Matt, his Mustang Crow and his companion Raymond Avery
would not only be relying on donations to cover the expenses for
themselves and the horses but also the kindness of strangers
along the way to find a place each night for them and the horses
as they made their way across the continent, posting updates
daily to raise awareness and funding to help his brother and
sisters veterans in their darkest hours.
The night before the ride started Matt wrote on the Facebook
page.
“I lie here listening to the rain on the roof of the trailer and
reflect on all the time it’s taken to lead up to this moment. I feel
a deep sense of calm and a renewed vigor for tomorrow. No one
can tell me what will lie ahead for us or when the wrecks will
happen but I believe the greatest power in the universe is belief.
I believe that this is what I’m meant to be doing. I believe this will
help people who are so deserving of help. I believe that we will
make it to the pacific. I believe with all my heart and soul that this
ride will touch so many aching souls and let them know that in the
darkest of hours we still care. I believe.
Come rain or shine at 10:00 am we will ride away from the
ocean with Crow’s feet wet with saltwater, our eyes where the
trail meets the sky and a happy heart.”
The morning that the journey began he posted: “This morning
I was filled with about every emotion possible and Crow got me
to come down and he came down to me and I couldn’t ask for a
better start. He truly is a once in a lifetime horse. It’s surreal that
the ride has begun officially and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you
panhandle into New Mexico and Arizona and proceeding
all for bearing with me through the delays but today Crow’s feet
into California to Camp Pendleton and the Pacific Ocean.
got saltwater on them! You all are amazing thank you for all the
They headed toward North Carolina on April 24th 2014 and
continued support. “
the beginning of the journey on May 1st, 2014.
Matt and Raymond picked along the route trying to put 20 miles
The Long Trail Home was funded by donations. Two
behind them each day. Most of the time, they didn’t have specific
funds were set up, the first for the Semper Fi Fund was to
help veterans in need. The second was for donations to plans on where they were going to stay, and relied on posts to the
raise money for the feed for the horses and the expenses Facebook page to get a place to stay and let the horses “mow
of the trip with any leftover monies donated for expenses someone’s lawn”. Ray and Matt each rode one horse and ponied
to be transferred to the Semper Fi Fund upon completion the second along with a horse named Roy being used to carry
what little supplies and such that they had for the trip.
of the trip.
www.thunderroadscolorado.com
February 2015
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 7