The Mules Make The Trip

Polly, Brick and Dusty

 We are traveling with some great companions. I love listening to them outside the tent in the night. I love finally finding them a nice patch of grass to rest and feed in. They are working hard for us most days. That makes it an extra nice feeling, come the end of a long day when we can finally pull the saddles .and let them free to eat and roll. For eating and rolling are the main pleasures of almost any mule.
The three mules that we are traveling with have distinctly different personalities although each of them is fond of eating and rolling.

Polly caught in a rare moment with her head up from the grass.

Polly is the elder statesmen. Calm, friendly, hardworking, almost unflappable and never missing a chance to eat.

Brick checks out Main St. in West Jefferson, NC.

Brick is the baby, young, sweet, a little mischievous and curious about everything.

Dusty tangled in his picket but still keeping watch.

Dusty is the watchman. He also is one of those characters that doesn't quite make it easy for himself. He seems to be thinking that there's always a better deal being offered than the one he's getting. You'd like to say to him, "look buddy, just relax". He's the mule the others don't really miss when he's taken out of the herd. Yet it's hard not to like Dusty because he's strong, reliable and hardworking. He is actually a super mule.

They all are super mules. They are making this trip great. Bernie and I are really proud of them.