Texas cowboy ends pilgrimage to ground zero

A Texas cowboy has ended an eight month pilgrimage by riding his horse into New York’s Ground Zero to honour the victims of September 11.

‘‘It is very sad, but it makes me angry,’’ Les Nichols said as he looked out across the site. ‘‘There are no words to describe this.’’

Nichols, 41, rode out of the Alamo in southwest Texas on his horse, JJ’s Cowboy, on November 1. His trek took him through eight states and 150 towns.

Along the way he said he saw ‘‘the best of America. Everyone I met helped me get to Ground Zero.’’

At night, he camped outdoors, sometimes sleeping in police stations, fire houses, a barn and a veterinary clinic.

His trip is expected to raise €2m.

When he rode up to the Staten Island Ferry for the last leg of his trip yesterday, mounted New York Police Department officers were waiting to greet him.