Please ignore any emails that return with endehomebase@ymail….. it has been hacked, please accept my apologizes for any inconvenience that this may have caused you. I have traced the hacker to Nigeria, My entire contact list was taken as well as my sent box.
and Although I would delight in a weeks visit to the Philippines just now, I must report that I am not there. The tip off should have been the cell phone, this Lady Long Rider has no cell phone… smiles, once again my apologies – thank you for understanding.
Bernice Ende

UP COMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT;

THE BACK COUNTRY HORSEMAN’S NATIONAL CONVENTION will take place April 5th, 6th, and 7th at the Kalispell, Montana Convention Center. Bernice has been asked to speak at the event and has spoken at several local BCH meetings thru out her travels. She is delighted to be part of this upcoming event. More will be posted as the date draws near.
CONTACT INFORMATION: PLEASE CALL…..ANDY BRELAND at 406- 261- 1109   or  http://bchmt.org/flatbch/

Below is the article I wrote for the FIDO Friendly Magazine for the Winter 2013 edition.

You can visit the entire magazine online by clicking HERE

Or you can view just the article by opening this file: Bernice Ende FIDO Friendly Article

Thank you FIDO Friendly Magazine for this opportunity! You can visit them at: http://www.fidofriendly.com/

The horses have already grown fat and lazy. Claire has retired to the couch and I am running around trying to catch up with friends and talks and thank you letters and wrapping up this years 2000 mile Canadian ride.  Winter here in the northwest corner of Montana is fast approaching, snow is predicted for this weekend, time for a warm fire, a book and hot tea. Time for reflection. I find this part of the ride, this time of “re-entry” the most difficult. Coming from a life of 4miles an hour to 70 miles an hour, riding in a car, the speed of everything, music, TV, the talking and so much eating, there is just SO MUCH!  so much coming and going.  The transition has never been easy for me. About this time I am longing for my life “out there” on the trail , with the horses, nomadic , simple, very, very simple.
Today is election day for the United States. Here again I can talk about the difficulty of transitions. Those of us that vote are asking each other, speculating,  “which way will the country go?”  What changes will we face in the coming years?  As one who travels across this country in a very unconventional way. I come into contact with many people who share with me their disappointment and unrest about the direction this country is going. It is easy to throw up hands and shout ” it’s no use” .  I wish I could take everyone with me for just a week  and you would see a very different America. You would see a country filled with good people who care about their families, their friends and this country. Everyday that I am out there riding I can not help but be reminded of the freedom we  so easily take for granted here in America. Let us not lose hope and faith in our ability to change, to make transitions and to find a common good for which we can all be proud of.
This will be my last posting for the year. Thank you cards should be ready in a week until then as I have said many times before…” a hearty thank you to each and everyone whose path I cross, for the help, the interest and the encouragement. I could not have done it without you.
Sincerely, Bernice Ende- long rider

Our 2000 mile Canadian ride reached the end of the trail on Monday, October 22nd  when I rode down Theodora Rice’s drive way wearing  rain gear and riding in snow and sleet.  We made it! Always, always it seems unreal to finish these rides. It is as if it never happened, as if that ribbon of highway stretching out behind you never existed and the whole thing was an elusive dream. But the dirty torn pages of my journal and the words scratched out inside tell me different. The worn heels on my Ariat boots, the unavoidable stain marks and rips embellishing  my Trail Max pack gear, the Black Mountain Tucker saddle now softer, more comfortable than ever.  No, it was no dream. My Sunbody hat has another hole in it because Hart thought it fit enough to eat. (Or maybe he doesn’t like it) Except for the occasional indoor respites Claire and I slept on Skito saddle pads for 7 months, making the most of  some pretty testy weather. My route? I don’t think I followed one step of what I had originally set out to ride. Once into Saskatchewan, Canada I was off and going  every which way,simply going  to places that people suggested I should see.”Oh don’t go that way”  someone would say, maybe a group of men having coffee at the local cafe  all standing around looking at my well used map. “that’s no way to go, she ought to go across the National Grasslands, she’s this close”, “sure is pretty, won’t regret it”.  OK, off we’d go. Best ride I have ever had, easiest ride. And Canada, Canada Oh my such an enormous country a place of many handshakes and smiles. “Premier long riding country”. The Canadian prairies make our Kansas look tiny. Never have I ridden more beautiful country as thru the “Special Area” (yes that is what it is called) of eastern Alberta. Luscious thick green long stem grasses everywhere. Soft dirt, not gravel, but dirt roads. Roads that could not be driven on when wet but a horse could get by OK.  Sparsely dotted with small farms and ranches. One of the wettest years on record, it had the country boasting like a true Garden of Eden.
Wonderful ride. Hart, Essie Pearl and Montana Spirit  have been turned out on pasture , they have a barn and good hay, salt and grain. This is where Essie Pearl was born and raised. Hart  spent last summer here on our 600 mile vacation ride. Montana Spirit, finishing her first ride takes it all in like a seasoned pro. For Claire THIS IS HOME.        I have a winterized tent set up in a glorified chicken coop next to the barn.  This is no ordinary chicken coop believe me. Theodora  is one of those gifted creative types that can create beauty out of any old thing..
I am glad to back and will update you with the details later this week this is to let those of you that have been following  along with this ride  not to worry, that we have arrived. Ende of the Trail is at the end of this years trail. I will have a pannier full of thank you cards to send out to our northern neighbors.  Canada, many, many thanks. This Lady long Rider sends a heart felt thank you to all of the Canadians that kindly  helped in one way or another to make this ride possible… Happy Trails  your lady long rider Bernice Ende