My Children
Cara, Eric, Peter & Sam
My Mentor and Friend
Linda Veblen
Their unwavering faith in me and tremendous support has turned this dream into reality.
Thank you to all the individual contributors and sponsors who are helping to make this trip possible.
Janice, Winslow , AZ : What a delight it was meeting you. I look in the mirror at myself twenty years from now when I see you. Thank you for sharing your home with me, helping me to get grain, and the tour of La Posada. I truly hope we'll meet up next summer when you come to D.C.
Lanah, Meteor Crater, AZ: Although I never had the pleasure of meeting you, I thank you for connecting me to the ranch across the street, where I was able to stable the horses. Your staff at Meteor Crater was extremely helpful, caring and hospitable. Thank you for quietly making our ride that much easier.
Steve and Pat, Twin Arrows, Flagstaff , AZ : What absolute sweethearts. Thank you so much for taking a stranger into your hearts and home. My horses had a nice rest as the bad weather rolled in, the food was great, and your meeting up with me the next day at Meteor Crater when we crashed and burned was such a lifesaver.
Ryan, Arrowhead Water, Flagstaff , AZ : Ryan, never having met you, I thank you for your generosity of spirit. The water you provided at Meteor Crater was an absolute lifesaver and for that I am eternally grateful.
Gay, Flagstaff , AZ : Gay, although I never had the pleasure of meeting you, you touched my life by contacting KAFF Radio. Through them I was able to get water and hosts lined up across the high desert. I hope one day we will have the pleasure of meeting each other.
Valerie and Mark, Flagstaff , AZ : You guys were terrific. It saddens my heart that we are kindred spirits with the loss of Sam and your precious Emily, but it was a pleasure sharing wine and letting emotions flow. I thank you for your hospitality to my horses at your horse spa, and Mark, to you for sharing such a beautiful ride the morning I left.
Marie, Flagstaff , AZ : Thank you Marie for taking me in at such a difficult time in your life. I truly appreciated your beautiful home, meeting you and your great kids.
Sheri and her brother Lyle, Lake Havasu City , AZ : Thanks so much for trailering me to Flagstaff , AZ , where my next contact was. It was a pleasure meeting you both and I thank you for coming through for us.
Mike and Cheryl, Lake Havasu City , AZ : What a pleasure it was meeting you both. You have a wonderful daughter in Dana, a genuine sweetheart, and I see where she gets it from. Your persistence in contacting Gay set many balls in motion, which worked out so well for me. Thank you.
Dana , Chad , Dalaney , Jordan , and Cade, Lake Havasu City , AZ : You guys will always be my adopted family. I thank you so much for your help in taking us in. I so thoroughly enjoyed the antics of family life with you at a time when I was missing my own family so very, very much. Dana and Chad, I admire you so much in your parenting ability. Dalaney, your sweet nature will always remind me of my Sammy, and Jordan I admire your courage and can-do attitude in conquering Fancy. Cade your beautiful smile and infectious laughter made me realize how precious life is. God bless you all.
Tony, Michelle, and Savannah, Lake Havasu City , AZ : Thank you for the gift of food and your absolute support in my journey. Savannah you have forever touched my heart and I will always hold dear the heart rock that you presented me with. I know some day, I will see you again, riding across America creating your own adventure.
Chris, Troy , Jessica and Justin, Lake Havasu City , AZ : Chris, I will always be grateful for your spunky, can-do attitude that took us in, without a moment's hesitation. Your knoweledge of horses is incredible and I loved observing and learning from you.
Debbie, Jim, James, and Sally, Salton Sea , CA : Thank you so much for opening your home to me, when I was tired, weary and low. Your laughter and sense of family meant so much to me that night I rolled in early from the desert. Playing gin rummy that night with all of you brought my sense of focus back home to my family, and I loved that.
Sandra, Smoke Tree Arabian Ranch, Borrego Springs , CA : Sandra I am so grateful to you for providing an oasis in the desert. We will forever be kindred spirits with the law enforcement, our independent nature, our hunt for feminine hygiene products, and our love for children. I will do whatever you need me to do with Super Horse Camp, and I thank you so much for helping me to appreciate the desert one-on-one rather than the overwhelming vastness of it.
Celeste, Marvin & Bruce, Ranchita , CA : Thank you to the lot of you for water for our horses and the best tuna noodle casserole that I have ever had. Celeste your support and food still sustains me as I write this in Flagstaff , AZ. God Bless.
Carol, Executive Chef, Julian , CA : Thank you Carol for your terrific bar-b-que ribs, mango drinks, and girl talk with Suzanne after saying goodbye to Peter. It was absolutely what I needed. Your call to Sandra at Smoke Tree Ranch was an absolute life saver.
Suzanne and Wayne, Country Carriages, Julian , CA : Oh my, where to start? From the time I saw you, Suzanne, in the street without even talking to you, you offered your home to our horses. Your knowledge and easy manner made such a difficult, difficult journey seem lighter. I will forever be grateful to you for rescuing us on that Sunday night in April when we were ready to abandon our journey. And Wayne, what can I say, your easy, comfortable nature rescuing me time and again, has proven that the generosity of human nature wins every time. You both are my absolute heroes epitomizing the goodness of human nature and for that I thank you.
Marshall and Lucy, Ramona , CA : Thank you for so opening your heart to strangers as we approached you for water for our thirsty companions.
George and Doris, Featherstone Christian Camp, Barona , CA : Thank you for offering us such a sanctuary in the mountains as we embarked that first night of our journey. I know we were quite comical, packing and repacking, but I thank you for the time and space you gave us in learning the ins and outs of horsepacking before we started.
Theresa, San Diego Equine Sports and Training Center: Theresa, thank you for your knowledge in helping me to get started on the very first part of a difficult journey. I absolutely made some terrific decisions because of you and I look forward to seeing you again in your new home, with the whole menagerie, in Tennessee .