horses and her dog.

(Side note: look at her dog, Toi, casually ridding a horse. I love him so much.)

After her return, Mesannie, who became known as 'Jackass Annie', moved in with a friend and lived for 24 years beyond her two-year prognosis, passing away at the age of 88 on February 19th, 1980 in Whitefield, Maine.

Mesannie's adventure is documented in the book "The Last of the Saddle Tramps". It took her 12 years after her return to put her diary and photographs together into a book, but the result is a remarkable testament to her strength, courage, and determination.

The book is available on Amazon: amazon.com/Last-Saddle-Tr…

Mesannie can be seen here with Toi and her two horses, Tarzan, left, and King, shortly after her arrival in California. She was on the road 502 days. Tarzan made the entire trip, but King was acquired 180 miles from her destination when her original horse, Rex, died of tetanus.

📷 (AP Photo/Ed Widdis)

“When Mesannie returned to Minot, she was wearing a dress, a hat, and gloves – Ma didn’t even recognize her!” – Local Minot Resident

…tmainehistoricalsociety.wordpress.com/minot-history/…