Proud teamsters!

This evening we are spending the night just outside of Browerville.  Chis and Ellen, a very kind Mennonite couple provided us with a garage to sleep in and stalls for the mules.  Old friends Henry and Nellie Wilburt, of Long Prairie, took us out to dinner.  It was great to see them! Nellie made us fresh bread that we'll have for breakfast. I'm sure it will be delicious with a little jam and honey.

Rufu and Rowdy

The mules were tired today and ready to arrive at our destination for the evening.  They've done really well on the trail and handled all the new experiences.  As some of you may know, Rufus and Rowdy and typical mules. As such, we've had some mishaps over the course of their training- a broken tree here and a broken wagon tongue there. After three runaways, I talked to an old timer that worked with mules a lot and he recommended that I add a break to my wagon and a heavy weight to the back of it.  Last summer I built a new wagon with a strong break and a 1000 pound cement block in the back of it.  It worked well for slowing them down during training! Having never trained mules before, I've learned they are very different from horses.  I find they're more unlike horses than like them.  Their very much into self-preservation.  They don't want to do something that doesn't look right.  Rowdy saw an unusual looking sign yesterday and looked and looked.  Also, when we drove into a farm with sheep, Rowdy wasn't so sure about them. Rufus was always concerned about what was behind him.  After figuring that out, I switched his bridal to an open one, rather than the typical bridal with blinders.  Its about the relationship with the mules, even more so than with horses. I've found that if the mules trust you, they'll do things for you.

Needless to say, it was an adventure teaching them to drive, but watching them is last week has been fulfilling...so proud!

Good night from the trail.

Joe and Earl

Saturday - H