A nomadic wind departed Kalispell Saturday after blowing in a few days ago in the guise of horseman Doc Mishler.

Mishler first departed his native Choteau on June 16, 2002, riding to California then all the way across the country to Washington, D.C. There, he spoke to lawmakers — including Montana Sen. Max Baucus — and also addressed an agriculture committee on the issue of hungry children.

It is to raise awareness for that issue that Mishler has continued to ride across the country to this day. During his travels, he has undergone quadruple-bypass heart surgery, had a complete hip replacement and suffered and recovered from a broken pelvis.

And Mishler says he has made it through all his challenges and continued to spread the word about childhood hunger only because God has provided for him through all the people he has met.

“I never know where I’m going to get my next meal, never know where I’m going to sleep, but all across the land, the Lord has provided,” he said.

It is that care shown by people and what is provided to him that Mishler said shows childhood hunger is an issue that can be tackled.

“We have the ability, we live in this land of abundance,” he said. “All the food we waste is the property of hungry children.”

Mishler refers people to Matthew 25:31-46, a parable of sheep and goats comparing the sheep to those who provided to the less fortunate and the goats to those who did not.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me,” a partial quote of the parable in the New International Version reads.

Among the more recent challenges Mishler has faced in his journey were the high temperatures, which drove him to stay at a local motel for two days.

“It’s roughest when it’s hot,” Mishler said. “It’s tough on the horses and it’s tough on me. I figure I get about three miles per gallon of water (out of the horses).”

His favorite part of his journeys are the people he has interacted with across the country.

“It’s such a joy to meet the people along the way,” he said.

While stopped at a gas station on West Idaho Street on his way out of town Saturday afternoon, he was approached by at least a dozen curious adults and children, including Kalispell resident Robyn Clark, her son Kadence, 9, and her daughter Trinity, 6.

“We were driving by and the kids said ‘I wanna pet the horse!” Clark said.

Having been raised around horses and being a rodeo participant herself, Clark couldn’t say no.

“I really wanted to pet them. I used to have one too,” Trinity said.

She said her favorite thing about horses is that they run fast.

Although Kadence was excited to take his turn sitting on one of the horses too, he said he likes things with motors more, noting that “cars last longer.”

Mishler said he will follow U.S. 2 and head northwest for now, although he did not have any destination.

He had advice for those who would say they wish they could do what he is doing.

“When everybody gives what they’re given,” Mishler said, “they get what they need.”