Man & Horse: The Long Ride Across America

I don ' t know much about horses, so I hesitated to buy this book. I'm glad I decided to read it any way! It 's an entertaining and moving story. Thank you John Egenes for taking me along on your journey!

Wonderful Musings over fifty years of life. I am inspired to write my own story. If only I had the skill to put my own words into such insights. Simplicity and honesty is John's key to life.

Musings

I give it three stars only because of the courage and stamina it took to actually make the ride. That was awesome. The telling of the story however was less inspiring. It was interrupted many times with long diatribes on different subjects which in my opinion did not belong in the book and detracted seriously from it.

This is one my ALL time favorite travel stories/sagas. John, at the age of 24, and Gizmo begin a 4,000 mile journey from Ventura, Calif to Virginia Beach. It takes them 7 months and $100.00 cash to complete it.
What happened in between is both inspiring and learning experience.

As soon as my Kindle said %80 completed I started to slow down my reading to about 25 wpm. I just didn't want it to end, much unlike John and Gizmo, who at that point, just wanted the ride to end. I can relate , after being on the A.T. for many months.

The book is really two books. One is his narration of events, people and places he and Gizmo travel thru. Some very interesting ones I might ad.
The other is the authors perspective on just "LIFE." I could relate to much of his insights and observations, as we are both the same age, + I grew up in Santa Barbara.
He 24 as he starts out in 1974. The Viet Nam war in winding down. Nixon is impeached. A gallon of gas costs about .40 cents a gallon.
He decided not to write this book shortly after his ride. It was too new, to much to digest and process. It took him 40 years, in his 60's to fully appreciate and understand the gravity of it all. I am glad he waited. The narration is rich with comparisons of an age where you had to go by actuall maps, pay phones, and people weren't absorbed with selfies. He then contrasts how much different 1974 is with 1934, to 2014 ... and you get the idea.

Both John and his horse are a very good match. They both are curious creatures, and allow the ride to be that much more 3-dimensional.
I can relate to John in so many ways. If you're reading this John.. thank you for several nights alone in my bed, reading your stories, as I was right behind you. Cheers !!! David C Miller

If the journey, not the destination, is the point, as it is for John Egenes, then I won’t spoil much by telling you that riding Gizmo, his horse, into the Atlantic at the end of their cross country trip is anti-climactic. John had already imagined it even before he started out; what matters is the dream fulfilled. In 1974, Egenes set out from Southern California to Virginia Beach by horse. He had a little over $100, a general route, a lot of curiosity and perseverance to follow it. He gets away with a lot that’s no longer possible due to population growth and increased regulation. But even with fewer restrictions, luck and (mostly) open terrain to find his way (relatively) unimpeded, he considers this a “Calvinist ride,” where patience and trust are their own rewards. In Calvinist doctrine, happiness is earned the hard way. John’s journey isn’t about accumulating stories or fame or to say that he conquered something, but to become who he is. When it’s over, the becoming has just begun.
John writes like I picture him riding, at a gentle trot. He punctuates his stories from the trail with stories of his childhood and some philosophical musings. The pace is steady, with time for reflection. He says it was work to spend time on the journey, to wile away hours when he or Gizmo weren’t moving. He sought after this kind of freedom, in solitude, in a disconnection from society. Nonetheless, he discovers he’s never alone. In the wilderness, he says, one is never alone. And, he always has Gizmo. Caring for Gizmo gives him purpose and teaches him how much Gizmo gives back. Just as the many people he encounters on the trip are mostly interested in Gizmo, so too, this book is a tribute to his faithful, stalwart companion. John’s book is entertaining and inspiring. It makes me want to take stock as he does, looking back and looking forward; what have I come from, where am I going, and who is with me? No matter the answer, the point is in the asking.

As a traveler and long distance hiker I can relate to much of what John shared. It is indeed about the journey rather than the ultimate destination. I liked the thoughts on how things have changed in these 40 years and how different the adventure would now be.

It was a perfect read while I traveled through some of the Mojave in Southern California and on through a bit of Nevada, Arizona and on into Utah.

I have an acquaintance who with her family started riding the Pacific Crest Trail in 1970 I believe. We were both 10 years old. I've loved seeing her photos and hearing the stories. She too says someday a book will come.

Interesting to read about someone making a long arduous trip across USA by horse and walking, because such a rare happening - the kind of thing almost everyone can only do vicariously. One can really appreciate what it takes by reading the seven month struggle and daily details. The author writes it with love for his horse, some humorous events, and deep thoughtful analysis of various things in life. Mr Egenes shows both his viewpoints of what he felt at age 24 and how he feels 40 years later with a more mature perspective.

I loved this story. Being an endurance rider for 20 years and seeing just a tiny part of this country on horse back was an experience I'll never change. It was grueling, and exciting, but to put a horse through such challenges really speaks highly of our equine friends. My highest respect goes to John Egenes. I bet the riding in New Zealand is awesome too.

I like adventure stories and if they also happen to include an intelligent animal, well then it's all good. The loving care and consideration that this man gave to his companion, touched my heart and made me feel better about mankind.

If you have any adventure and love for animals in your soul you have to read this book. Its a story of the interaction between a young man and a young horse with both coming to maturity on a cross country ride.

Not only is this a fascinating, well written chronicle of the amazing cross-country ride of the author's, it is also a thought-provoking "ride" for the reader. I loved this book and was sad to finish. I hope this author writes more. Beautiful.

I wanted to like this book more, but Egenes' interest leaned more on his relationship with the horse and the horse's personality and demeanor more than the ride itself. Most of that took away from the ride and I didn't think all of it was necessary. I liked the parts about the ride when he met the people and described them and the places, but the horse always had priority. His words were gentle. Easy read.

I was fortunate to call my best friend. Traveling by bicycle throughout North America was my introduction to positive thinkers and rural America, Canada and Mexico.
Thanks
Have your best day ever!

This was like a travelogue, only with young man and his horse, Gizmo, traveling from West Coast to East Coast in the early 1970’s. I especially enjoyed the obvious camaraderie between John and Gizmo.

The actual story is interesting. But, there is a lot of repetition, and lots of lecturing about his personal beliefs and values. That, I could do without. Like his ride, I wanted it to get over with.

Most people, would not be able to complete a journey like this without being an expert on horses, complete confidence in their ability to cope with daily challenges, navigational skills and the ability to accomplish the seemingly impossible task of setting out from California with $100 and very little gear. A daunting task. You need to read this to fully understand how difficult this ride truly was.

Easy reading that maintained my interest throughout. More a story of author's relationship with his horse than the actual journey itself. That relationship was the basis of a joint learning experience which sustained. Easily recommended.