On the 11th of April Tracey launches another Ride of Faith as she splashes through the Rio Grande River, that marks the border of Mexico and the United States and rides north through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana to Canada.

She is riding two quarter horses, Smokey and Pistol and will travel cross country as much as possible (away from the busy roads). She intends to take six months following the Continental Divide, approx 3,000 miles to Canada.

"On the border I swam my Quarter horses Pistol and Smoky (good Western names hey!) in the Rio Grande." says Tracey. "I was tempted to take the horses to Mexico but stopped a few feet short of the bank as there was a $5000 fine or a year in prison (probably in Mexico) if you were caught ­ the risk wasn't worth either!"

People have been extremely hospitable and generous in Texas, I was given one Western saddle by friends near Dallas, over which I load the pack bag.

The Australian Stock Saddle Company sponsored me a comfortable Bronco. Not only is this very comfortable but after one incident I discovered I could attach the lead rein from my pack-horse to the back "D" attachment on the cantle. - www.aussiesaddle.com

A few days ago Pistol jerked the lead rein out of my hand and took off down the road with the contents of the pack emptying itself. My sleeping bag, tent and tripod lay strewn across the road, being avoided by traffic, just!
"That's what we call a garage sell over here!"  One new friend said after I described the scene. From that moment on I attached Pistol to the back of my Australian Poley saddle so he can't go anywhere without taking the saddle, Smoky and me with him!

A few days ago we crossed the expansive 06 Ranch and arrived in Fort Davis where we visited the 'Fort Davis', established against the craggy lava rocks of the Davis Mountains by the U.S military in 1854.

Next riding north to Kent, Van Horn and Guadalupe and into New Mexico.

Update 6th May '07  Texas to New Mexico

At the ranch near Van Horn in Texas where I stayed with Neil and Beth Braid we put Pistol through some training with wire and plastic bags so he would learn not to panic when encountering these common occurrences.  A few days earlier Pistol had got caught in a wire fence between his hoof and shoe. Thank God he stopped struggling but my heart was beating fast as I grabbed my wire cutters to get him free.

Neil and Beth offered to give me Ann, one of their collie dogs as a companion and protector for my ride north, but I was so disappointed when we discovered the National park Authorities wouldn’t allow dogs in the back Country National Parks as I was intending to ride through five on my way to Canada.

Beth rode and walked with me over the Guadalupe Mountains. It was a steep, narrow   and very stony path and I had to continually remind Smoky (from flat East Texas) not to look at the grand views but rather look where he was putting his feet!

Water was a major issue in Southern New Mexico – Crossing the South West one of my continual prayers has been to find water.  A rather different problem than when I rode through the U.K and around the Emerald Isle of Ireland!

As evening drew in we were sure we would find a water trough at these cattle yards (photo) but we found none. We were in a bad situation as our horses were very thirsty and we had no idea where we could find water.  As we were pondering what to do, a vehicle (the third we had seen that day on that dirt road) appeared in the distance and I madly started waving thinking any driver on this road must be a local.

It stopped and we introduced ourselves to Greg who had been travelling from Mexico to Texas and taken a wrong turning so ended up on this road!  He offered to help us find water and we took the two 5 gallon water containers given to us by the ranger at Dog Canyon the previous night.  We found a dry dam and then a dry water tank but eventually returned with water for which the horses were very grateful.

'An angel driving a ford truck with cowboy boots!' Beth remarked.

Update 17th May '07
Drying out all my camping gear!
It has rained quite a lot in New Mexico with several violent thunderstorms. One exceptional electrical storm even frightened the mice away from the barn where we were sheltering!

Stayed a week on the Carizzo Valley Ranch with Sherry and Walt, Cheyenne and Callie Evans. We had such fun together it was hard to leave!

The Western hospitality has been AMAZING!

Walt and Sherry gave me some roping lessons - it's a real art and takes practise but now I can rope one of Callie's pet goats! They gave me a rope to practice with on my way to Canada so maybe I could get a wrangling job!

Floyd Goodloe took me up a windmill - I hesitated in negociating the board which you had to climb out and around at the top, but Floyd's "Get up here women" spurred me on and up!

Branding on the Block Ranch - was a real experience.

Update 9th June '07
Here in northern Mexico near Lindrith at the Stevenson's Ranch, they have more rain and therefore grass and water than they have had for 20 years! So it sure has been a good year to ride through and the horses are happy and looking well!! We stayed another day sheltering here as the wind is gusting up to 70mph.

While we were arrow head hunting the other day up on the pink mesas I could see the snow capped mountains in Colorado. Wyoming the next great state north of Colorado was forecast to have 4 - 8 inches of snow today the 6th of June. I'm glad I bought two extra pairs of gloves!

Update 22nd June '07
A Snow drift in the middle of summer! Climbing over passes of over 12,000 feet, I have to admit I felt short of breath for the first few days in Colorado! I slept in my tent and on several occasions woke up to frost in the morning but packing up the horses soon warms me up!

On the 22nd June we arrived in Lake City where I was directed to the Team Murphy Reality. And what a fabulous team! They organized a grassy field for my horses and barbeque, and I have a beautiful view over looking the lake. My horses and I sure are blessed with a stop over in this beautiful location.

Stony Pass a historic crossing used by the silver miners. What a dramatic contrast Colorado is from Monument Valley! Snow and no shortage of water with it's rumbling and tumbling rivers.

Monument Valley in Utah was spectacular! The red earth and rock combined with the unusual moisture in the air gave us great filming conditions, wow, God!

Clown and Pony
Visited the Roof Top rodeo in Estes park where we had a very warm welcome

In mid July there were still many patches of snow and after the horses sinking, floundering in deep snow and me bailing off I tried to find another way around the deep soft snow on the trail.
We also have to be careful of thunderstorms and lightening, which is very dangerous in the mountains. I can remember seeing hairs of Pistols tail standing up vertical because of the electricity in the atmosphere. 

After a swim with the horses in Lake San Cristobal at 9,000 feet, I left Lake City, an old mining town and many new friends and followed the Colorado and Continental Divide Trail over many mountain Passes.

We got to a point where we couldn't go back because Smokey had aready fallen crossing the boulders and scrapped his legs but there didn't seem a way forwards because of the horses could break a leg getting them caught in the rocks. The only way was to either swim them across the very cold lake or there was a narrow ledge in the water between the boulders and the deep water. Praying, I led them along this ledge and we scrambled to the other side and safety.

Montana:
Swapping horse power with a Harley Davidson with Ken and Dee in Seeley Lake!

It has been very dry in Montana and there has been over 40 fires of different sizes throughout the state this summer. Some of my route was determined by some areas being closed because of forest fires. Even in the Bob Marshall wilderness the atmosphere was often thick with the smell and haze from the fires.

The Bob Marshall Wilderness has many wild animals including mountain lions, grizzly and black bears. Smokey and Pistol snorted and spooked on several occasions and once took off without me .... I found them again - thank God! There were probably many animals watching us but I did get to see a beautiful black bear crossing the creek just upstream from where I was .... I ran back to the horses to catch them before they took off!

Riding up the South Fork River along a dusty dirt road a pick up truck drew up alongside and Ron and Kandy asked me if I would like a cold beer! Later that evening they brought me some 'real food' of chicken to my camp spot on the edge of the Hungry Horse Reservation and then invited me back to Columbia Falls for a good rest!

Next week I am looking forward to crossing Glacier National park and joining the Blackfeet who are riding to the Canadian Border with us!