Checking Lots of Things off the To-Do List!

Sage face!!!

Sorry for the lack of updates the past few months! We're just plugging away at checking things off the to-do list. Some good news, we continue to attract sponsors, for which I am extremely grateful. Nevada State Parks has offered to donate hay for the ride once again - which is generous and much appreciated. You may recall NV State Parks donated five bales of quality alfalfa for the first ride and allowed us to store it at several state parks on the route. And, I also have an anonymous sponsor who is donating enough Starbucks Via instant coffee packets to last the entire ride! haha Coffee is a crucial staple on the trail so I am very happy to have that covered!    

Probably the most important thing to do still is confirm an extended leave of absence with my employer. That's kind of a big deal! So, while the exact ride dates are still TBD, I am planning to be gone for three months sometime during Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov of 2016. Of course the specific dates will depend on fall weather, which is hard to predict here. But, we'll set a firm start date as it gets a little closer. Probably the number one question people ask me lately is "How do you get the time off work??" I'm very lucky. I don't think my employer is "excited" about my three month sabbatical, but they have been extremely supportive so fingers crossed they continue to be!

I'm still accumulating gear for the ride. Most recently, I splurged on a GPS. You may recall that I only used paper topo maps for the first ride. Well, I'm going to go a little high-tech for the second and try the GPS! I'll still carry paper maps of course, but hopefully the GPS will make it a little easier to not get lost! I opted for the Garmin Oregon 650T and I'll be sure to write a review after the ride :)

Sage is doing great. He's just loving life in the pasture with the herd. We just trail ride and hang out together. He's looking very fit and now at 8 years old is maturing quite nicely.

Lastly, I am very excited that a California woman that I have been emailing with for months and months just adopted a mustang from the BLM. She said she was so impressed with Sage and the first Nevada Discovery Ride that she had to have a mustang of her own! Well, that makes this whole project worth it for me. Encouraging mustang adoption has always been my number one goal with the NDR and it seems it's working! That's why I am so excited to hit the trail once again next year and keep promoting wild horse adoption. Hopefully we'll reach an even larger audience than last time and who knows how many people we'll inspire to open their home to a mustang!

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My new license plate frame - a b-day gift from my hubby!

An enticing look at the trail for Day 1 of the next ride!

Traffic jam - Nevada style.

One of my favorite places from the first ride that we'll get to travel again - the White Pine Range!

Sage sniffing baby toes.

Sage and Geo, they still eat together after all these years.