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Saturday May 3, 2014

I’ve written and read a lot of obituaries lately. In the span of eighteen months, my mother, dad, mule, pack pony and family dog have died. None of this comes as a surprise. The young are supposed to scatter the ashes of the old. Then they go on living. Potatoes are banked. Winesaps are pruned. Commutes are commuted. May be some ash slips in to the orchard.

Here are my thoughts on my faithful mule Woody and pony Maggie who recently died. ................

Thursday March 6, 2014

Sad news. My father, Arthur Stanley Harberts, died this week. He was 87. More on the incredible voyage of best friend, Dust Bowler, husband and dad is here.

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Thursday October 3, 2013

Kudos to UNC-TV and director/producer Morgan Potts for capturing the essence of mule wagon travel in “Mule Rider”. The segment aired October 3 on UNC-TV’s Our State program. Last winter, Morgan and a five-man film crew spent most of a wintry week on the road with mule Polly and me. The footage they put together is remarkable.

You can watch some thoughts and challenges that went in to making Mule Rider here.

The entire segment can be viewed here (this will re-direct you to UNC-TV’s site).

Mule Polly? She’s been pulling wagons, tobacco sleds and buckboards aplenty: a week-long Uwharrie pack trip, Robbins Farmers Day parade, Benson Mule Days, Duke Homestead. Up next is the South Carolina State Fair. Which is to say, she’ll be plenty fit for winter wagon tripping. See you out there.

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Sunday August 18, 2013

If Wayne Hussey’s mules don’t go to heaven, I’ll be shocked. He’s piped enough gospel music in to their barn that their chances of becoming buddy-buddy with Saint Peter are pretty good.

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Saturday August 10, 2013

Hours after Tuesday’s post, Polly, Buddy and I made good on our runaway notions. Four days after walking out of friend Ronald Hudson’s driveway, we hauled up in Eldorado, North Carolina.

I fed and water my mules, pitched my hammock and, sniff, sniff, noticed my sleeping bag smelled, shall we say, vomitous. Ronald had warned me this might happen.

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Tuesday August 6, 2013

One hundred pounds of salt blocks, a clean shirt and a string hammock. Wouldn’t you be tempted to run away too…?

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Tuesday July 30, 2013

Folks sometimes ask me how they can score a ride on a sailboat – without actually owning one. Sure, you could charter a Sunfish. Maybe sign up for sailing lessons at Camp Genoa. Theft is an option if your notion of sea rations includes hard tack à la detention center.

Thing is, those suggestions lack the over-the-transom air – that certain Horatio Hornblower saltiness – I prefer when doling out free advice. Then I got a query asking how to become a stow away. Now we’re talking.

On a more serious topic, here’s an article I wrote recently for TownDock.net. It regards a French vessel that’s having trouble getting under way.

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