Ride the Rising Wind

by Barbara Florence Kingscote

In May 1949, at the age of twenty, Barbara Kingscote left her farm in Mascouche, Quebec, and set out for the Pacific Ocean on horseback. Barbara and her equine companion Zazy reached the West Coast just over a year later, after travelling 4ꯠ miles and discovering the heart of this great country. "Ride the Rising Wind" reveals Canada through the fresh eyes of a brave young woman discovering both herself and her country on the journey of a lifetime.

Genres: Memoir, Canada, Biography

Paperback

Published March 20, 2006

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an autobiographical story of Barbara Kingscote's 16-month journey from Quebec to BC on horseback. It's a story of people and land, Canadians in 1950 Canada. Barbara and her mare Zazy journeyed alone across the country in era when it was still possible because of all the small farms, and when a single female could still travel alone (although she still had some frightening moments).

It was an interesting story, but I felt that it left out a lot of significant details about her relationships with other people. For instance, on page 128 Barbara shares about how this guy named Earl drove her back to camp from a church service, and then he kissed her and I was like "Did I miss something? Who is this guy?" Nope. We were introduced to him two paragraphs before. Nothing was mentioned about Barbara's history with this guy, but the way she talks about him makes it sound like she's known him for at least a little while. And then when she leaves the camp for good she's all like "I could marry Franc" and I was like "What? You've hardly mentioned the guy. Why is he so special to you?" A lot of stuff like that happened.

But it was an interesting way to learn about Canada. And I loved the freedom Barbara felt.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

In May 1949, spunky 20-year old Barbara embarks on a journey across Canada – on horseback. With a hundred dollars, a rifle, and a lot of nerve, she sets out from Mascouche, Quebec on the back of Zazy, her neighbour's 15-year-old horse. The coast of BC, almost 5000 kilometres away, is her destination. Relying on her own fortitude and the generosity of strangers along the way, Barbara makes an unforgettable journey that would ultimately take 16 months to complete.

Along the way, Barbara keeps a personal journal, which she mails home at intervals. Decades later, she published the story of her journey. Written honestly and eloquently, Ride the Rising Wind captures the daily trials and maturing insights Barbara experienced on her epic adventure.

If you've ever travelled across the vastness of Canada, or wanted to, this book is for you. Curl up in a warm chair and follow along Barbara's triumphs and set-backs. This is Canada as you've never known it, a sixty-five year-old time capsule of a country just beginning to blossom.

I've read this book 3 or 4 times and never tire of it. Equally good for youth and adult readers.

[Cid · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an amazing story, a 20 year old girl and her pony ride from Quebec to Vancouver over the course of two years after WWII. The author, who kept a journal along the way, mailing home pages to her parents, travels with almost no money or supplies, relying on farmers, shop owners & lumber camp cooks & loggers to sustain her. Her experience in post war Canada really is a snapshot of the country on the verge of modernization. She rides along what will become the Trans Canada highway & is still able to find farriers to replace Zazy's shoes, saddle-makers to fix her tack and strangers who take them both in. The book is full of descriptions of the flora & fauna and can be a little wordy but the real life story draws you in and carries you along to the end of their journey.