After 5 long months on the road we have finally arrived in Texas – and it feels great!
The lone-star state welcomed us with open arms! Or should I say, a lot of dust… As we rode from Artesia, New Mexico to Pecos, Texas we found ourselves in the middle of an oil boom. Giant trucks zoomed by the horses and I at 75 miles per hour while I simply held my breath – very scary.
When we reached the state line I was so excited! I had imagined riding horseback through Texas when I read Tschiffely’s account of the state in his book. I had also day-dreamed about it as I sat in my apartment in downtown Toronto a year and a half ago planning the trip. Now here I was smiling at the camera as I stood under the “Texas State Line” sign with my beautiful quarter horses. “Am I dreaming,” I thought to myself. Alberta, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and now Texas under my belt. I must be dreaming!
The day before I arrived in Pecos, a white truck pulled up and a cowboy stepped out. With a big smile on his face he asked the million dollar question, “Where you headed cowboy?”
I looked back at him and answered, “to Brazil.”
I love the question that usually follows, “Brazil the country,” he asked in shock.
“Yes, sir. I’m riding my horses from Canada to brazil.” That’s all it took for two perfect strangers to become the best of friends.
Shot Paschal has ranched all of his life. He learned it from his father and says it’s all he knows.
“I love it, it never feels like work,” Shot told me as we spoke about his never-ending chores.
Shot, alongside his wife Janey, welcomed us to their Ranch in Pecos and offered my ponies a wonderful place for two days rest! They had all the hay they could eat, fresh water and plenty of space to roll and rest. I cannot thank them enough for their help.
“A few weeks ago, I saw a guy riding his bike but I didn’t stop to talk to him because we didn’t have anything in common,” Shot told me before we parted ways. He explained how he stopped for me because of the horses – our common language.
After saying bye to these amazing folks, we made our way to Fort Davis through the last mountain range I will cross in the United States. The ride started out great and after two days we were in Balmorhea, a quaint little town on the foothills of the mountains. From there I rode towards Wild Rose Pass where unfortunately our luck changed. With no cellphone reception and night quickly approaching, Emma’s vehicle broke down – the worst! Luckily a really nice gentleman drove her into town so she could call a tow truck. Doug Otoupal not only helped us get the car to Fort Davis, he also paid for the tow truck! I know I say this a lot but people are amazing!!!!
I said goodbye to Emma and kept riding. At around 7pm I found a place to tie the horses on the side of the road and set up camp. The next morning was one of the coldest of the trip thus far. When I woke up I filled up the horses water bucket and in good fashion, Bruiser knocked it over. Within 3 minutes the water was frozen solid on the ground. I couldn’t believe it. As I tacked up my ponies and rode on I made noises I didn’t even know I could make. It was soooooo cold. It was painful.
When I arrived in Fort Davis at around noon I found out that the alternator in the car had died. With the sad news came more proof of humanity’s greatness. A new part for the car was more than 60 miles away and we were afoot so getting to it was impossible. That’s when Janey (Shot’s wife) offered to drive all the way to Fort Davis to bring us the new alternator. We can’t thank her enough for her tremendous help! If that wasn’t enough, she also made a donation to help pay for the mechanic bill.
When you are open to the world you realize that strangers are just friends you have yet to meet. Friends who are willing to give you the shirts off their backs to help you. I love people!
