The ringing of his spurs carried over the roar of motorhomes and cars whizzing by as he crested the hill outside of Santa Fe. The horses trailed close behind the man as they strolled together as if they were in their own little world. When they neared, I stuck out my hand to exchange pleasantries. “I’m Joe.” He smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Joe. I’m John.”

Our abrupt meeting in April 2009 turned out to be the last leg in a nearly seven-month journey across America for John Wayne Haynes, his two Appaloosa horses, Misty and Harley, and his two dogs, Sheila and Little Rudy. I’d meet up with John the following year for the one year anniversary of his adventure, commemorating the moment with a 25-mile ride from his new home at the Broken Saddle Ranch to Santa Fe’s historic downtown plaza.

“I still have people send me photos and letters from the first trip,” Haynes said. “I never thought I would have that type of an impact on the people I met along the way. It’s amazing.”