210 Saddle Up for Annual Trek Over Ranch Trails : Unbridled Enthusiasm

With boyish grins and excited anticipation, 210 horsemen on Friday bid goodbye to their families and everyday life to ride the old ranch trails and raise money for Mission San Juan Capistrano during the 34th annual Viaje de Portola.

Dressed with cowboy clothes, hats, chaps and spurs, the riders gathered at mission to be blessed by Father Paul Martin before heading through town, over the railroad tracks and down Los Rios Street, out into the wilderness on a three-day, 30-mile trek through the foothills of Rancho Mission Viejo.

Both a celebration of South County’s Spanish history and an opportunity to bond with their fellow man, the event is a tradition.

“It’s the greatest ride,” said Dick Pacheo, a rancher from Tucson, Ariz., on his 20th Portola ride. “I enjoy it very much . . . great camaraderie, friendships you keep forever.”

The event attracts riders from all walks of life, from businessmen, lawyers and doctors to farmers, civic leaders and ranch hands, including Sheriff Brad Gates and the chief executive officer of the Santa Margarita Co., Tony Moiso.

Not limited to local riders, participants from as far away as Florida, Washington and Hawaii travel to San Juan Capistrano to take part in the male-only event as invited guests of the Rancho Mission Viejo cattle ranch.

Women and the general public are not allowed to participate.

Michael Sheehan has flown from Honolulu for the last three years to ride the trails. He said he keeps coming back because of the camaraderie and “to enjoy the opportunity to see the last of the open spaces.”

“There’s a lot of history attached to the ride. It’s really a good thing,” he said.

Joey Tafoya, who has saddled up and ridden the trail since 1984, said: “This is a ride that people just don’t understand what it’s all about. . . . This is what America’s all about.”

Besides the campfire chats and historic lore of the trail, the event raises money for restoration of the mission, $170,000 over the last three decades.

The annual ride is also embraced by the community. People came out in numbers to cheer on, wave goodbye and wish the riders well. Blowing kisses to their sweethearts, many wives were emotional as their men headed off to the trails once traveled by Gaspar de Portola, an 18th-century Spanish explorer.

“It’s absolutely fabulous, a tradition that’s so incredible for Orange County,” said Lynn Gayner of Coto de Caza, with tears in her eyes as she bade her husband and son goodbye as they rode out of town. “It has such spiritual meaning for all of us.”

But some riders were a little weary about spending three days on the trail, riding five to six hours each day and sleeping on the ground in the wild.

“It’s hard on your body if you’re not used to it,” Sheehan said. “You need to be a good rider. . . . This is no place for tender feet.”

Said first-time rider Mark Hall, a Bakersfield-area farmer, “I’m a little apprehensive because I’m the new guy. We’ll see if I survive the weekend.”