"Have you ever thought you would like to just pack up your horse ... and travel for months on end?" That was the opening line to a program describing Brenda Braidwaith and her adventures on horseback. Would that question be all it took to make me leave my upper management job in a computer company, and my comfortable home on a 110 acre ranch, to embark on a four to five month adventure? It certainly got me thinking.

Not once, but twice, Brenda took horse adventures of more than 1000 miles: once in Italy, and again in the US from the Canadian border to San Francisco. As I heard her story, my thoughts began to drift and wander. As far back as my childhood, I had dreamed of doing some long trip on horseback. Reading about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and Davie Crocket instilled in me an adventurous spirit.

In his book The Long Haul about "thru-hiking" the Appalachian Trail, Craig Haire writes, "most of us have grown up in a culture steeped in the traditions of our pioneer past, romantic stories of the conquering of the American wilderness. But now the wilderness is already over-conquered, and there are very few adventures left to satisfy our romantic spirit."

Today, because of traffic, riding a horse anywhere outside the arena is dangerous. But for many horse enthusiasts like myself, the rewards are worth it. Staying in the arena is fun, but there is certainly more to see elsewhere. Add a pack and tent and the opportunities unfold.

In his book Treading Lightly with Pack Animals, Dan Aadland mentioned Thoreau's dictate, that we must simplify life in order to know it better. He says, "Some of us have answered Thoreau's call strenuously, even passionately ... so we have periodically fled the concrete for a carpet of pine needles, ... we have rejected the snowmobile in favor of snowshoes." In my case it would mean a giving up a great job, the comforts of a 110 acre ranch with a great king-size bed, and a good pick-up truck for a couple of horses, a sleeping bag, and a tent. Am I really ready for that? He also mentioned "packing with animals is about rediscovery." I certainly was in the mood for "rediscovery."

Something of Brenda's story inspired my spirit of adventure and desire to conquer America's "lack of wilderness." There is no better way to do so than using horses (my passion) in a challenge that fulfills not only my desire for adventure, but also my love of the outdoors. There is a lot to be said about possible escape back to a simpler time, and "rediscovery." An adventure this large has its cost, risk of injury, and sacrifices, such as loss of the comforts of home.

The dream began two years ago, but this last year, I began thinking maybe I could do this. I learned there are many who have attempted, and who are at this moment attempting, similar feats of adventure on horseback around the world. So many that there is actually a "Long Riders Guild" that tracks rides of over 1000 miles not only of the past, but current treks. There are almost 200 documented Long Riders around the world alive today and most are listed on the Long Riders Guild site (www.thelongridersguild.com).

The pace at which we live and life now moves, seems to cause some people at times to stop and jump out of the system or "race" as it is sometimes referred. We have all heard of someone who has followed the "beat of a different drummer."

Being in corporate America for the last 20 years in high tech Silicon Valley, I have seen many people decide to try something outrageous. For example a friend who is an executive for one of the largest computer companies left her good job to spend a year circumnavigating the globe in a sailboat. Another friend took a year to ride her bike across America. Be careful before you judge ... it could happen to you.

Recently a friend gave me a card with a quote from Oliver Wendell Holmes, "I find that the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving." I realize he was not referring to geography alone, but the path of growth in our lives.

In planning for Brenda's last trip she intended to ride from Canada to Mexico, yet changed her direction due to unforeseen problems, and ended in San Francisco. I realize the magnitude of a trip this long and I ask myself the question, am I up to this large of a challenge?

Don West defines success in his book, Have Saddle Will Travel as follows: "I must survive, my horse must survive, and I must have fun!" I like the fun part of that!

A close friend gave me a magnet for my refrigerator two years ago that had a picture of a very small boy in front of a very large horse, which was captioned, "Never stop Dreaming!"

Lisa Wood, a biologist from San Diego has taken three trips on horseback, one the length of California, a trip in Tibet, and last year from the West Coast to the East Coast. In her book Chasing the California Dream she states she was inspired by Joseph Smeaton Chase's journey along the California coast in 1911. She said in reference to her trip, "I do not enact most of my dreams but in this case, common sense failed me."

Many of us at some time did stop dreaming. Responsibilities and routine have robbed many of us of the spirit of exploration and conquest and those childhood dreams. Maybe it's time to take them back as adults. On March 15th I set out on my journey to travel the length of California. I hope to see many of you out on the trail.