On March 1st, 2010, my friend Walter and I set off on an adventure with my Arabian horse, Sojourner. I rode Soj across America and Walter drove our little truck (with no trailer). The trip began in Los Angeles, California and successfully ended in Bath, New Hampshire 8 months and 14 days later. It was a 3,700 mile ride.

We rode in celebration of family and as an outreach to those dealing with divorce-related depression.

This ride tells a tale of love in many forms - through the people we meet along the way, our connection with the horse, with the land, and with each other.

As this blog goes on it gets more and more in depth with tons of photos and experiences. Snuggle in with a cup of tea and read this like a book. I have switched the blog around so it reads start to finish so you don't have to read backward (except the first entry).

Here is our story...

10/6/10

Just a quick note! I think I will be able to get on-line longer tonight or tomorrow morning, but since I have a moment I thought I would pop on here for a second.

We have had two very enjoyable days of riding. It's been pretty chilly and kind of misting rain, but we have been on country roads which allows all three of us to appreciate where we are and what we're doing. I have been practicing clearing all of my thoughts. I find it easiest if I concentrate on a particular sound, like Soj's footsteps or the leaves or something. That helps to keep other thoughts out (like the songs I constantly have trapped in my head even though I have rarely been listening to music on this trip!!)

We are staying with newlyweds here in New Centerville, Penn. Last night we sat in their living room sipping on tea as we listened to vinyls on the turntable that were blasting upstairs so we could hear them where we were. We theorized about life, evolution, de-evolution, the ideas of an Apocalypse, the internet, people and animals, and on and on...

I'll write more about it later...

Ooohhh...Walter just looked at the weather...low 40's and a little rain. Bummer. Well, I should probably get dressed. We are going on a quick carriage ride before we head out today. Walter and I are going to drive the horses! Thankfully we won't have to be out in the cold for too long-we only have a 15 mile ride to Berlin.

More soon!
And thank you, thank you, thank you for your lovely, uplifting comments. I can't say how wonderful it is to share this trip with all of you. Sometimes we need a little push and a little note to help us put that extra pep in our step...so thanks for the pep. :)
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6 comments:

  1. M. Gray, Psy ABD, Certified Domestic CounselorOctober 6, 2010 at 9:53 AM

    I hope you have a beautiful ride today that is totally zen... in spite of the rain and chilly weather and hope the emerging autumn colors provide glorious eye candy as well.... :) Good tidings and good weather to you three!

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  2. mamgof5October 6, 2010 at 11:12 AM

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  3. mamgof5October 6, 2010 at 11:23 AM

    I love your blog, I live 40 minutes away from Bath and I am afraid you are going to miss the peak, however it should still be pretty. I am so happy that you are taking the time to blog. Thank you for not letting people get you down.

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  4. JackieBOctober 6, 2010 at 12:53 PM

    Can't wait to hear more about your conversation with your new, and newlywed, friends. Sounds really interesting.

    Lately, I've taken an interest in learning more about endurance riding. You probably know a fair bit about it since Soj's relatives are all the superstars of that sport.

    sazcorp (who follows here) has a link on her blog to a blog called The Barb Wire that is written by a remarkable writer and endurance rider. That is a cool sport.

    Do you think you and Soj might be interested in endurance competitions? The top class sometimes goes 100 miles in a single day!!! And there are awesome, and strictly enforced, safeguards all along the way designed to protect horses.

    I have to imagine that you and Soj will always have a hankering to go out an trot off 25 or 50 miles every once in a while. This would be a good sport to do it in and I get the impression that the camraderie is very good at these events.

    Ride On!

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  5. UnknownOctober 7, 2010 at 10:29 AM

    Endurance is a blast! You two would kick butt at it if you wanted. I can't wait for my first race since breaking my ankle!

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  6. JackieBOctober 9, 2010 at 10:38 AM

    Sorry your ankle was broken, Bird. That's got to be a pretty tough injury.

    I'd like to crew for you and Linny at an endurance race someday.

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