Audio only
Distant Skies
An American Journey on HorsebackBy Melissa A. Priblo ChapmanNarrated by Melissa A. Priblo Chapman
Length12h 39m
About this audiobook
Melissa Chapman was 23 years old and part of a happy, loving family. She had a decent job, a boyfriend she cared about, and friends she enjoyed. Yet she said goodbye to all of it. Carrying a puppy named Gypsy, she climbed aboard a horse and rode away from everything, heading west.
With no cell phone, no GPS, no support team or truck following with supplies, Chapman quickly learned that the reality of a cross-country horseback journey was quite different from the fantasy. Her solo adventure would immediately rest her mental, physical, and emotional resources as she and her four-legged companions were forced to adapt to the dangers and loneliness of a trek that would span over 2,600 miles, beginning in New York State and reaching its end on the other side of the country, in California.
Melissa's tale part American road trip, part coming-of-age adventure, and part uncommon love story–a remarkable memoir that explores the evolution of the human-animal relationship, along with the raw beauty of a life lived outdoors.
Audiobook details
GenreBiography and Memoir, Science and Nature
Length12 hrs 39 mins
Narrated byMelissa A. Priblo Chapman
FormatAudiobook
Publish dateJul 2, 2025
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Publisher's Introduction
85Little Guardian
2Prologue
86Diamond Day
3Part One, Before: Rainy
87Round House, Round Moon
4The Dream
88Wide Open Lonesome
5Conditioning, Training
89Reunion Road
Show all chaptersShow less
6A Guy and a Dog
90Heat and Sweetness
7Gypsy
91State Line
848 Hours until Departure
92Winning Over the Mule
9Part Two, On Our Way: Leaving
93Borders
10Longest Day
94Texas
11Different Day
95Nowhere
12Ghosts
96Along the Tracks
13Old Toys, Country Roads
97Signs
14Meshoppen
98The Darkest Night
15Crying to Singing
99Full Circle
16The Bridge
100Antelope
17Too Long, Too Far
101West
18Traveler's Spring
102Tucumcari
19Welcome to Hughesville
103Hitchiker
20House of Guys
104Cuervo
21Along the River
105What Gypsy Uncovered
22Unexpected Friendship
106Goodbye Road
23Just People
107Skins
24Funhouse Faces
108The Storm
25Grier School
109Hidden Campsite
26Louie's Lounge
110Cold Night Near Grants
27Tunnel
111An Old Man, His Cowboy Hat, and His Son
28Rainy's Twin... and the News
112The Great Divide
29Dead Head
113Lines (Cattle Guard)
30Animal Rights
114Unplanned
31Country Club
115Fort Wingate
32Strawberry
116Feelings for New Mexico
33Country Club
117East of Gallup
34Part Three, On the Road: Locusts
118Sidewalks of Gallup
35Brad
119Navajo Woman
36One Tiny Sound
120Kindred Spirit
37Danger on the Road
121Here and Now
38Goodmans
122Near Lupton, Arizona
39Jump Aboard
123A Different View
40Ice Cream Shop
124Douglas Sky
41On Saddles
125Friend Amanda
42Black Dog
126Sunsets, Seasons
43Cowboys for Christ
127Part Five, The Road is Ours: Chambers, Arizona
44Shadows
128The Only Direction
45Welcome to Indiana
129Rest Stop: You Never Know
46Golden Boy
130Rest Stop West: Circle the Wagons
47Construction Site
131Literal
48Sundays
132Canteen
49Revival
133Highway
50Tea Rosy
134Winslow
51Land of Lincoln
135Teepee Rock Ranch/Turquoise Ranch
52Carlyle (no intro)
136Moonrise at Two Guns
53Big River
137Truck Stop Diner, Twin Arrows
54A Mystery
138Nuts...and Grateful
55Diamond Jim
139Gold in the Day
56Soothing Sunsets
140Trust
57Luxenhaus Farm
141Beauty Large and Small
58Good Dog, Bad Dog
142Saddle Tramp
59Serendipity
143Airway
60Copperhead
144On the Wild Trail
61Inside Horse
145Cheers, Peace
62My Rainy
146Big Obstacle
63Nanny and Anthis
147The Road is Ours
64Deerfield
148Hualapia Diner
65Delays
149Hilltop Honkeytonk
66Vet Call
150Closeness
67Oh No
151Camera-Conscious
68The Worried Walk
152Decision
69Twists and Turns
153Kingman
70Tom and Barb
154Haunted
71Haying
155Black Mountains
72Days
156Wild Watchers
73Word Gets Around
157Davis Dam
74Kansas Time
158Casino Night, Laughlin
75Phone Call
159Nevada Silver
76Three Simple Rules
160Sign in the Desert
77A Meeting
161Near
78Getting to Know Her
162Needles, California
79Time is Ours
163About Ending...
80Address Book
164At "Home" in Kansas
81Gone Down the Road
165Part Six, After: Love Goes On
82Morning Star
166A Poem by Reid
83Part Four, The Road West: Amanda, Gypsy
167Acknowledgments
84Flint Hills
168Publisher's Closing
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