South Texas Tip O’ Tex Trail Riders saddled up in Port Isabel Tuesday for their five-day ride to the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show parade in Mercedes.

The group celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, spokeswoman Marcy Mendoza, a board member of the group, said. Although there are now six trail rider groups in the Valley, Tip O’ Texas Trail Riders has the longest tradition, she said.

"We’re the oldest, since 1960," she said. "We’re going to be celebrating our fiftieth."

The group planned to have about 50 riders this year and will be camping along the way as in years past, Mendoza said.

The riders started Tuesday morning at Laguna Madre Park and covered 19 miles the first day. The schedule for the rest of the week is:

 Today, Highway 100 through Los Fresnos to California Road, to FM 803 to Meyers Road, then to Lomax Road with lunch at Rodney De Leon’s. From their to Wink’s Honky Tonk, logging 20 miles for the second day.

 On Thursday, to San Benito, with a parade on Sam Houston Boulevard, with a noon stop at Resaca Trails Park.

In the afternoon, the riders will take Business 83 and stop between the Harlingen Elks Lodge and Valley Morning Star office, covering 17 miles the third day.

 On Friday, the riders will parade through Harlingen on Harrison Avenue, stopping for lunch near the Horizon Inn, then head for Stuart Place Road along Business 83 and stop at noon at the La Feria Co-op, ending with a night stop at Rio Rico, where nominations for queen will take place. Riders will cover 20 miles on the fourth day.

 On Saturday, the riders will head to Mercedes to join the RGV Livestock Show parade.

During the ride, members will recall how Blacky Black, Bill Saxton and Jim Ferris started the trail ride in 1960, Mendoza said.

During the year, trail riders also participate in the Los Fresnos Christmas parade, the Charro Days parade in Brownsville and the Los Fresnos rodeo, said Mendoza, who has been a member for five years and rode with the club before joining.