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Three Little Birds

Bird One

Julia said, “I think something’s wrapped around its leg,” and opened her fingers for me to see. In her hand a phoebe with a piece of string wrapped around its foot.

I clipped of the thread with the scissors on my multi-tool. It flew away. Can’t say it was happy. We were, though.

The phoebe, also known as the eastern flycatcher. Voracious insect eaters, they love building nests in the tractor shed, right above my Tacoma pickup.
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Locust Fence Part I

I’m currently writing my new book about my recent mule ramble from North Carolina to Idaho. Every day, the process goes like this. First I write my thoughts in longhand on sheets of printer paper. Then I scoot over to my computer and transfer that to my manuscript. Sitting in my saddle of course.

Nothing makes writing about a saddle journey as authentic as sitting in a saddle while you’re writing. To raise my keyboard and mouse, I employ a… Continue reading

Writing New Book

Mules Cracker and Brick, stars of my upcoming book, relaxing at home.

Sorry I haven’t written lately. I’ve been busy chasing mules, admiring an 8-legged lamb and having lunch with Robert, a 1000 pound, dead man.

Yes, I’m writing a new book.

Draft One of the new book: All the field notes have been transcribed. Now comes the fleshing out.

Mule Ramble Book

My new book is about my recent mule ramble from North Carolina to Idaho with mules Brick… Continue reading

Dixie Faces

Friday, my wife Julia and I attended the Dixie Draft Sale. The Dixie Draft Sale is the biggest horse, mule, tack and horse drawn equipment sale in the south-east. Their catalogue is the only place I’ve ever seen the word “chattlel” used outside of a hand written Civil War last will and testament.

From the age of chattel: he stopped and looked at me while I was looking at the black wagon and said, “I could have bought a hearse… Continue reading

Dixie Dogs and Faces

Dogs in denim, coon skin hats and Daniel Boone beards. Today Julia and I attended the Dixie Draft Sale in Troutman, North Carolina. We didn’t come home with a pony but scored a lot of great photos. Check in mañana for the Dixie Dogs photo essay.

We met at the black wagon and he said, “I could have bought this hearse in 1970 for $70.”
Pocket dog.
My favorite wagon: it sold for $1,200
Sold!

Coming Tomorrow: Dixie Dogs

Plenty… Continue reading

“On a Mule Bound for Triumph” Article in Eye on Sun Valley (Idaho)

Did I ever tell you about the hundreds of miles of plastic flowers and dead snakes I encountered in my recent mule ramble? Enjoy this Sunday read that came out this week in Eye on the Sun in Sun Valley, Idaho.

BY KAREN BOSSICK

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Bernie Harberts encountered an early season snowstorm that dumped three inches of snow between the Hailey rodeo grounds and Triumph.

The snow was starting to stack up on the streets of Hailey when Bernie Harberts dismounted… Continue reading

Welcome Home

The headlights on my 1992 diesel Dodge burned away the rain drops to reveal the soaking sign. “Welcome Home! Bernie Brick and Cracker”. My journey from North Carolina to Idaho and back with my mules was complete.

November 7, 6:30 pm: the sign I found on my front gate last night. What a welcome sight after driving mules Brick and Cracker five days from Idaho back to North Carolina. My wife Julia made if for me. Lucky, lucky man.
April… Continue reading

No Fuse Blow Day: Day 3

The news today is there is no news. No blown fuses as the 92 Dodge lumbered from Nebraska to Missouri with mules in tow. No meeting Tom Petty (deceased) at the gas station. No bird balls. Nope. Just the rhythmic hum of the old 12 valve Cummins and the “thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk” as the old steel wheels rolled across Nebraska.

Crossing the Missouri River south of Omaha. That’s not a kite in the sky at 2 o’clock. That’s a… Continue reading

The 1992 Dodge Diesel Diaries: Day 2

Fried fuses, carrot nubs and dead dials. Today marks Day 2 of mules Brick and Cracker and my truck journey from from Idaho back to North Carolina.

Old truck salad: fuses and carrots. Instead of eating too much fast food crap on road trips, I munch on carrots as I drive. I toss the tops on the floor next to the blown fuses that are part of every old truck journey. When ever I stop to swap out a newly… Continue reading

Driving Home: End Day 1

Today mules Brick, Cracker and I chug, chugged 500 miles closer to home in our trailer: from Hailey, Idaho to Rawlins, Wyoming. Here are a few photos of the day I thought you might enjoy.

Brick get a little attention for how well she loaded. I, on the other hand, need some attention from a pair of hair clippers…. (Nick Parker photo)
Today’s run: I know, it doesn’t look like much on a map. Still, I did in 10 hours… Continue reading
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