Day 1

There has been a lot involved in getting ready to leave.  I sold my horse trailer.   I went to get a tent which I should have bought earlier. It was a Trango II at  Mountain Sports on 3rd St in Chico California across the street from the infamous Crazy Horse Saloon.  I went in there to buy my tent and they were all out the Sales man was great and ordered me a tent and had it shipped over night.  It was actually cheaper because they had to order it and it is shipped in pieces from different parts of the United States so I got 20% off.  It was really nice they were very polite and good to me I also bought a stove that burns all types of gases.  It burns kerosene, gasoline white gas and diesel and it also simmers.  Which is what I was looking for.  A guy I met at the REI  talked me into getting that stove.  I got some grain for the horses C2's for the horses in case they get cut or I and I have to sew them up.  I bought some groceries for my trip it was tough figuring out what foods to bring that will last and would be light being that my two buddies Red and Jahob have to carry all this stuff.  I am trying to keep the weight down, don't want to work my horses too hard.  I went to Butte Meadow today that will probably be my first stop on my trip.  The Bambi Inn is there and they have excellent hamburgers.  I met a guy named Patrick at the Fire Station there he was really nice.  He told me of a spot to drop off some hay that I hid away from the other critters out there.  Being that there will be snow on the ground I will need to have some hay hidden for my horses.  I don't want them to have too much of a shock in the first part of the ride.  They have to adapt and I have to adapt to this new life we will be living for the next couple of years.  I drove 5 more miles to another spot and the gate was closed.  we wanted to get to the top of the mountain so we could put some more hay for the second night.  So we 4x4ed around and continued up to  Humboldt Summit and the snow started getting deeper so we stopped and put the brand new chains on the brand new truck so you would think this would be simple.  It was really dark so we couldn't see real well.  Well, we got the chains on and went  a few feet and the chain flipped off and broke the brake line.  So we stuck  an allen wrench on the brake line and used some bailing wire.  So we left some hay there because we knew we weren't gonna make it much farther and headed back to Chico.

It is 12:24 a.m.  I am going to bed and leaving in the morning for my ride around the world "The Expedition."  I have been working all day trying to get everything ready and I know there are things I am forgetting I have checked my list but I guess I can only do what  I can.  I know I have enough stuff to get me to Pyramid Lake where I can stock up on more supplies if needed.  My thoughts of today are I am tired and I am a little nervous.  This is a pretty big thing I am trying to attempt.  I am concerned about my pack horse Jahob.  I went down to get him today to put on his pack and make some adjustments and he was gimping.  He was little lame in his right foot.  I cleaned it out real good and put  light pressure on the sole towards his foot and he didn't act like it bothered him.  He can sometimes be a wimp about pain.  So I had to ask my father what he thought.  He knows that horse better then I do, it was his horse before he was mine.  He seemed to think it was when we shawed him or maybe he stepped on something that poked him.  He should be fine though.   I am sure he will be all right there are no signs of any type of injury.  I'm sure tomorrow morning will be a hectic morning getting everything done.  Lovely Anna is gonna be here tomorrow and see me off and she will be narrating for me on my web site.   I will also get some video clips posted on my site. Well, it is time for me to get some shut eye before my big day.  Good night.   My step Mom woke me this morning and my grandparents were here to see me off.  I got to the bottom of the stairs and said, "Well that's the last night I get to sleep in a good bed unless someone takes me in for a night."  My dad said  I will probably have a couple more good nights in a bed because Jahob's lame.  First thing that went thru my mind is that I will have to do it all on Red.  The trip wouldn't be the same without Jahob though.  I rushed down to the stables and got Jahob out and sure enough he is lame.  I thought yesterday he wasn't doing that good.  I pulled his shoe off and it looked like a rock had gotten on the toe of his heel where the bruise was.  It took me awhile to figure it out what exactly it was but he must have bruised it in the pasture somehow.  Imagine that,  you think you would get hurt traveling across the country and step on the rock but no it was in the pasture where theres hardly any rocks.  A little bit muddy this time of the year but not a lot of rocks.  But he found one and hurt is foot so we are going to doctor him up and hopefully he can catch up with me and Red in Pyramid Lake.  I got on the phone and called  my younger brother Jonathan and his girlfriend Samantha happened to have a horse and she is a really sweet horse.  I wasn't real sure about it at first she is a mustang and doesn't have a whole lot of meat on her but we are gonna take it slow and easy.  She will probably get more food with me then she would where she was, so she will probably be happy.  I went down and picked her up and got her home and put the pack saddle on her.  It took me awhile,  it didn't seem to bother her at all but I wanted to make sure not to spook her because she has never had a pack saddle on before.  I have been told a few people have ridden her but I wasn't really sure.  She has a good disposition and is extremely calm.  Her name is Vegas and she is going to substitute for Jahob while Jahob heals.  I will get some more packing done tonight.  This one day off my trip is turning out to be a better deal then I thought.  I was pretty upset this morning but I will have plenty of days so leaving one day later won't hurt.  I would like to get over the Sierras before more snow comes, we have another storm coming in  pretty   soon.  Plan is now to leave in the morning we are gonna leave as soon as the suns up and try to get  at least half way to Butte Meadows tomorrow so I can be above Butte Meadows the next day and climb up over the Summit the following day.  That's my plan anyways.

I am off and I am about a mile from the house.  It felt so good to leave today.  Just to get on my horse and ride off.  Ol Vegas here  isn't sure about all  this but she is doing all right.  It is gonna be a long ways to get where were going until we get Jahob I can tell that right now.  I am pretty excited I did a lot of work to get to this point.  I am finally leaving.   We rode until 6 and set up camp.  Red isn't doing too hot I think he pulled a muscle.  I am just having a really hard time starting on this trip. First Jahob, who isn't doing to good for the first time in his life and he is 26. I don't know how Red pulled a muscle he is in pretty good shape right now.  I guess he could have stepped wrong and I guess I should count my blessings that we are pretty close to home.  I am so disappointed right now.  I need to keep myself positive I knew when I decided to go on this trip there was going to be things or events that would come up and if I kept a good frame of mind I can make it through anything. I told myself when I went on this trip that Red was going with me as far as possible.  Red is my best friend in the whole wide world.  If he isn't better in the morning I am going to delay my trip for a week.  I am only about 15 miles from home.  So I am gonna say a long prayer tonight and hopefully when I wake up Red will be OK.  I am gonna leave it in God's hands.  If not we will have to return home until he heals.  Maybe God wants me to wait a week.  It is a disappointment but sometimes disappointments can be blessings in disguise.  One way or another we will get back on the trail and we will make it with two sound horses.  My number one thing to do on this trip is to make sure that my horses are taken care of.  I want everybody that is following my website to know that my horses are my number one priority.  There is nothing more important then taking care of my horses.  I have to take into consideration that I have to take care of myself in order to be able to take care of my horses.  The ride today was beautiful we came across a father and daughter riding there horses and talked to them and then some motorcycles passed by us.  These mountains seem to get more and more beautiful each time you ride them. Well, I will write more in the morning and let you know how Red is doing.  Sweet dreams.

Red wasn't doing very good this morning looks like he pulled a hamstring.  I don't know how he did it he must have done it at home before we left.  I guess we are just having  a really bad start at this thing.  Its just better to go home and get both horse well and I can take both horses.  Right now I am riding Diamond back one of my Dad's horses and I am pulling Vegas and Kevin is with me riding Aboo, his horse.  I rode Diamond home and got my truck which I hadn't sold yet and my Dad's trailer and went up and got Red. I soaked both horses feet today and massaged Reds leg.

I washed Red real good and it seems like he is feeling better.  I am little stressed about money at this point because  I had to spend money I wasn't supposed to spend but that's life.  Being out there on the trail I realized there are some things I don't need so I can make some changes now and get the weight down. If I do need those things I suppose I can get someone to send me them later.  It is storming right now so maybe God didn't want me in those mountains yet.  I will keep every one posted and if you can keep Red, Jahob and I in your prayers it would be appreciated.  Until next time.

It's been a week I am a little disappointed I should be looking at Pyramid Lake right about now. I just left the Feed store got some grain and hay.  I am a little stressed about money. I am spending money I shouldn't but I am sure I will be fine.  I will get some work or something before I go.  Maybe I will get a good sponsor so if your out there I really could use you.  To everyone that has sponsored I really appreciate it.  I don't know how to thank you enough every little bit helps.  I am going to try to get out on the trail as soon as possible and get you guys some stories and adventures of all the good stuff that is going to come out of this trip.  I will get some videos of some cool animals and critters running around out there.  I just got some pads for Jahob he seems to be doing better.  I will take him out for a ride today and see how he does.  I am headed up the hill to see my lil buddies right now and ride them.  It seems like Red was doing better, running and kicking in the pasture.  I don't think his back leg is hurting him anymore.  I think God just didn't want me up there because there is quite a bit of snow up there right now.  More than 2-3 feet  is hard to travel through on horse.  Although I am making this Journey thru the good and the bad.  Maybe they both got hurt because of some Omen or something.   I am not sure.   We are going to make it and have a great time.  I hope you enjoy it also.  I got up to my Dad's and rode Red and he cramped up again so it looks like I am going to take him to a Vet and get this cleared up.  I will keep you posted, so stay tuned.

It is pouring down rain and trying to snow here.  I am on my way to the Vet with Red.  I am pretty picky about what Vet to take him to so I had a  hard time finding the right one for him.  I really wish I was on the trail right now although I would be freezing right now. Heehee.  The Vet was really nice and he is a good friend of my Dad's.  Red has an abscess in his foot.  We are going to soak it and pad his feet just like Jahob.  He said I need to bring him back in 3-4 days and I should be able to get out of here in 2 weeks.  He put Red on some antibiotics also.  It seems so odd that two of my horses end up with the same problem from a rock getting lodged in there shoe when they  haven't really been in a rocky pasture.  Well, so be it.  I just can't wait to get out there on that trail. I will keep you posted so stay tuned into my website.

I am going back to the Vet tomorrow.  It seems like Red is doing much better.  We will find out tomorrow the verdict on him.  Jahob is doing much better I lunged him yesterday and he was fine he wants to be out on that trail just as bad as I do.  I let Red run in the arena holding the lead rope.  He wants to buck every time I take him out there he is a little cooped up in that stall right now and he wants to be out and running.  So that's a good thing.  The way things look right now hopefully the snow will go away. I am in Paradise right now and it is snowing.  Paradise is about two ridges over from where we will be leaving from.  It looks like we are going to be riding through the snow weather we waited to leave or not.  Attentively we are gonna try to leave in about a week I will know more after I talk with the Vet.  That's where I am headed right now.  I will be back later.

I haven't updated in a couple of weeks now.  I plan on leaving on March 26 or 27.    The horses are doing much better.  I had to take Red back to the Vet and he dug out the rest of the abscess.  Then I had to take him back again a couple of days later his leg swelled up a little bit.  We had to put him back on some antibiotics.  I took Red over to my Grandparents so he could get some sunshine and green grass.  The horses are raring to go  at least that's what they told me this morning.  I rode Jahob last week in 2 foot of snow we rode 15 miles.  I took my Dad's dog with me I looked back to find her and she was packed with snow and looked like a big snow ball.  I decided to put her on Jahob and carried her home.  She liked that.   Since she has such long hair the snow just stuck to her making her look like one big snow ball.  I got to meet my Great Uncle Scott and his wife Ruth.  They seemed to be very excited about my trip.  We decide last night I am going to go towards Ohio instead of Arkansas.  I am sure my direction may change a few times along the way.  Who knows where I will end up?  It will be fun regardless which direction we go.  I will check back in here later as soon as I have more news for you.

Today I went to Paradise Sporting Goods and picked up my 1022 Rifle.  I am pretty excited about it I have been waiting for it for a while.  A guy named Chuck and a lady named Candy who work there helped me and were very nice.  Chuck donated a box of bullets and Candy donated a ten round clip for my 22.  I very much appreciate that from them.  They said they will be following my site.  I just want to thank them again if they are reading this, Thank You!  Like I said every little bit helps.  The horses looked good this morning they got a little sunshine this morning although now it is starting to drizzle.  I moved them over to my Grandparents green pasture and they seem to be real happy there.  I am gonna visit tonight with my Uncle Scott and Aunt Ruth and I will be at there house sometime in September.  I am leaving now on April 2.  My Dad said he would ride a couple days in with me.  He doesn't know it but I really want him to go I enjoy his company and I learn something new from him each time I am with him.  I might learn something that might save my life on this trip if he rides with me for a couple of days.  I will check back in later when something new happens.

I got a few more things to do before my April 2 departure.  I bought an IPOD for my trip so I can here some tunes while I am on the road.  I am gonna have lunch today with Anna so I can give her this tape.   So she can download it on the website.  So the next time you get information I will be on the trail already.   I actually will probably be already on the trail when you are reading this hopefully in the Sierra Mountains where there is about 10 feet of snow there right now I have heard.  I plan on going on the 31st  to put some hay out.  There might be hay out from last month but I need to put fresh hay.  I am excited to leave but every time I get excited something happens that I can't leave but it is gonna happen this time I can feel it.  We are ready!  I talked to some rodeo buddies today, Sean he is pretty excited about it.  He is going to be  Rodeoing with Jason Smith this year which is exciting.  Jason is one of the best there is, I don't think there is anybody better then Jason Smith when it comes to Rodeo.  He is tough sucker and I am sure they will have a lot of fun.  I miss the rodeo it is something that gets in your blood and you just don't ever want to give it up.  I am sure the trip will be fun and worth while.  Keep us in your prayers that we have a safe trip and I will be back later.

It's like one o clock in the morning.  I'm calling the first run the try out run.  I figured out that there was a few things I wanted to change a few things to leave behind and a few things to add.  I added a shovel to my list some butte for the horses and some snaps for the lead ropes. I didn't like the other ones.  I also got a Davis Boot for the horses and sharpened my ax.  I had a few more weeks to think about things.  I am planning to leave on the 3rd and this weather is not right.  It is spring and they are calling for snow.  I have gear to protect me from getting wet so I should be fine.  I just want to get on the trail.  I gave Anna the other tape so hopefully by the time you get this info I will be on the trail.  I just wanted to update you and I will check back soon.

I am all packed up and I am leaving at sunlight.  The weather is calling for rain and another storm coming on Friday.  I hope to be climbing over the summit on Friday.   Not exactly sure where I will be at yet.  I took my truck to Pyramid Lake yesterday to put some hay out.  My Dad decided he didn't want to go.  He doesn't want to ride back over that mountain when it snows because it is supposed to snow pretty good.  I was really looking forward to him riding in a couple days with me but I guess that is how it goes. The weather here in California has just been crazy.  I have never seen this much water in my life.  I heard older people tell me they haven't seen this much water.  It's almost 2 weeks into spring now and we still have winter weather.    I am gonna go to bed now and I will be back.

I am about 2 miles down the road.  Red has been bucking and raring and trying to play in the water.  He is being a butt head today.  Hopefully Red will calm  down here pretty soon.  It is now evening and we made it to our designated spot and the horses are doing great.  Red calmed down once we got to Chico Creek.  Red is back to normal its been a couple of months since he has been normal.  I got the campsite set up and the horse tied up to these big metal gates.  It's almost like a hichin rail.  I saw this big ol helicopter it was going right over us and they were carrying logs it was pretty neat.  They were logging with the helicopter I am glad they are using a helicopter to log they make a lot less of a mess.  I have about 9 miles more to Butte meadows tomorrow.  I will be back with you tomorrow.

It's 6:00 p.m. and I am back in my tent.  We rode up Hwy. 32 9 miles and I fed the horses what we had left at that sight.  Red wasn't quite as anxious today he was great for me.  We rode up to the Forest Service Station where I had stashed more hay.  I met some really nice people they were from Chico and Daemon the Forest Service guy was there.  I fed the horses there and they had more then enough hay.   I talked to Daemon for an hour and a half while the horses ate.  He let me charge my IPOD there and gave me a map of the area.  We left there about 2:00 rode up  through Jones Town met a few people at the Bambi Inn and talked to them for a bit.  I packed up the left over hay and took it with me.  I had a little bit of trouble tying it on but I got it.  Then we rode up to the snow mobile park where the gate was closed and the rode was closed.  I got up here and started talking to some people.  Some people told me there was 3 feet of snow some said there was 7 then some said there was 15-20 feet of snow.  So I didn't really know how deep it was.  Kind of like the fish story the fish they caught gets bigger and bigger as the story is told.  The snow mobiles have been riding on this packed snow and I wasn't sure how deep it was so I thought we would be able to ride on it.  Well, we made it probably 20-30 feet and all of a sudden red sunk down.  He went all the way down I was on his back and I was in the snow.  I mean he sunk down and then freaked out and started jumping and bucking and that made him sink even further.  It is clear over his back  and Jahob started freaking out.  I got Red calmed down and told him to relax and stay still  I didn't want him getting injured.  Then I got Jahob to calm down and grabbed my Marine Core knife out and I cut the break away straps on my riggen for Jahob, my pack horse.  I had to let go completely of Red so I could release the breast strap off of Jahob.   When I did that Red  Jumped and freaked out and when he did he was able to get himself out of the snow and get back to the asphalt.  I was able to get Jahob out when I got the pack off of him.  When I got them out of the snow there was a snow mobile trailer and tied them up for a second.  I went to go grab my pack and heard some snow mobiles coming.  I didn't want anyone to get mad at me for tying them to their trailer so I seen my ax and grabbed it and slammed it into the ground and tied the horses to it.  They didn't run off or anything I just didn't want to chance it.  I drug the pack gear back over to Jahob.  I decide maybe I should set up camp.  I used my pack saddle pads for bedding since I was on concrete.  I got a kangaroo fur for a pillow.  My good friend Megan went over as an exchange student and when she went to Australia she asked me what I wanted her to bring me back, I told her a kangaroo.  She brought me a kangaroo fur.  Its light weight and stuffs right in my bag.  It is pretty comfy.  It's been a pretty exciting day met a lot of nice people.  I can't remember all there names and I don't want to get anyone's name wrong.  If you any of you are watching my sight I remember you I just don't remember everyone's name.  You all were pretty awesome.  Some guys I met from Durham gave me a bottle of whiskey and they took a picture of me and I took a picture of them.  They were good people.  Thanks for everybody's hospitality.  It makes me smile to know there are so many good people out there.  I do have a problem with riding on the road a lot of people go by way to fast.  I think that people don't know there is a law that you aren't supposed to pass a horseback rider more then 5 miles faster then what the horse is going.  If I am riding 10 miles an hour you can't drive past me more then 15 miles an hour.  Now I agree that is a little bit ridiculous but if people can just slow down to 25 miles an hour that would be great.  We are all here to have a good time in life no one wants to get hurt.  I 'm not anyone to tell anybody what to do but I don't want anyone to get hurt.  So please just slow down a little bit.  I try to stay out of everybody's way.  So drive safe and nobody will get hurt, I guarantee you'll get there before I do.  Sorry got a little side tracked.  I had some oatmeal for breakfast and beef jerky for lunch for dinner I had some Spam wrapped in a tortilla with some top ramon and a little bit of hot chocolate.  I am going to have someone come pick me up and take me 8 miles from where I am at so I can get around the snow.  I don't want to go back to home base and wait til the snow melts.  I am sure Anna and Kevin will come get me.  They have helped me out a lot on this and I really appreciate it.  Anna and my brother have been working on keeping this website going and updated.  I really appreciate all they have done for me.  It isn't just me Red and Jahob to make this website happen it is Anna my brother Josh and my step Mom Debbie.  I will be checkin back sometime tomorrow to let you know whats happening next on Ez Expedition Wild Wild West going East.

I am waiting here at the Bambi Inn for Kevin to come pick me and my horses up and take us into Chester.  I visiting with the owner of the Bambi Inn.  Kevin picked me up and took to Chester and dropped us off on the other side of Hwy 89.  He took us approximately 8 miles.    Instead of going back home and waiting til June when the snow melts.  I will be talking to you soon when I get to Pyramid Lake.

Last night I made it into Chester.  I rode into Chester and there was quite a few people waving and what not.  That was really nice it keeps your spirit up.  I rode into the True Value where I had put some hay up about a week ago.  True  Value stores usually have good people working there.  I ran into a lady  named Glen Winston.  She was really nice and called her husband Ed.    They let me put my hay in their barn.  They stored equipment in there and it wasn't really a place for hay but they let me put it in there anyway.  When I got to there house he gave me the royal treatment.  He let me stick my horses in the barn and took me to dinner and let me take a shower at his house.  We chatted and told stories and had a great time.  He is a member of the Rotary Cub and the Elks Club.  He gave me a pocket watch and four candles.  I'm burning a candle right now here in my tent and its getting it nice and cozy in here.  A lot better then it was the other day when I was up there in the cold of Butte Meadows.  I can't say this enough  please if you see a person on horse or walking or even on a bike please slow down.  It only takes a few seconds to take your foot off the gas and slow down when passing someone on horse, foot or bike.  I am riding a few feet off of the road and some people try to get as close as they can with out hitting me.  One guy today turned his engine off and started it back up so it would back fire to try to scare the horses.  If you want to go to the rodeo, go to the rodeo, but don't try to create a rodeo on the side of the road where someone could get hurt.  It amazes me how some people can be so inconsiderate of others.  The liter on the roads is horrible too.  Its beautiful country I'm traveling across and people just throw their garbage out and the ditches on the sides of the road are covered.  I have seen baby shoes, beer cans, flashlights, you name it I've seen it on the sides of the road.  It's disgusting. On a more positive note, I came across some beautiful country today, the snow on the mountains and some geese flying out over Lake Almanore and some crane.  It was just breath taking.   The wind chill was quite chilly.  Red was raring to go today.  He broke the reins today when I was letting him eat some grass.  I wasn't thinking and I was messing with Jahob and Red stepped on the reins and yanked his head back and broke it.   I sewed them back together with wax string and a needle.  It'll work for the time being. Chester is a really nice town.  This one lady I met handed me a $20 bill and said, "Good luck."  Which was really sweet of her.  Every little bit is going to help on this ride.   Chester is a beautiful town and if you ever get a chance to visit it, it's worth going to.  For everybody that's in Chester that's reading this Thank you for your hospitality. I'm about 4 miles out of the Weston town at this Little Ranch 101 on Hwy 36.  I think that was the name on it don't quote me on it.  I'll check my map and get back to you on that.  I'm camped out next to Ranch 101 and he is  a retired bull rider, rode CCA, nice guy.  We got to talking and he's a nice cowboy.   Tomorrow I should be riding into Susanville.  If anyone reading this site enjoys it, make sure you tell somebody else.  I sure would like it if there was a lot of people enjoying this as much as I am.  I will be back tomorrow.  Thank you everybody. Good night.

I am riding over the Sierra Mountains today.  It was pretty cold last night woke up with some snow  this morning.  I woke to hear something messing with my tarps last night.  I wasn't sure what it was it sounded like a pretty big animal.  I grabbed my pistol and my flashlight and opened up the tent real slowly.  I didn't want to startle it or shoot the wrong thing although I wouldn't have shot it any ways, I just would have shot up in the air to scare it away.  Any how I shined my flashlight out there and it was Red.  He stretched out the rope and had his body stretched as far as he could. He was trying to pull the tarp off and get the grain out.  He cracks me up.  I heard lots of little creatures last night coyotes and owls.  I was a few miles from Westwood.  I am riding up HWY 36 and a lot of these cars aren't horse friendly.  I rode through Susanville and got a lot of smiles and waves from the towns people. I stopped at a feed store and there was a nice lady who took some pictures of us. She is going to put it in to the newspaper.  There was this other nice lady I met pulling out of the feed store who gave me a map to her house and told me I could stay there for the night.  It is quite away's out of our way, so we are probably going to have to pass on that nice offer.  I'm going to  find a spot up her to camp out.  I just saw one of the most beautiful things you could ever see.  I saw twenty little doves and fawns and I have seen a lot of little critters out here. Just out side of Susanville there is just about everything you can imagine out here. I got the snow laid mountains next to me.  It is just gorgeous I don't know how to describe it. It is just breathtaking.  A little bit ago this guy pulled up next to me in a pick up and asked what I was doing.  I told him I'm going around the world.  He said around the world? He asked if I had a place to stay tonight.  He told me I was welcome at his house.  He was a real nice guy.  He lives there in Windell about a mile up the road and we should be there in a little bit.  Talk to you tomorrow.  Good night.

"Taday, April 9, 2006, while working in my front yard I happened to look up and see a young man on horseback with a pack horse in tow going down main street in Susanville, CA. I wondered to myself, "what could this person be doing riding a horse down Main Street".  I stopped my work and casually waved to him and when he acknowledged my wave  I went back to cutting back the snapdragon flowers that had begun to grow from the long winter. Within a few minutes he rode over to me and introduced himself and told me what he had planned. It was an exciting event to see this young man and his two magnificent horses standing in front of my home.  We shook hands and I wished him luck on his journey. He slowly rode away  while I was thinking to myself, "here is a young man that knows what he wants and  is not afraid to act on what he dreams of". Well, I wish Ezra the best of luck and hope that he enjoys what makes him happy. Best of luck to you Ezra",   Bill

I'm riding out of Lynchfield now I stayed the night at Butch's house last night.  He had his buddy Larry over there and a couple of folks that seen me riding down the road that came over to visit me. Everybody in this town seemed to be real nice.  I really like this area.  Butch took real good care of me he fixed me up with some dinner.  He cooked me up some pork chops and potatoes and corn and it was delicious.  Great hospitality up here and I don't expect it but when I get it, it sure is nice.  There is a lot of good people in America.  I ran into this guy who I ran into a week ago when I was dropping off some hay.  He is a photographer and took some pictures and is going to put them into the newspaper.  He gave me an extra Bible for my trip and told me if I come across anybody who needs one to give it to them.  He wanted me to stop by and see him.  We are headed right now towards the wild horse corrals.  So far I am having a great time .  It is beautiful country.  There is this Power Company called H L  Power Company and they  put these trucks on this big machine and it picks the truck up and dumps out the sawdust.  Red is watching it and he couldn't believe it.  He's just checking it all out.  My horse is pretty smart he has to check everything out.  I have seen a lot of little critters and a lot of carcasses.  A lot of dead animals out here.  I stopped by Grants house and he wasn't there but I talked to his neighbor Ruth.  I gave her some money to run some hay up to the border for me.  I'm in my tent now and I was admiring the beautiful sunset.  I got to thinking on how many times I could have died or when I did die in the hospital  when I broke my femur and they gave me too much morphine.  I'm so lucky that God  spared me to see this beautiful sunset.  Where I am laying right now is just gorgeous.  It is a wonderful feeling and words can't describe it.  I didn't make it as far as I wanted to today.  Red was getting pretty hungry.  He ate at Grant's house.  Approximately 10 miles ago.  I am gonna get off and walk him for awhile and let him graze a little bit.  I want to walk everyday a few miles.  In the morning I will stop up at a little ranch ahead and water the horses up.  I think we are about 25 miles from Pyramid Lake.  it's hard to say the people around here call them country miles and a country mile is a whole lot longer then a regular mile.  I'm learning this.  We hopefully will stay at the other end of the Lake tomorrow night.  The following day we will ride into Nixon and see my Indian buddy Ed Neely.  He is the shank man for the Team Brunk Ride.  N 40 degrees 17.371 West 120 degrees 07.631 Location is 14 ft.  Good night everyone.

Good morning, we are back on the trail again.  We found a little pond this morning and watered up the horses.  Red was real awnry this morning. Red kicked Jahob this morning but Jahob walked it off.  I think he will be fine.  It rained on me last night pretty good for a little while.  It is kind of weird here it will rain and then it won't rain and then it will rain and then it won't rain. I ran into another stream down the road and watered the horses again.  It's sunny right now and raining on the right  of me.  We made it to the Nevada Border.  We are now 3 1/2 hours in to Nevada I walked a few of those miles.  We came across some cattle and found a water hole up there.  We are probably going to stay up here tonight.  I will be back tomorrow.

Last night we ran into a place where the cows water so I watered the horses.  The cows were a little skeptical of the horses so we decided to right up a ways before we set up camp.  I set up camp and a guy in a flat bed truck pulled up.  I told him what I was doing and let him know he could follow me on my web site.  I think he missed understood me because he said, "Oh no I get enough riding out here with these cows."  So I explained myself a little bit better and he said he doesn't even own a computer.  I asked him if I can give him some money to buy a couple flakes of hay from him.  The next morning he came out about five a.m. and brought me a couple flakes of hay and didn't even charge me.  We should make Pyramid Lake here soon.  Well I guess I am closer to Pyramid Lake then I thought I was.  The Lake has big rocks sticking out of it that looks like Pyramids. The horses were a little stiff this morning but they seem to be full of energy and raring to go now.  We road by the Ranger he waved at us.  So far everyone has been really nice.  I cannot believe how beautiful it is out here.  If you ever doubt there is a God just ride your horse  for hours out in the country.  I'm not trying to preach or anything but this is just to beautiful to have just appeared someone had to make this.  Red has been all nervous since we got onto the Reservation.  I told him the Indians are of peace, and they are my friends.  He just keeps looking around at everything.  We watched a coyote chase a jack rabbit.  The coyote saw us riding up on him and he ran the other way.  I ran into my buddy's friend Jimmy and said we are about 23 miles from Nixon.  It is starting to rain now.   We found a camp spot so we are going to camp out here.  I watered up the horses at the lake  they were spooking at the waves  but finally they got the hang of it.  Red would just lift his head and wait until the wave came in then go back to drinking.  I will be back soon.  Hope everyone is enjoying the web site.  Good night.

I'm tired and the horses are tired.  We're all tired but the sun is shining on us here in Nevada, Pyramid Lake.  I woke up this morning and fed the horses all the grain I had although tonight we should be at Ed's house.  We should have about 18 miles to get there.  I sure am thirsty, I got some water out of that Lake and put it in my purifier.  It tasted salty, I'm sure the purifier got the germs out but not that salty taste. I can't hardly stand to drink it.  I was riding along this morning and Jahob's lead rope got stuck so I looked back and he is laying down.  I told him to get up and he just looked at me so I told him again to get up and so he gets up and starts walking.  I think he must be tired so we are going to take a break up here.  I wish we would stayed here last night there's a lot more grass.  It is the Pyramid Lake Marina.  The people there were real nice.  I had a hamburger and some Gatorade.  They also said they are going to get me in touch with the media.  Jahob decided to lay down and roll and it screwed up the pack and the people fishing on the lake were watching the whole thing.  Kind of embarrassing!  Then I rode up on a four foot Rattlesnake, I saw it out the corner of my eye.  We just rode on by him, he didn't seem to mind.  This ride around the Lake seems forever.  I am excited to say we made it around the Lake and we are so glad to turn our heads and see that Lake behind us.  I am even more excited to tell you we made it to my buddy's house and I will be sleeping in a nice comfortable bed tonight.  Good night folks and Thank you for all your support. I hope you are enjoying the site.

I went to church today with the Paiute Tribe.  The church we went to was one of the first Church's in Nevada.  It was built in the 1800's.  I had  a lot of fun, we went to the service and then ate some food.  We visited Chief Heely's wife's parents in Carson City Nevada and played some poker.  We were playing for penny's.  I learned a few Indian tricks ate lots of good food.  I learned I can put Prince Albert tobacco in my horses feed and it will keep some of the parasites out of there feed.  I learned about tumble weeds, that they have a lot of nutrition and if you boil it in water it taste a lot like spinach.  I also learned that while I am riding down Hwy 50 I am going to run into a lot of Mormon crickets and they are the size of your thumb.  They said they run in groups , rather large groups.  The horse are doing real well and we have enjoyed our stay here.  I am going into Fallon tomorrow with Chief's wife Sherry.  I need to get some better horse blankets and bathe them before we move on.  I am going to shoe them also.  I plan on leaving on the 20th from here.  I am going to eliminate some of my pack to lighten up things.  I'm looking forward to getting back on the trail even though I have been enjoying my stay.  My buddy told me a story regarding a little bit of history of the Tribe.  Apparently there was two white guys who came on to the Tribe and kidnapped a couple of Indian girls.  They raped them and mistreated them.  So a war party got together and got their  girls back.  This started a war between the Paiute Indians and the Calvary.  The Calvary came to kill the Paiute's.  The Chief at that time of the Paitue Tribe sent the woman and children to head North.  They got their War Parties up in the hills and when the Calvary came they  surrounded them and it became a big war down by the River here.  I will give you more information on this as I get to the spot where the war was.  The Paiute's let them know they couldn't be coming and raping the woman.  They stood their ground.  I hope to hit the museum here and get more history on the actual reservation.  What I have found at this reservation is that the people are wonderful here.  A lot of times we forget the history of what they went through back in the days.  I will be back soon with an update.  Wild, wild West going East. I hope ever body follows my journey across the United States and then the world. Thank you.

I am heading out tomorrow back on the trail.  I will be leaving from Nixon which is about 10 miles out of Pyramid Lake.  The horses are well rested and I shoed them today.  It was a little difficult when you don't have all the tools that you are used to having.  I guess that's all part of roughing it.  I was able to get er done though.  I washed them and cleaned them up.  Today is a nice sunny day but yesterday we got a little bit of snow.  The weather is supposed to be nice for the next couple of days and then we might be getting another storm.  I've been sleeping in a nice bed the past few nights but tomorrow night I will be back in a tent.  Although I am  ready to get back on the trail and see the world.  I had a great stay here and have really enjoyed my stay and all the knowledge I gained.  Ed and his wife have been so nice and they don't let me do anything to help them back.  I really appreciate all they have done.  Ed is going to be riding in the Red Bluff Round-up this next weekend.  I am a little disappointed I won't be in it this year but I am on a journey that will reap, far greater rewards.  For all of you that are following my site and enjoying it, there is a spot on the front page when you log on that says donations.  If you enjoy this site and could spare a dollar or two I would really appreciate it.  If you know anybody who is interested in sponsoring or publicizing please contact us on the web site.  Also if you have any ideas or input please send us an e-mail.  Thank you so much for sharing this experience with me.

I'm heading out of Nixon, Nevada this morning.  I made some changes to my pack which I am sure I will do many times as I ride across the world. I hope to make it to Fernly tonight.  There is some camp grounds there at the rodeo grounds that I can stay at.  I am almost to the spot where the battle that I talked about last time is.  I didn't get too far out this morning when Jahob started itching like he was uncomfortable with the pack on.  I stopped got off Red and took the pack off of Jahob and tried to see what the problem was.  I look up and Red is about 30 feet away eating grass.  I get the pack on Jahob and start to walk over to Red and he starts walking away so I pick up the pace a little and Red looks at me and takes off running.  I run after him and I see him disappear down a gully so I go back and climb on Jahob and ride on the pack saddle to find Red.  Well I found Red all the way back at my friend Ed's house in Nixon.   I was pretty mad at him and I think Red got the message.  I made it to Fernly to the Rodeo grounds.  I haven't found any water here.  We did stop at the Truckee River and got some water. Ed dropped off some hay for me here today so I have the food for the horses.  I had this great idea to put baking soda in my boots because they were starting to stink.  It was dark I thought I sprinkled a little bit in there.  Today my feet were starting to hurt, and I took off my boot and there was quite a bit of baking soda in there and it burned my feet.  So needless to say I will not be putting baking soda in my boots any more.  I'm letting my boots air out as we speak.

Last night my buddy Trace who is a rodeo buddy of mine came to the rodeo grounds to see me.  We went and had a drink at the Pioneer.  I want to give a special thanks to Bill and Kevin at the Pioneer who bought me breakfast this morning and were very nice. I just left a little town past Fernley. I met a guy there named Bob and his family, who showed me a little jail house.  It used to be a pretty big town with over 4000 people.  He threw me in jail in the old fashioned jail house and took a picture.  This town has a lot of history behind it.  Bob gave me a bottled water and my horses a bucket of water and we are off to try and make it to Fallon.  Hopefully we can make it by the Truckee River tonight to set up camp.  I want to thank everybody that is following my site.  I hope you are enjoying it.

I stayed last night at a stock yard.  I met a coupe nice guys who let me put my horses in the pin and there was plenty of food and water.  I pitched my tent and got a good nights sleep.  There is a little store here and I am going to go in and get breakfast.  I am going to head into Fallon and find a tack store so I can get some saddle pads.  They both have some saddle sores on them.  I have several saddle sores on me too.  I have them on my thighs, butt and my ankles.  This is where the horses and I have to Cowboy Up and get tough.  My breakfast was Awesome.  They were the nicest people there.  They made me up some sandwiches to go.  Fallon Livestock Exchange I want to thank you for your hospitality.  Monty gave me a hat that says Fallon Livestock Exchange and he wants me to wear it when I get to New York.  Monty if you are reading this thank you and I will make sure I wear it when I get to New York.  Thank you again.  There was this really neat lady I met there and she gave me a book of all the trails in Nevada and some of the ointment for the horses.  She went to the store and bought it with her own money while I was getting ready to leave.  That was so great.  I appreciate that so much.  Fallon is an awesome little town.  John gave me a fold up bucket like an army bucket for water.  He also ran down to the radio station KHWG 750 Am Classic Country.  He got me an interview.  Fallon is a great place.  I stopped by there and did an interview and people were stopping and waving.  This nice lady Betsy came up and gave me a hundred $ bill and a hug.  That is very much appreciated.  Everybody in town thank you very much.  Lee who owns the Gold Miners Jewelry Repair,  he is very nice and Thank you for the necklace.  Another lady stopped by and she is from England she gave me an envelope that contained a card a few dollars and a rock that says protected by angels and the card said, "my grandson David Cooper age 8, made  me a keep sake box and this stone.  I thought you might want to carry this with you.  Everyone should follow their dreams.  So Bravo, Good luck, God Bless on your long journey.  Best wishes Terry."  Very sweet ,thank you so much and it makes me smile.  I hope anyone who reads this it makes you smile too.  It is nice to know there is so many people out there that are nice.  It is also nice to know I am protected by angels.  Good night and God Bless.

I woke up this morning on James's couch.  Him and his wife made  me dinner last night and gave my horses water and hay.  They are great people.  James is a cowboy and an artist.  He does beautiful work.  The paintings of the horses look so real. They are awesome.  James had to leave this morning to go to a Rodeo in Elko.  They are great people his art work is awesome.  The weirdest thing is James has an aunt in Chico that works at Great Escape Travels with my travel agent Kim.  What a small world it is.  I met so many people in Fallon and I am so bad with names.  If I didn't mention somebody I do appreciate you and everything you've done.  I appreciate any contact on this web site.  I am very open to any suggestions any of you have.  If there is anything you want to hear more about or think that I should be doing on my journey please contact us.  We appreciate any feedback or suggestions.  Once again thank you Fallon.  Everyone there was so nice.  Good night.

I stopped at a ranch house that I saw.  There was a guy named Bill I met.  I asked if there was any work he had on his ranch that I could do for a couple of flakes of hay.  He said had no work for me but he had plenty of hay.  He was real nice then I met his wife when she came home.  I told her what  I was doing and she told me I was crazy.  I agreed.  I told her this is something I dreamt about doing my whole life and you have to follow your dreams.  They suggested I stay the night so I did.  She cooked up a great dinner and we talked about everything.  Nice dinner and nice conversation.  It is raining on me now and it rained real good last night.  Bill told me there wouldn't be grass for miles and he was right.  Jahob is getting tired and I had to re adjust the pack twice today.  I was really worried today about the feed for the horses, not knowing where there will be grass to feed on.  I called Dawn and Will whom I met in Fallon at the radio station.  They brought me out some hay and took me up the road aways to put some more hay out for my horses.  They are great people.  He talked to me about another route I can take.  He is a UPS driver and knows these routes around here.  Thank you so much Dawn and Will for all your help you are good people.  The world needs more people like Dawn and William.  It would be a great world if everyone was as nice as all the people I have come across on this journey.  Good night y'all.

I awoke this morning to Red whinnying.  I hoped out of my tent to see what was going on and Jahob was getting to far from Red so Red was throwing a fit.  Once again Dawn and William thanks again so much I do appreciate all your help.  Thank you everybody for all  your help.  I am going to pack up this morning and head over to the Sand Mountain area.  We have quite a rough ride ahead of us today.  Its about 11 miles from here.  I found out that it is illegal to have a fire arm loaded when I am on the actual road.  If I am off road it is ok.  I was checked out by an officer that seen horse tracks apparently there was a break in somewhere.  I told him all about my  trip and what I was doing and he said he will be following the web site.  I can't remember his darn name.  Like I said I am really bad with names.  I am in my tent now and I got the horses fed and watered tonight.  I want to thank Dawn and William once again for all their help.  Good night folks.

I woke up and got out of my tent this morning.   My tent flew up in the air and over yonder.  It is really windy.  Two big airplanes flew over us.  They were flying pretty low and it scared my horses. They got used to it though because there was about 15 of them and they flew over us all day long.  My shoulder is killing me.  I broke it at a rodeo a few years back.  I am gonna have to cowboy up. Can't be a sissy la la.  Jahob fell over after stepping in a hole.  He couldn't get up because the pack was on him.  I cut the pack loose and he got up .  We started back on our trail when he did it again.  He hurt his leg.  I'm not sure if he hurt it the first time or the second.  I swapped the gear and rode Jahob.  I would much rather ride Red because he is my riding horse.  He did really good while I was riding him.  Red doesn't do to good being ponied.  He doesn't like it.  Red is a lot taller so it is harder to get the pack up on him.  Jahob is a lot smaller so it is a lot easier getting on his back.  It is hard here in Nevada with the ground it looks hard and you walk on it and all of a sudden you sink down.  It is kind of spooky.  I am hoping Jahob is going to make it.  I don't want to have to swap  him out for another pack horse.  It is still really windy and my tent is banging back and forth.  Dawn brought me some water and treats and chicken and soup.  I want to thank her and William once again for everything.  My horses are my number one priority so I will see what happens with Jahob.  Also I met a guy named David today he took some pictures of us. Good luck to David  I wish you the best.      Good night you all.

I just got to the Pony Express Station.  It has a wind mill and a homemade water tank made out of rock and plaster.  I took some pictures  of it.  It was a nice ride over here today.  I was a little depressed today worried about Jahob.  The weather is a lot nicer today.  There are cotton candy clouds all over the place.  I rode Jahob and he was doing good.  It is beautiful here and I have a little creek down below me.  I used my bucket that John in Fallon gave me.  It came in handy today because the ground is real soft down by the creek so I had to walk there and bring the water up to the horses.  Thanks again John for the bucket.  I met some real nice people here and they offered me to stay at the house in Eureka which is 150 miles from here.  They were nice people and Nevada is full of nice people for sure.  Dawn and Will had left some treats here for the horse and I.  They have been so helpful.  I am feeling a lot better today then I was yesterday.  I was hurting yesterday.  I am now sitting by a gigantic rock with a cave in it and a trail goes up into another cave.  It smells of skunk.  I think maybe that lil skunk lives in the cave.  There is green grass and purple flowers and a beautiful sunset.  It is breathtaking.  I set up my tent here.  This old cowboy stopped as I was setting up camp.  He got out of his truck and I shook his hand and told him I was riding around the world on my horse and he said , "Oh I've done that ten times."  He had a few drinks in him and he offered me some whiskey and a bag of stoggies.  In all my years of rodeo one of the things I have learned.  When a cowboy has been drinking and offers you something you take it. I showed him a sore on Jahob that I have been trying to heal up.  He gave me a great idea on how to make a lil donut over it.  Jahob is doing a lot better with me riding him for a few days.  It is really pretty here where I am.  I am going to turn in for the night.  Good night and thanks for following me.

Good morning everyone.  I watered the horses and lay in the grass with Red for a while in the beautiful sunshine.  It is a nice day today.  This guy in  a white Dodge came by last night and heard my Expedition on the radio station out of Fallon.  AM 750 Classic Country.  He came by this morning when I was laying with Red in the grass and he said is your horse sick?  I told him no we are just laying here enjoying the scenery.  He was really nice and I can't even remember his name.  I sure do appreciate his hospitality.  He gave me a few bucks and said this is for down the road.    There was a lot of coyotes around us last night so I fired my gun off  to scare them off.  We are going to head up the road about 15 miles and set up camp. I rode up Hwy 50 and the old Hwy 50 and I met a couple of couples that were from Oregon and Sacramento Ca.  They are going to be following the site.  Thank you for the carrot the horses appreciated it.  I hope you have a safe trip.  We came across a  creek just about the time I was thinking about water.  There is trees around here also.  They are pine trees about 30 feet tall.  I'm camped out here at the creek.  I'm not going to put my tent up since it is pretty warm and clear skies.  We plan on having a short day tomorrow.  We have to climb over Carl Summit all up hill.  It is pretty steep little climb so we will probably only go 7 or 8 miles .  After tomorrow I am going to try and put the pack back on Jahob.  I had corned beef in a can for dinner and it is gross and that is putting it mildly.  The mashed potatoes were good.  I went by this tree today and it was filled with shoes.  They were all used shoes.  It must be some deal where everybody throws their shoes in the tree.  I guess you can say Shoes grow on trees.  I could use a new pair of boots though.  I have another beautiful sunset tonight. I got here earlier and took a nap.  For some reason I have been really tired.  I sleep one eye open and one ear because of critters waking you up all night.  I haven't got to talk to a lot of people so I guess I am rambling on.  There has only been a couple of cars pass me up here.  It is nice to not have to fight the traffic.  Please contact us if there is anything you would like on the site. If you are reading this at night I want you to go outside and look up at the sky and try to count all the stars.  I am looking at all the stars right now and I can't count him.  The world is so big but we are moving so fast these days we have lost the realization of how big our planet really is and how beautiful it is.  I have only rode a few hundred miles and I have seen the beauty in our planet and creatures.  I am so thankful of the earth. I hope you are too.  Well I guess I should get some shut eye.  It is hard to go to sleep out here sometimes.  I worry about my horses and I hear things.  It is time to try.  Good night.

I woke up to Jahob and Red all tangled in their ropes and they couldn't reach the grass.  They wanted me to come save them and let them eat.  I saddled up Jahob and left the girth loose because I had to put saddle pack on Red and what not.  I look over and see that Jahob has the saddle hanging under his belly.  I walked over and fixed him up and got Red all ready.  I decided to get some water in my canteen before I leave and Red starts freaking out.  The saddle pack had slid underneath him.  He must have gotten caught on a branch and it scared him.  So we've had a hell of a morning.  We are all good now and back on the trail.  I ran into a guy named Tom he was a nice guy and if you are following this site Tom thanks for your information it was a big help.  I am down in a canyon by a creek going to set up here for the night.  I got here about 2:30 today.  I'm trying to lighten up my load which is really hard to part with anything.  I might need it down the road but I can't keep extra weight.  I have more candy than food.  I gave some of that away.  Jeremy and his wife and his daughter brought me some hot dogs and buns.  They are very nice people.  Thank you for taking the stuff off of my hands because my horses didn't want to carry it anymore.  I will be back tomorrow.  Good night.

This morning John and Brittany and Garland came up and they showed me the paper.  I am on page 4 of the Fallon paper on April 28.  They invited me to their fifth wheel and cooked me up a real good breakfast.  I appreciate that.  I got to visit with them.  They gave me some information to help me out.  I met Rusty and Sherrie on the road they gave me a lemonade.  It is nice when people pull over and talk to you.  It is nice to talk to someone and for them to take time out of their busy schedule to visit with a stranger.  I saw a mountain lion and some mountain sheep and few other critters like chipmunks and squirrels.  I'm about 34 miles from Austin. I stopped at a ranch ahead and saw a couple of kids paying.  I asked them if their dad or grandpa was around.  A man came up behind me and I asked him if I could buy some hay from him.  He said he  could sell me some hay but he couldn't give me any water.  He told me there was a creek about a quarter of a mile up.  I got up here and the creek is dry.  He brought the hay up here and said there is another creek up another couple of miles.  I rode up a few miles and found some water.  We were sure glad to see that. There is a lot of little twisters up here.  We are going to keep riding for a little ways to see if we can find some feed.  I will be back soon.

Today is Red's Birthday!!!  I found a bump on Jahob's back I don't know if he got bit last night by something or injured a disc or what.  I am really concerned about him.  I don't want to lose Jahob he has been around me and my family most of my life.  I only plan on taking him to New York but I am not sure if he is going to make it.  Pete and his lovely wife stopped by here and saw me.  They went and bought me boots and found me in Austin to give them to me.  They also got water and want to spread it out between here and Eureka.  They brought a map of where the water spots are.  They took some of my load with them too.  They have been so helpful.  Every ounce counts and they took probably 15 lbs or so off my load.  Thank you guys so much I can't wait to get to your house and visit with you.  I only have a few more days until I get to Eureka Nevada.  I met a lot of good people here.  Vance and Dan who are here working on the cell phone towers gave me a number for Satellite Radio so I can call them and see if they want my story.  They had to leave town so they weren't here for Red's Birthday.  I was worried about the bar floor so I didn't take him in the bar.  I wasn't sure the floor would hold 1200 lbs .  If you have ever heard that song whiskey for my men and beer for my horses.  I thought that was really cool when they told me to bring him in for a beer.  He will have a lot more birthdays to celebrate in a bar with a beer.  I want to tell Vance and Dan it was great hanging out with you  and I wish you the best in life.  Good night everyone.

I am headed out of Austin today.  I put some carpet padding under my saddle pack on Jahob.  I am going to get back on Red.  I ate breakfast at the International this morning and my lovely waitress Susan told me my breakfast was on the house.  They cooked me up some french toast.  They have excellent food if you ever stop in  Austin make sure you eat at the International and the nice bar where all the stuff is original from  the 1800's.  There is quite of bit of history there in Austin.  If you need a place to stay, stay at the Mountain Hotel.  They took extremely good care of me.  There the ones that got me the grain for my horses and hay.  They got me the carpet padding.  They took real good care of you.  I appreciate everybody at the Mountain Hotel.  Alicen works there she is a real sweet gal and she will be following the site also.  She is awesome.  Lovely Alicen was a the trading post as I was riding out of town and she gave me a lucky buck and told me to hold on to it, it will be good luck for me.  Across the street from the Trading Post I ran into Chuck he is one of the ones who donated grain for my horses.  He told me to give him a little bit and he would saddle up his horses and he would show me the way to a short cut.  I stopped at the Post Office and sent out a tape to Anna so she could get it on the web site.  I sent out a letter to my nephew who is  3.  I gave him a miniature horse named Sissy La La and he was telling me on the phone he wanted to ride Sissy La La around the world with me.  I told him maybe some other time.  I got him a dream catcher and sent it with the letter.  I told  everyone I saw at the gas station about my trip and took a picture of them.  They said they would be following the web site.  I rode with Chuck and he wasn't able to  go all the way to the highway with me. He rode for awhile with me. I just came across the place that Pete and his lovely wife dropped me off water.  I am going to  stay here tonight.   I seen two wild horses and few burrows.   I tried to take a picture.  I also ran across Mormon crickets.  I've been told horror stories about these crickets. They were just little guys.  I guess they have 6 stages to them the ones I saw were in there 2nd or 3rd stage.  They probably got a lot of protein in them but I got peanut butter and I am going to stick to peanut butter.  I wasn't here for very long and got my tent set up at Vance came by.  He is a real nice guy.  He told me a story about how he rode his horse through the hood in Dallas and somebody stole it.  He kept telling me whatever you do don't ride your horse thru the hood.  I got a kick out of that.  It is a bummer someone would steal his horse.  That is one way to really upset a cowboy.   He took me up the road three miles or so to where they are working on a tower.  I will probably ride up there tomorrow and say good bye to all of them.  I asked him if he would fill up my bucket in Austin and bring me back water in the morning when he came back to the tower.  Thank you everyone.  I am going to get some sleep now.    Good night you all.

Jan and Linda stopped by to interview me this morning.  They said they are very impressed with me.  They said I have a lot of courage and they have a lot of respect for me.  They send me all God speed and safety on my ride.They publish the Reese River Revelry which originated in Austin in 1863.  They republish it as a historical newsletter because it embodies the true spirit  of the west.  They said they were thrilled to meet me.   They said they saw my web site and the interview in the Fallon Paper.  I want to tell Jan and Linda thank you for their hospitality and it was nice meeting them.  Dan and Vance stopped by this morning and brought me a breakfast sandwich.  I'm headed over to their work site right now.  They gate off a lot of the open range around here so I am going to go around and see if I can get over to the Tower.  It's good for keeping the critters in but it sucks for me sometimes when I am trying to get through.  I had to go up and down these steep hills after leaving the Tower where I stopped to say good bye to Dan and Vance.  I noticed I lost my address book so I took the pack off of Jahob and climbed back  up and down those steep hills back to the Tower but could not find it.  The guys said they would look for it.  Red wasn't too happy with me for having to go back.  Then we went back up and down those steep hills and there it was laying in some sage brush.  We also found the water down at the bottom of the hill that Dan and Vance had left for me.  Don Winks just pulled up and handed me a bottled water and $15 and said he wrote an article about me in the paper. I sure do appreciate your help Don.  I got to my campsite and ate some spam and a couple of things of top roman.  I gave away my apple cider on accident.  So I had coffee instead.  I should be at a store in the next couple of days so I can buy me some more apple cider.  I rode by  a group of cows about 50 or 60 of them.  They looked at me like I might be a buckaroo who might round them up or something.  They were on the other side of the fence from me so they started mooing.  They saw Jahobs pack and it has yellow on the top so they followed us for a few miles.  I think they thought that was hay on there.  Red didn't like it much he would much rather chase cows then have them chase him.  There is a lot of grass here where we camped so the horses will have plenty to eat. Well good night.

I camped out  at the rest stop last night and met some people there.  John  and Donna just stopped by they are from Mississippi they are here visiting and I hope they have a good time.  Raymond also stopped by this morning and if any body knows Raymond tell him I said thank you for all his information.  I do appreciate that when you meet people around here they treat you as a friend.  It's awesome.  I have about 32 miles to ride today and then I should be at Pete and Kevan's house where I will be staying.  I seen some antelope on my way today along with a few deer.  The ground here in Nevada will swallow you.  You will be walking along and all of a sudden you will sink down.  Kevan is a real nice lady who will probably be tracking me down since I am running behind.  Here she comes just like I said but I am glad because I wasn't sure where her house was.  Well I made it there and we are going to go out to eat the horses are eating.  I will be back later.  Good night.

I got a shower last night and I got to sleep in a real bed and great food.  Kevan and I are going to run into town today so I can get some groceries and supplies.  She is a real nice lady.  I shoed Kevan's horse for her today.  Thanks again Kevan for your hospitality and tell your husband Pete thank you too.  I enjoyed my stay.  I will be back later.

I decide to stay another day at Kevan's.  I really have enjoyed getting to know her and the horses are enjoying their break.  She has allowed me to shoe her horses and move some rocks for her.  It makes me feel better when people allow me to help out.  I barbequed some steaks up and some corn and Kevan whipped up some Guacamole.  Mmmm good.  We went out and put out some hay  out for my horses and then she let me take her Dodge Durango to go pick up some buckets.  I wanted to stop and put some gas in her vehicle for letting me take it and boom cop lights go on behind me.  I was doing about 35 miles an hour thru town.  He told me he pulled me over for going 40 in a 20 mph zone.  I said I'm sorry Sir.    He asked me for license and registration took it back to his car and came back and said I'm not going to write you up but slow down.  I said thank you Sir.  I always drive too slow and it is kind of funny that I got pulled over going to fast.  But I am very grateful that he didn't give me a ticket.  I'm going to sleep now I will talk more tomorrow.  Good night.

We got 85 miles to make Ely Nevada.  The horses feel good, I feel good and we are ready to go.  I want to thank Kevan and Pete once again for taking me in.  This state here is filled with lots of Love.  Thank you to everyone in Nevada for being such good people. I rode 11 miles today from Kevan's house.  I got the hay that Kevan and I put out and I sure do appreciate her running me out to put hay.  I had a nice ride today.  I ran into Vance and Dan and the other guys.  They were eating lunch in Eureka at a Chinese restaurant.  I met quite of few good people in town.  I went into the market there where I got my groceries the other day and took some pictures of the animals they have up on the walls.  They have all sorts up there.  Lots of critters. There was also a nice lady there who had an aunt who works for the Wild West Magazine.  Nancy from the Lawdawgs sent the picture of Red and me to the Wild West Magazine.  It seems to be getting real windy tonight here in my tent. I had a visit from the Game Warden tonight.  He was concerned with the horses being so close to the rode. I'll be back in the morning.   Good night folks.

I had trouble sleeping last night.  A little worm crawled in my ear and I couldn't get him out.  I don't know what type of worm he was he kind of looked like a caterpillar.  I finally got him to crawl out on his own by tilting my head. It took approximately 2 hours to get him out.  I made it to my next stop and set up my tent.  I crossed another valley today. There is a lot of valleys in Nevada.  I came across a lady today that came and talked to me I don't recall her name off hand but she was really nice.  It helps to have people that support you or cheer you on when you are on a long journey.  it gives you that ump to keep going. Kevan and I had put some hay here and water for when I got here but the water was opened and turned up side down so we only had 5 gallons of water.  Somebody also dumped a mattress here.  I am really against people dumping their trash  when there is so many land fills.  I checked my  tent for worms don't want to go threw that again. We are going to head out early in the morning. So I am going to try to get a good nights rest.  Thank you for following my site.

I woke up this morning and heard this little bird chirping.  I looked down and found  this little bird on the ground.  I asked him what was wrong and he chirped some more.  I think he was saying help.  I named him Peetree and I picked him up. He rode with us for about five miles.  He can't fly so I gave him some flying lessons.  He crashed landed a few times.  The fifth time he flew a little ways then the sixth time he flew away.  I set up camp by an old mine.  There is an old mining shack down the hill and I took some pictures of it. There is some green grass here and a canyon in between us and another grassy area.  I took a rope and went down in the canyon to get some water for the horses.  I met some really nice people today.  I met a guy in a mini van who was coming back from Reno, they went to a Bowling Tournament.  They gave me some candy, homemade crackers, orange and an apple.  I do appreciate their hospitality and donations.  Thank you.  He told me where Garnet Hill is and you can go there and dig up some garnet rocks.    Well I am going to get some shut eye it was a long day.  Good night.

I rode up on a Ranch today it was called the Little Mormon Ranch on the map.  I talked to them for a bit.  They were out fixing some fences.  I showed them my map book.  I talked to them about taking the Old Lincoln Hwy.   He pointed me out to a bare spot on the mountain and told me to head towards that spot. The Hwy  was going South for way too long so I went across the range following my gut instinct.  I came across a pond with water for the horses, thank goodness.  I followed a wild herd of horses.  They were beautiful and the stallion kept checking me out.  He was real protective of his heard which makes him a good stallion.  I took some pictures of them.  My shortcut has turned into a long cut and we went through some steep hills.  We are sitting at the top of this mountain looking down at a whole lot more mountains. I am not exactly sure where I am right now.  These steep mountains are steeper then snot.  Jahob led Red and I the wrong way about 10 miles . I started second guessing Jahob.   I got my GPS out and sure enough we were heading SW when we should of been heading East.  The map is screwed up too.  That is what probably screwed up Jahob, he read the map.  We are all tired it has been a hallacious day. I am going to set up camp here at this good green spot.  I didn't fill up my other two canteens so we only have the one. I got my GPS up and I am 9.5 miles from Ely.  I am going to go to sleep so I will be back in the morning.  Good night.

The horse are tired and sore today from all that mountain climbing yesterday and some how he got a cut on his foot through the night.  I doctored him up this morning.  The miners work all night long.  They have huge dump trucks and they are dumping big gigantic boulders and dirt and all kinds of stuff down this hill.  We have to ride right where they are dumping.  If we timed it just right in between trucks we might make it.  I have to figure this out.  We just want to hurry and get to Ely and take a day or two off.  The horses turned into mountain sheep again for a little while through the mountains.  I have great ponies.  We made it to the top of the mine.  The tires on their equipment is bigger then my two horses put together.  I took some pictures.  This guy Harold who is the safety manager at the Mine he helped me out and escorted me out to the right track to Ely.  They offered me water and coffee.  They were good people I have been very fortunate to come across so many nice people.  Harold thanks again.  The big dump trucks I was telling you about are called Two Ton Cats.  Harold also told em it was about 10 miles to Ely.  When I got to Ely I tied up my horses at the Desert Inn.  I have met quite a few people here and I apologize I have a hard time with remember names.  The management team was awesome they hooked me up with some buckets for water and put me in a room right by my horses so I could hear them throughout the night.  Pete and Kevan came to visit me and they weren't sure where they would run into me so they brought water.  They took me to lunch and we visited.  They are great people I sure do enjoy their company.  I met some other people they had a son who wants to be a cowboy and I let him sit on the horses.  He is a great kid who can melt you.  He would get this big ol smile when he was on the horses.  His dad educated me on the area about where there was some water and springs.  The feed store was closed so I will be there in the morning.  Now I need to get some rest.  Thank you for following the web site.

I have been trying to get a hold of a gentlemen named Pete that is with the Ely times.  I went to the feed store this morning and the I met the owner and his wife.  They are really nice people.  He drove the hay and grain over to my hotel and told me not to worry about it.  He donated it and I really do appreciate it a lot.  If you are ever in Ely stop in at the feed store there.  I stopped in to a casino for lunch and met a guy named Glen he was nice and told me of a barber shop down town.  I met the guy that owns it named Brian and the guy who cut my hair was Russell.  They are all nice guys in there.  I finally got in touch with Pete and he interviewed me.  He invited me to a get together he is having.  I met this guy named Joe from New Jersey at dinner he collects fossils and travels all over the world.  He bought my dinner he said he will be following the web site.  He is staying at the same Hotel and I took a picture of him with Red and Jahob.  I thank everybody for being so generous and nice.  I hope I can bring a smile to some with my journey.  Thanks everyone for following the site.  Good night.

Well folks last night I went with Pete to Mr G's.  It was their Grand Opening so it was busy and I danced and met a lot of great people.  I had a great time.  I even met some new fans for the web site that will be following along with us.  I plan on meeting up with Pete today before I take off and he will be taking some pictures of us. I am going to let Pete ride Red a little bit today.  I stopped in at the local store here on my way out and bought some top Ramon, bread, fruit,  salami, some spam and few candies.  I met a real nice lady that lives in Baker and she took some photos of me.  She might paint the photos and put the sell of them towards the Expedition.  I rode thru the MC Donald's Drive-thru and the lady said she could not serve me due to the fact I was not in a vehicle.  I would call that discrimination.  I think that is totally wrong.  If you are on your house that is your means of transportation so that is your vehicle.  So I rode up the road to Arby's they were really cool.  People in their cars at the drive thru were taking pictures of me.  The people at Arby's were really nice.  I got a roast beef sandwich and then I rode 8 miles until I hit a lake where I had left some hay.  I met Greg and Joe.  Joe lives in Vegas and is moving to this area and he was a really nice friendly easy to talk to guy.  Greg works for the paper and he was up here fishing and he is an excellent fishermen.  I took a picture of his fish he caught.  Greg said he might be able to write up something about me in the Las Vegas paper.  I met up with Melissa and her mom and her mom was fishing.  Melissa is going to come out tomorrow and interview me because she works for the paper at the Mine she works at.  I let her ride Red bareback and I rode Jahob and we rode around the Lake.  She was tickled pink that she got to ride a horse.  I love when people are happy like that.  Melissa's mom caught a fish and offered it to me to cook up and I told her that was ok keep it but I really appreciate it.    I will be back tomorrow.  Good night.

I'm heading down the trail and I just got another interview with Melissa.  She brought her son and her husband Troy out to meet me and I gave her son Indy a ride on the horse.  Indy gave me a cat face as a souvenir.  It is just a little cat face with a cool design on it and he made it himself.  I really like it and thank you Indy.  They asked me a million questions and are going to do a little ad in the paper for the Mine.  I know they will be following the site and it was a pleasure meeting them.  I didn't sleep very good last night.  I left the door open last night and a bunch of bugs were in my tent I finally got them all out and got some sleep.  I rode ten miles or so past Cummings Lake today. Andy and Scott  are two bikers that are father and son have been chasing me since Austin they are real nice folks and I got a picture of them.  They are going to put me on their web site and they are riding all the way to New York.  It is neat to come across someone who is doing something similar.  They gain 100 miles a day and I only get 20 miles .  They are going to stop in Baker tonight and we won't be in Baker for 3 more days.  I hope they have a safe trip and everyone keep them in your prayers. I also learned that Scott, Andy's dad is 59 years old.  I caught up with them again down the road when they stopped for a bite to eat.  This part of the country that I am in is part of the coolest country.  It was sunshine then black clouds and awesome thunder storms and light rain.  I was cleaning up some jelly that got all over my gun when a car pulled up and a lady came walking over to me I didn't recognize her at first but then I saw it was Leslie.  The nice lady I met at the market in Ely.  She was the one who was taking pictures and was going to get a painting of them.  She brought me a sweet potatoes and a half a chicken some bread and a granola and a couple of apples and some maps.  She  visited me for awhile and I gave her a T-shirt I had.  She told me if there was anything I needed to give her a call.  She works for the Forest Service and lives in Baker.  All the folks that I have been talking about and have helped me out a lot they all say they enjoy it.  That makes me feel good that there is so many people out there that enjoy giving and helping others.  I could not have made it through the state of Nevada without all the help of all the loving, giving people I have come across.  I am so grateful.  I sure do appreciate all the hospitality of all the people I have met.  I enjoy meeting all these new people and learning their interests and lives. It has been a pleasure riding through Nevada, the state of loving people.  I put the rain top on my tent thinking it was going to rain and then the sun came out.  It is really neat the way the weather changes so rapidly around here.  I picked up a whole bunch of trash here where I am camped out at.  I do have to say that the ditches in the streets of Nevada are the cleanest in Ely.

I found some tracks this morning out by my tent and around my campsite.  They look like bear tracks although I didn't think there was bears around here. I couldn't make out what it was I saw last night I just know it was big. I can see Utah from where I am at and it looks pretty.  I had a nice lady pulled up and she said Leslie had told her what I was doing and she thought it was great.  She has some hay that I can buy from her.  We are about 8 miles from Utah and we have seen tons of rabbits on this trail.  There was one that looked like her was three legged but he is getting around good.  he is a little bit slower then the rest of the rabbits.  I would like to help him out but I don't know what I can do for him.  I will call him Three legged.  I have now made it to the border and Roberta and Leslie were here waiting for me and a couple of other people.  They let my horses in the corrals at the Border Inn.   I walked inside this little bar cafe and sat down at the counter.  This lady had a pad and paper and was on the phone calling everyone she knows wanting to know where I will be heading how she can get water out to me and it was really cool. It makes me a little nervous cause I like to be in control of things but I really appreciate it.  She called the Sheriff and he is gonna keep an eye on me and the UPS guy is going to bring out water and an awnry old sheep herder bought me dinner and he is going to bring me some hay he is a really nice guy.  There is good people all over this place.  I appreciate everything everyone has done.  I never expected so many people to be in to my expedition and to receive so much help from so many great people.  Thank you!!!!  Denise got me a room here at the Border Inn and she made me a Cherry Pie with ice cream on it.  She is a hell of a cook. (MMM cherry pie is my favorite and my mouth is watering while I write this for Ez)  Well good night folks I start through the state of Utah first thing in the morning.

I had breakfast this morning at the Border Inn and I also saw Steve the wild crazy sheep herder.  He is a great guy.  He took water out for me. The folks around here are great people.  I met a guy named Roger Wilcox he is a truck driver and he took a photo and he is gonna spread the word to all the truck drivers  about my trip.  I got some bacon grease to put on the horses feet it keeps the moisture in them.  It is hotter then a dickens today.  A trucker hauling water stopped to see if we needed any water.  Red just about drank the whole truck.  We can't turn down water when we are riding through the desert.  That could be fatal.  I went through this gorgeous valley where the mountain opened up for the road to go through.  There is huge caves at least 100 of them.  There is golden grass along the hills and some shrubs here and there and even some green grass along the highway here. I made it to the top of the summit to my camp site.  Once again I do appreciate all the people I have met in Nevada.  I had a great time traveling across your state and I thank you.  I am starting to worry about water again.  Now that it is hotter the horses are needing more water.  My biggest concern is water.  It is beautiful and I hope everyone is enjoying my trip on the web site.  I am going to push to get through this state Utah as fast and safely as I can.  Once I hit the Rockies I should have more water available.  As I was reading and a nice trucker came up and gave me a couple of bucks and told me good luck on my trip.  I sure do appreciate it thank you Jeff and he told me there was another water truck coming through tomorrow.  Denise I know that you are organizing this water service and I do appreciate it.  Thank you.  I am not going to put up my tent tonight.  I got some video of an antelope that came up to us.  It makes you feel really good being out here in the wilderness and an antelope comes along.  It puts a smile on your face.  Jahob decides he is going to go to the bathroom right next to my bed.  Thanks Jahob !   Well good night folks.

I woke up this morning around 5 a .m. and was ready to get on the road.  There was a trucker parked close to me and I went over and asked him if he could take my buckets to the Border Inn for me.  He was a hell of a nice guy his name is Gabby.  He hauls livestock and cows and sheep and what not.  He gave me his card. We shot the bull for quite a while.  He told me about a guy I need to get a hold of and tell him about my trip.  I enjoyed visiting with him. Rob and Rob and Robert stopped and gave me some water for the horses.  Robert lives on the other side of Delta. He said I could stay there for a couple of days if I need to.  I talked to the Boss of all the water guys he is a real nice guy and he gave me a cold bottled water.  There is nothing better then an ice cold bottled water on a hot day.  Thank you Sir.   Then the lovely Dianne just drove up and she brought some water and gave the horses a drink and another water she is going to put up the trail for me.  She also brought me a great lunch.  She is so nice and I do appreciate her and everyone else for all the considerate things they do.  Some pretty girls drove by us in a new Chevy pulling a horse trailer with living quarters.  Red perked up at the pretty mares in the trailer, I perked up at the pretty girls in the truck but they kept on driving.  That's OK that isn't the first time Red and I have had our hearts broken.  This motorcycle guy drove up and said he was supposed to deliver a message to me.  He was letting me know the hay wasn't in the original spot.  As we are riding down highway 50 off the side of the road here comes a diesel with his tire flying off all directions.  He pulled over and I offered to help him and he just wanted to know what mile we are at, I told him mile 38 so he is going to call for a tow truck.  I just got to my spot and there was 20 gallons here and the horses drank 10 of it already.  I do not know where my next water is.  I think we are going to try to ride through the night when it is cooler.  Rick and Mary stopped by here and brought me a gallon of water and a power bar.  I wish them luck and safety on there ride.  I flagged down a guy named Tom Robinson if he could take my buckets of water up about 20 miles for me.  I am going to still try and ride tonight.  I am going to take a nap before I head out.  This heat is kicking our butts all three of us.  It will be the first time riding through the night.  We will take a two day rest when we get there.  It is now about 10 p.m. and we are going to head out.  The temperatures today were record temps over 100.  Leslie stopped by and she is going to take some water and hay up the road for me.    We are clip clopping down the road.  I am listening to Alan Jackson on my radio because my IPOD is dead.  We are all tired but it is a hell of a lot cooler a lot less traffic.  I have a head lamp so we can see in front of us and my blinking light behind me so the cars can see us. I took red's bridal off and let him eat some grass.  I am going to lay up at Robert's house for a couple of days when I get there.  One of the things I didn't take in consideration on this ride is that there isn't a feed store in every town at least not in Nevada.  You get used to taking the things we are so used to for granite.  I'm really tired but it is beautiful out here.  I don't know where the moon is I haven't seen it tonight yet but there is stars out.  I got smacked in the head by a street sign.  Red  missed it but I didn't.  When the car lights hit me in the eye I couldn't see so I didn't see it coming.  Being out here in the night makes you start thinking.  I was thinking about when I was a kid I went down to Chico Creek swimming with my dad and mom and brothers I think I must have been about 6 years old.  I was riding a horse named Ahab one of the best horses that ever lived besides Red and Jahob.  My mom was riding a horse named Nugget this Morgan and my little brother was riding his shetland pony, and my older brother was riding a horse named Tia if I recollect this right.  We went swimming and had a good time and lost track of the time.  The next day was my first day of school and I was pretty excited about going to school.  It got dark on us and real dark.  The huge trees block any glimpse of moonlight on the trail.  We weren't prepared to be riding in the dark although the horses can see pretty good in the dark.  My dad was riding Jahob at the time.  We rode around for about three hours and my dad kept asking my mom where does Nugget want to go because my dad knew Nugget would find us out of there.  So my dad got on Nugget and let her lead the way and sure enough Nugget kept trying to take us down this little hole and she found us out of there.  Riding in the dark made me think of that.  Although it is a lot lighter here then it was when I was a kid.  The moon finally showed up tonight.   I got a second wind and I am starting to wake up.   I am just listening to music talking to myself and the horses.  I will be back later.  I could actually ramble on all night but I will give you a break until the morning.  Good night and sweet dreams.  Thanks for following my site.

I stopped and went to sleep and when I woke up a Sheriff came by.  He said he thought I needed some water.  I was so tired when I met him I don't recall all that we talked about he was a really nice guy though.   I asked him about the laws in this state.  He said he would check on me later this afternoon.  It is nice to know I have people looking out for me.  We are all really tired today.  I got about 12 miles  ahead before I hit the river.  We will make it but it is still hot and the hot wears you out.  I ran into Keith and his buddy was with him and he owns a True Value store.  We should be in Delta tomorrow morning.  It is like 85 degrees and all around us we are surrounded by storm clouds it looks like a pretty good storm. Tim came out and visited with me and brought me some fruit and a few groceries. It was nice getting to know him he sure is a good guy and I do appreciate his hospitality.   It is about 10 and we are getting ready to get back on the trail.  I got  18 miles to Delta but I decide not to ride that far because I am really tired.  There is some grass here for the horses to eat.  I am beat I have to get some sleep.  I will be back in the morning.  Good night y'all.

I got a little shut eye last night and I am back on the road.  I ran in to Tim, he came by and checked on me.  He asked if I need anything from town and I said some grain for the horses cause I'm out.   I'm just getting into Delta and stopped by the gas station to get me a can of Copenhagen.  One of my bad habits.  Nothing better then a good chew after a long ride.  I know it isn't good for me I should probably quit.  I know I can if I put my mind to it.  I stopped at a little hamburger shack and got me a hamburger.  There was a real pretty girl at the counter and she was real nice too.  I walked into the hotel and there was no one there so I went back  after I ate lunch and there was a  note on the counter saying if you need a room, grab a key and we will be back later.  So I tired the horses up out back and I am going to go lay down.  These swing shifts are getting to me.  They are making us all tired.  Well I will be back later folks.

I woke up this morning and checked on my horses.  I met the manager and her husband of the motel and the cleaning girls.  I went to the laundry matt and washed the horse pads and my clothes.  I have to sew up my pants that I blew out when I was getting on Red the other day.  I met another guy and he was from Colorado and he was a very interesting man.  He was fun and easy to talk to.  The funny thing is I talked to him all day and I can't remember his name.  I will get it tomorrow.  Vicki made me a great steak for dinner and brought it to my room.  I rested most of the day and called my family back home.  I also talked to Melissa my best friend in the world she is a school teacher.  I am going to go to bed and I will talk to you tomorrow.  Good night folks.

I am going to ride the trail today.  I watered the horses up real good and fed them.  I went to the newspaper off ice here in Delta.  I met a guy named Dean who interviewed me.  The people here in Utah seem real nice too so that is good.   I came a cross a rattlesnake as I was riding out of town.  I pulled out my 22 but I didn't shoot him.  I backed around him and he scurried away.  We ran into our first sand storm today.  Sand in my eyes and ears and every where.  At first the horses didn't mind it.   Miller County Highway Trucking thank you so much they took very good care of me.  They stopped by in the stand storm and they took some pictures of us.  They deterred me around to save me some miles.  It got so windy you could feel it stinging the side of your face.  The horses turned their butts to the wind so I knew it was bugging their eyes.  I took my Lucky shirt and cut it in half and wrapped it around their faces.  They couldn't see much with that shirt on but it helped keep the stuff out of their eyes.  They did great for not being able to see.  I talked to them the whole time letting them know it was ok.  My good buddy Robert showed up.  He works for Miller Highway, he is just a great guy, they don't make better then that guy.  Robert took me up to  his little shack where he takes care of his cows.  It is a cool little place.  It has cowboy pictures and a wood burning stove.  It is the perfect little bunk house.  I appreciate everything that Robert has done for me.  I got the horses situated and went with him to go pick up a bull.  Then we went to his house in town and I met his son Landon.  They cooked up some tators and fried up some hamburger and some corn and onions and tomatoes.  It was nummy.  Robert you are one hell of a guy and a good friend.  Thank you for everything.  Robert educated me on Cattle and I learned a lot from him.  He let me stay at his bunk house and he went back into town to his house.  I am going to get a good nights sleep so I will be back tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

 Well I started my day off brushing my horses and massaging them and they ate 2 bales of hay.  I read the rest of my book, it was a great book and I will be giving it to Ken.  Robert gave me some more books, I started one of them and it seems like it is going to be another good book.  I had a peanut and butter sandwich for breakfast and some beans for lunch and some mushroom soup for dinner.  It's getting late almost midnight now and I am going to try and get up at 5 and hit the trail.  Good night folks.

Good morning it is a lot greener over on this side of Utah.  I didn't get out of Robert's cabin until 7:30 this morning.  Thank you Robert for letting me stay there.  I do appreciate it.  I met a guy named Doug that is in charge of a job they are doing over here.  We talked a little bit he is a nice guy.  He is from down South and his wife rides horses.  He said he will be following the site and I am happy to have him aboard.  I have been taking a front road next to the freeway.  I have had to cross some gates next to cattle guards.  I don't know why but it went through my mind to check for snakes.  So I stopped and looked around.  There was a lot of bushes where I had to take the gate off.  I don't believe it there was a Rattler right there.  I fired a shot and thought I missed him so I fire another shot.  He was about 3 feet long and he got away.  I know I hit him.  My Pa always told me to not take unnecessary risks.  So I decided not to look for him anymore to get the rattles.  A cop drove by and I know he saw me pulling out my 22 and he just kept on driving.  In California he would have flipped his lights on and spun around.  I came across a Lake here.  I am sure it has a name.  I told my Grandma I would name a Lake after her.  It is a real pretty Lake with big huge mountains on the west side of it.  It is just gorgeous country here tall trees grass every where.  So I am going to name this Lake here Grandma Cooley.  Leona is the name of the Lake after my Grandma Cooley.  Grandma you got yourself a Lake named after you!  You are never going to believe who I ran into.  Yep Mr Robert that great guy I was telling everybody about that I stayed at the North part of his ranch.  He came out and told me a little bit more about the area.  He has been a huge help.  He said he will bring me some thread if he remembers tomorrow so I can sew up my pants again.  I got on Red and crack, blew out my pants again.  I am going to camp up around a few miles from Lake Leona.  I camped next to a spring.  It is beautiful here where I am camping.  I am not going to put my tent up tonight.  I am a little nervous about the trail up ahead.  People have told me it is pretty rugged.  I am still on 50 right now and I will be hitting Highway 70 up here.  I try to ride 10- 15 feet off the highway and just because I have the right to be there doesn't necessarily mean I should be there.  I try to do everything I can to not be on a major Highway.  It is stressful to ride the highway.  I took some pictures of the beautiful sunset hopefully they came out.  I definitely need a new camera.      Well I am going to get some sleep here under the stars and moon.  I will be back tomorrow.

My batteries died on my tape recorder here so I am going to remember to the best of my knowledge what happened today.  I ordinarily tape record as I am going.  The horses ate really well here at Grandma's Lake we took off this morning out of there.  I ran into Robert again as I was riding off.  He wished me lots of luck and brought me some thread for my pants.  He told me a couple of other short cuts I could take.  I saw a huge bald eagle today and I took some pictures I hope they come out.  I ran into some real pretty girls that were working for the Forest Service.  They apologized for the dust on the dirt road I was going on.  They were sure nice.  I ran into a guy named Bruce and his son Coty and they told me how far I was from the next town which was Salina.  We rode a long ways through the heat.  I stopped by the bank when I got into town and to a tack store.  There was a real nice lady there that helped me to get some lighter horse blankets and some saddle pads. I had problems with the other pad and I won't mention the name because I do not have a sponsor yet and I wouldn't want to bag on their product if they are nice  enough to sponsor me.  I bought a holster too.  I appreciate all the help from the ladies at the tack store.  Unfortunately it costs me almost $500 to walk out the door but it was all stuff I needed.  I will be staying at the Best Western here, and there is some stalls across the street for my horses.   I met a lot of new people at the restaurant , they are all Harley people and they were interested in my trip and I would be interested in hearing how their trip went. I was taking the gear off the horses and I met this nice couple.  His name was Gary and her name was Marsha and they were traveling the country too.  I took some pictures of them and they took some pictures of me.  It was an honor to meet you guys and I enjoyed visiting with you.  I got my room showered, boy that felt good!  I put on my new pants that I bought at the tack store and went to dinner.  There was a real pretty waitress the waited on me.  There was a lady and her four daughters who came in and they asked me if I was from here, I told them no.  We talked and they said they will be following me on my site.  I met another guy named Joe he was a heck of a nice guy.  I met a lot of people today that will be following the site.  The horses are doing well.  I met another guy who is a rancher and is getting me some hay.  To all the ranchers out there thank you for everything.  It wasn't a real exciting day but I met a whole lot of nice people today.  Clint brought over the hay.  Thanks again Clint.  I am going to go to sleep now I am still beat up from that night riding.  Good night.

Day 91

It has been a slow day today the horses are getting some rest.  I am working on getting back to the newspaper so they can do an interview.  I plan to ride out tomorrow.  I reckon we will be all rested up.  I am pretty excited about getting back on the trail.  Not too much to talk about today.  I will be back tomorrow.  Good night.

Good morning, I am out on the trail.  I met a nice lady this morning she is riding her bike across the country and I met a guy who is driving his car across the country.  He is going to take my horse feed up about 40 miles and leave it for me.  I came across a cattle crossing with no gate.  These fences around here aren't that great.  I had to cut the fence to get through it.  It took me about two hours to cut it and put it back together.  I have seen deer stuck in the fences, that have gotten stuck when they were trying to jump it and they just hang there until the die.  I hate fences for that reason.  It is windier then windy today.  I have a string holding my hat on.  I found a nice spot to let the horses graze and to set up camp.  We only went about 15 miles today but I couldn't pass up this spot not knowing when the next good one will be.  It is better to stay here then push it and not have full bellied horses.  I am going to get some rest,  I will read my book a little before I go to sleep.  Good night folks.

Day 93

I woke up this morning and it was a sunny day.  I let the horses graze this morning and gave them some Complete Horse while I packed up my gear.  I thought it was going to be a nice day.  So I wore my REI pants that are like a summer hiking pant that turns into shorts.  I got on the trail and rode down this dirt rode along the interstate.  All of a sudden the wind started picking up and it was blowing hard.  Then it started snowing.  The end of May almost the beginning of June and it is snowing like a blizzard.  So I thought I should stop and get my duster out.  I thought maybe it was a fling thing and it will quit any minute.  I rode another five minutes and thought screw this I am getting something warmer.  I got my duster out and put it on.  I was wishing I had my coat but I gave my coat away.  I wish I had it today because it was cold.  The snow was blowing so hard hitting me on the side of the face.  In these huge canyons the wind blows that snow every where.  It snowed all day and is still snowing.  It was beautiful but cold.  My grandpa always said enjoy the bad days as much as you enjoy the good days.  It is a hard thing to do but I still tried to enjoy today even though it was cold.    I saw a mountain lion caught in a fence.  I will tell you I have seen more animals caught in those dang hog wire fences.  They oughta not use that stuff.  At least a bob wire fence is easier for the animals to get through.  I hate to see all those animals stuck in fences.  I spent three hours of today going through fences.  In Utah they don't put to many gates by their cattle crossings.  I hope by the time I get to Colorado they have gates by their cattle crossings.   I have been riding along the highway and I hear the truckers breaks squealing.  When I was driving on the highway I used to always think I hope those aren't my breaks.  So out of habit I thought I hope those aren't Red's breaks.  Then I realized Red is a horse he doesn't have breaks!  I guess we just think things out of habit.  I guess you had to be there.  I put the horses blankets on since it is still snowing.  We are going to definitely take a week off when we get to Josh's dad's house in Colorado.  I missed placed a bag of food I had.  So I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich today.  I don't have much food left for the next couple of days.  I will survive.  I will be back tomorrow.

I am out  here on the side of Hwy 70, the horses are chewing on  a little bit of grass here.  Tom Mc Deer just stopped by, he is a nice guy I met at the Hotel in Delta.  He is from Denver Colorado.  It is kind of cool when you are out in the middle of no where and someone stops and knows your name.  Tom good luck to you.  We are going to head out and find some water.  Water is scarce around here.  We are around dessert area again.  We should have some food up here a ways that was dropped off for us.  I came to a spot where I had to make a decision.   I have a steep hill on one side or a guard rail along the Hwy that I am going to have to choose.  I took the hill and we made it to the bottom.  They put these dang fences up to keep wild animals from coming on the freeway but they kill more animals with these dang fences.  I found the food that I had driven up here for my horses.  I set up camp next to this creek and there is some grass here for my horses to fill their bellies.  It is really cool looking here with huge cliffs all over the place.  I saw a coyote and some rabbits, the coyote was darker then most coyotes I have seen so I am not sure if that is what it is.  Well good night, I will be back tomorrow.