Wideview and the Continental Divide and needed rest

After a good calm evening back at the wood river, we got going around 9 o'clock or so.
We were heading due south on a road that will take us part way towards Grasslands Nat'l Park.

By the time we got to about 15 kms it became clear that we needed to stop. I was feeling utterly exhausted and Na'anni was having some difficulty with her right rear leg. Limping a little. I headed towards a bunch of trees hoping that it might be an abandoned homestead so that we could rest up for the afternoon.

As it turned out it wasn't an abandoned homestead at all but a full on home and ranch well occupied. As we walked down the tree lined driveway and got in front of the house a young woman came out, I introduced myself to Kyla Davidson and asked if I could picket my horses and set up my tent. Kyla said that I was welcome to be there and that she had a extra guest bedroom and that I was welcome to stay in that as well. To that I said that I would be so grateful for the bed.

I got my stuff organised, the horses picketed and watered and then settled down into some nice rest. Kyla made steak for dinner we had good talk and I got myself to bed in a BED early.

Kyla asked me if I'd be into staying an extra day so that her friend Stacey could come by and have a look at my horses. That sounded fine to me. I had only been on the road for 2 days after Mankota but weariness was heavy on me. I welcomed the chance to rest some more.

Stacey Stengler came over the next day. She does holistic healing with horses. She pulled out her pendulum and used that to see where Na'anni was having pain. As she went down her leg both touching and letting her hand hover, the pendulum would go around in a bigger circle as she got closer to the trouble spots. It turns out that the pain is around the lower leg, just above the pastern. Stacey gave me some ointment for the strain, suggested some exercises to do with her and also gave me some ointment for the abrasions that both horses got from long days with the boot cuffs rubbing. I say 'gave' deliberately. She would not take money for her time or the medicines. Kyla also gave me a magnetic band and some solution to put on that to wrap around Naha's leg. Generosity of this sort has happened so many times on this journey and I have written before about it. The regular expression of this generosity has not diminished my appreciation and deep gratitude one bit. It is so truly moving.

Kyla asked Stacey to see if she could pick up anything off Dakota. I and others have wondered whether he had to deal with mistreatment in the years before he came to me. After a bit of time Stacey said that she thought that though he wasn't abused he suffered some neglect mostly through unawareness. She said that he was much happier hanging around with me and seemed also to be happy with the sort of traveling that we are doing.

I really can't do justice with my words about how moving this whole process was for me. When Stacey started talking about Dakota the tears started flowing. It was an amazing experience.

Stacey thought that it would be good to not travel for a few more days to let Na'anni rest some more. Kyla was fine with me staying on a little longer saying that she was enjoying my company. So as I write this I am on rest day 2, just had a bath and feel so so tired and grateful to be able to rest. I walked out a ways along the road this morning to get a cel signal and had a wonderful 40 minute chat with my Mom over in Bangkok. It is a good day and I think that I will even go down for a nap later this'aft.

I feel so good to be resting. My spirits are good yet, at this very moment, I also feel unsure if I can keep going. I know this feeling, it comes from weariness and I have had it a number of times before on this trip. I shall trust to time and healing and with hope will be back on the trail in a few days time to continue this adventure of mine. Kyla tells me that we are sitting on the continental divide here. To the south, water flows to the Mississippi and to the north Hudson's Bay.

The terrain that I am heading into as I get closer to Grasslands is stunning. I try to remember how much I love to out camping with my horses and my tent. The peace. The time to think.