I’m pretty sure my family thinks I’m insane. Even so they have smiled as I talked their ears off. Encouraged me to do this trip. Have offered to help when I get closed to them on the trip. And even offered to ride along for a couple of days. And haven’t told to shut up even though their eyes have glazed over. Thank you to Debora, Chris, Tanya, Donnie, Tam, Tom, Jamie, Daniel, Kris. Tom, Geneva, Anthony, Claudele, Annette, Marc, Schatzie. And to all the rest I love you.

http://challenge-america-equine-trek.com

All the autobiographies I’ve read all say the same thing in the end. When you start out and you and your horses are fresh the urge to push and make miles will be there. But all agree that in the beginning try not to make that mistake.

Do no more then 8 to 10 miles for the first few weeks then move them up a little each week till you are doing anywhere from 15 to 20 miles a day. Don’t be pushy if you find a good place to camp at 10 miles take it. They also said that the urge to push hard will take you at the half way point because at that point you and your horses are fit and seem able to go on for ever. But again don’t push. Same as near the end if the Trek, at that point you start thinking that you’ve made it and you want to get to the end. That is when your horses are the most vulnerable because they are tired and are easily pushed to hard.
The idea behind my Trek isn’t the destinations end. The destination is the dream and the experiences on the way. The hard part will be remembering that God had sent me this mission.  Sometimes it’s hard to remember the Mission instead of the Dream.

http://challenge-america-equine-trek.com

It will be impossible to mentally prepare for the Childhood Hunger Awareness Trek  as I’ve never done one. I’ve been talking about how physically hard thus trip will be. It will be hard as neither me nor my horses are in great shape. At the start of this trek I’ll have been driving a tractor trailer for six years. So I’m overweight and out of shape. My boys have been grazing in a pasture only getting rode once in a while again out of shape and over weight. The weeks I have planned to do training isn’t enough to change that greatly. So when I start the only thing that will get me out of bed is mental toughness. This Trek is going to be one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life. Harder even then basic training in the army because I was physically in shape for that. Every thing I’ve read about trips like this is that it takes an enormous amount of mental energy. It’s really easy to say I quit and go home because the only thing keeping you out there is yourself. No one is paying you, there really is no reason beyond your dreams to do this. And the worry and stress of making sure your horses are fed increases the energy drain. So mental toughness is important. I believe I can do this and I’m excited about it. But does anyone really know till they are tested to the breaking point and beyond.

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Horse feed is another unavoidable weight. 1100 lb Horses usually eat around 20 lbs of food a day. So depending on how much grazing I find for them I’ll need anywhere from 10 to 20 lbs per horse per day. My plan is at max amount to be carrying 200 lbs of feed. However that won’t be every day just when I restock. At this point I’m studying on what would be the best feed to carry. Alfalfa and oat cubes or alfalfa and timothy cube or split it between both. I’ve also have been trying to decide if I should maybe just do a complete feed instead. I have also been researching Source Micronutrients as a feed balancer. Bernice Ends the Lady Long Rider uses them with her Horses. After much searching and reading I’ve decide on what to carry the feed in. I think I will use shipping totes they are sturdy and can be stacked empty or loaded. And if I get the large size one will hold fifty lb.

Activity Level Daily Calories
Maintenance Approximately 15,000 calories
Moderate work Approximately 25,000 calories
Heavy work Approximately 33,000 calories
Feed Calories Per Pound
Green Pasture 245
Orchard Grass Hay 872
Alfalfa Hay 977
Timothy Hay 804
Alfalfa Pellets 970
Corn. 1,536
Premium Oats. 1,250
Beet Pulp. 1,059
1cup Oil. 1950
1 cup molasses 950

A Dream of Liberty that we all should heed, freedom should never be taken for granted.

MR. PRESIDENT: No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves, and the House? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free² if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending²if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable²and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace²but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! Patrick Henry

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I’ll be starting out in July which is the hottest part of the year in the south but for the beginning of my Trek I’ll be traveling thru forest and mountain terrain in Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina which should help with the heat. Coming back across I’ll be lower down and  travel thru the south will be cooling down. I’ll be going through Arkansas and Oklahoma in January and February which will be the hardest part of the winter because it will be cold but snow doesn’t usually stick around very long in those states. Then comes Kansas and Nebraska which will be cold also but hopefully starting to get warmer.  By time I hit the bad lands in Wyoming and Montana it should be spring so there will be plenty of water and hopefully grass. I should be getting to the Rockies and the Cascades by high summer. Fall on the coast of Washington State. I plan on Wintering along the coast of Washington, Oregon and California coasts. Then in the spring be coming thru Nevada and Utah. Early summer thru Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma. Back into fall in the southern states. Now this is the plan but I have no idea if it will work out this way. I might travel slower then planned or it might go faster. That is something that will have to wait and see. Again it’s up to Him.

http://challenge-america-equine-trek.com

Hi my name is Angela Wood and I’m following my dream. My dream is to ride my horses across America following in the footsteps of many brave and intrepid horsemen. I have had this dream since I was 11 years old. I have decided that this year is the year to follow my dreams

The name of my dream is Chattrek Childhood Hunger Awareness Trek
I’m challenging America to put a stop to hunger. When children are hungery they no longer dream or hope all they can do is worry about when and where the next meal will come from. I’m following my dreams to prove that dreams can be followed. To convince people to help children in need so that they can dream again. Hunger is an insidious enemy, you can’t concentrate, you can’t dream, you can’t study, or have hope when you hunger. Help me bring dreams back to American Children.
I’ll be starting this trek in July of 2018

http://challenge-america-equine-trek.com

http://challenge-america-equine-trek.com

I have heard these questions from friends, family and people I’ve talked to about my Trek.. Why by horse? Why not by car or Rv? Why do it at all? Aren’t you scared to go by yourself? Aren’t you scared of bears, wolves and bad people?  Are you taking a gun? You need to take a partner. You need to take a weapon. All these questions are designed to make you wonder am I insane to follow my dream. Especially when I get that look you all know the one, the one your parents gave to you as a child that asks you why you are planning something so idiotic. All I can say is when I get old I don’t want to look back on my life and have regrets. Regrets that I failed myself and didn’t follow my dreams. That I failed God because I didn’t follow the dreams he has given me.https://www.nokidhungry.org/stories?_ga=2.5806454.457002084.1515242272-1151108860.1508772145

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I know some of you are wondering why. Why do this type of trip? Why the length? Well like I explained at the beginning of my story my desire to do this Trek was started when I read about the Abernathy brothers. But even before that I was always looking and wondering what was over the next hill, beyond the next curve of the road. I was always exploring trails less traveled to find out where they went. I am a tractor trailer driver, a trucker. I’ve drove all 48 eight states and Canada. But all I’ve seen was the main roads, I’ve drove by national parks, through wilderness areas , by historical signs. Yet could never stop and actually see the places where history was made. I want to travel at a pace where I can take roads less traveled. Talk to people who I would never see if I was traveling at the modern pace in a car. I want to hear peoples stories of their lives and their ancestors. I want to inspire people to follow their dreams no matter how hard or crazy they seem. I want to bring awareness of the hunger in America and that one person can make a difference. That last sentence is also the most important one. Because it pertains to the dreams I have mentioned.