Since leaving the Calgary Stampede on July 8, 2012, the amount of love and support I have received has been extraordinary. Both in Canada and the United States people have welcomed my horses and I into their homes and cared for us like family. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that this support would grow even more. As I travel through the northern part of Mexico, I am overwhelmed with emotion by the way my father and I are being treated
When we arrived in Camargo, Fernando Acosta Guevara, took us under his wing and introduced us to the local media. On our first night, we spoke to the television and radio stations. The next morning everyone knew who we were and wanted to talk, take pictures and give us things.
“I was traveling down the road and saw Filipe and his father Luis riding with three horses and I had to stop and ask where they were going. When I heard they were traveling from Canada to Brazil I got very emotional,” Fernando told the reporter.
This has been the reaction from everyone in Mexico. At first they ask where we are coming from. I tell them I rode here from Canada. Then they ask where we are going. I say Brazil. They pause for a second, look at me and ask, “Puro Cavallo?” Which means the entire way by horse. When I tell them yes, I see their faces light up. It’s an amazing moment.
During our two day rest in Camargo, we were visited by a lot of people who gave us many things: tortillas, hay for the horses, key chains, beef jerky, money, etc. Everywhere we went in town people wanted to take photos and congratulate us on the initiative of traveling horseback.
“What you are doing is out of this world, it is very beautiful,” an older lady told me outside of an internet cafe.
As we hit the road again towards Jimenez, we were joined by members of the Camargo bike club. We spent the entire day chatting, laughing and sharing stories about our homes. During the day we were stopped more than 10 times by people who had heard the radio interview. They wanted to shake our hands, wish us good luck, give us a cold beer and take a photo as proof that we had met! As we rode up to a factory, hundreds of workers began to pour outside to meet us. It was a very emotional moment for me. It was quite humbling to see the smiles on their faces as they observed the horses, my father and I.
“We heard you on the radio and have been waiting for you to come since yesterday,” one worker told me.
Aime Tschiffely describes in his book, “Tschiffely’s Ride,” how he had a very hard time resting in Mexico due to the number of parties the Mexican people threw him. Every night they would take him to a different “fiesta” to celebrate his ride. I always thought it was because he was at the end of his journey, but now I am beginning to understand that this is the spirit of Mexico. Not only are these people extremely caring, but they have an intense love for the horse. They still have “Cabalgatas” (rides) from one town to the other, to celebrate different dates and saints. They use horses to work. They praise horses. This is why I believe they understand a Long Ride like mine and Tschiffely’s so well.
I am super excited to continue trekking south through Mexico! From Jimenez my father and I ride 9-10 days to Torreon. It will be another hard ride, but I’m sure the people will help us get through it.
