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Faces on the Way to the Fairground – Alliance to Hemingford, Nebraska

Published August 16, 2019

I, Bernie Harberts, did not use generative AI to write or illustrate this article. Spell check and grammar check, yes. AI, no.

Marguerite, Ted, Joe, Peggy, 2 kids, Carolyn and John. Plus a wood cowboy hugging a bull. In this post I’m going to introduce you to some of the people I met today, July 15, 2019.

Marguerite Widtfeldt of Alliance Nebraska met by Long Rider Bernie Harberts during Two Mules to Triumph journey — Marguerite Widtfeldt. (Alliance, Nebraska)

It amazes me how many people I meet each day. I can’t photograph them all. Still, today I asked a few if I could take their picture. Just to share with folks that are following my journey with mules Brick and Cracker. I think you’ll enjoy meeting them. Hopefully it’ll give you a sense of my social life on the road.

A Slow Start

This morning I got off to a slow start. No, not because I was sore because I walked 31 miles yesterday. Rather, I took an hour to plan my route from Alliance to Lusk, Wyoming. It looks like my route will take me to Agate, Nebraska and then, with luck, through Nebraska’s only tunnel.

Mule Brick grazing outside Long Rider Bernie Harberts bivy bag at dawn in Alliance Nebraska — The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes this morning: Brick grazing in front of my bivy (bivouac) bag. I took this photo lying in my bivy bag. That’s not fog. That’s mosquito netting. Then again, when I wake up, everything looks that way….(Alliance, Nebraska)

Long Rider Bernie Harberts bivy bag camp behind Trinidad Benham Corp bean depot in Alliance Nebraska — Where I slept last night: behind the Trinidad Benham Corp bean depot.

Faces from the Road

Ted Standage supervisor at Trinidad Benham Corp in Alliance Nebraska sending off Long Rider Bernie Harberts with bag of beans rice and popcorn — Ted Standage: supervisor at the Trinidad Benham Corp facility in Alliance. The facility sells beans for planting to farmers then buys their bean crops. Here Ted’s, sending me off with a bag full of Trinidad Benham products: navy beans, mixed beans, rice, popcorn and dried, refried beans. Oh, and a baseball hat. Thanks Ted! Mules Brick and Cracker are big fans.

Joe and Marguerite Widtfeldt met by Long Rider Bernie Harberts at gas station in Alliance Nebraska — Joe and Marguerite Widtfeldt. We met at a gas station in Alliance. Hours later…

Pickup truck pulling over on roadside as train passes during Long Rider Bernie Harberts mule journey in Nebraska — …just as a train was passing, a pickup pulled up. A man walked over and…

Joe Widtfeldt stopping roadside to visit Long Rider Bernie Harberts and mules in Nebraska — …it was Joe. “I’m so happy to see you,” he said. “I just went to a funeral and wish we had talked more this morning.” So we just talked some more right there on the side of the road. It was grand, spending time with a man who’d pull over on the side of the road – without putting on his hazard lights – just to visit. I hope we meet again.

Joe and Peggy Agualla letting Long Rider Bernie Harberts rest mules Brick and Cracker under their trees in Nebraska — After 4 hours in the saddle, it was time to give Brick and Cracker a rest. Joe and Peggy Agualla had just pulled up at their home and I rode over and asked if was okay to park my mules under their trees. They said that would be fine. Then they brought me water. And an apple. And let me water the mules behind their house. You couldn’t ask for a better lunch break.

Welcome to Hemingford

Around 5:30p, the mules and I arrived in Hemingford. We knew nobody. By 6:00p, Brick and Cracker were settling in at the Box Butte County Fairground. This is one of the nicest fair facilities I’ve encountered on this trip. Especially impressive as Hemingford is a community of only about 1,000 residents.

Hemingford Nebraska welcoming committee greeting Long Rider Bernie Harberts and mules — The Hemingford welcoming committee.

Mule Cracker heading into Box Butte County Fairground in Hemingford Nebraska — Cracker headin’ to the Fair.

Box Butte County Fairground in Hemingford Nebraska where Long Rider Bernie Harberts camped with mules Brick and Cracker — Fair Grounds

The fair grounds feature incredible wood carvings by Christy Mickey. Carved out of cotton wood trees, these exquisite chain saw carvings merit their own post. Here is one of my favorites.

Chainsaw wood carving of cowboy riding bull by Christy Mickey at Hemingford Nebraska fairground — Hang on Cowboy!

Back view of chainsaw wood carving of cowboy on bull by Christy Mickey at Hemingford Nebraska fairground — Hang on bull!

Big thanks to John and Carolyn Annen who came out to make sure I settled in well. If you’re enjoying this post, you can thank them. They provided a great place for me to shower, cook and get these photos online.

Carolyn and John Annen of Hemingford Nebraska who hosted Long Rider Bernie Harberts at Box Butte County Fairground — Carolyn and John Annen

It’s wonderful to know that a man with 2 mules can set off across the land, with little to no plan, and folks will take such good care of him. I hope after reading this post and seeing some of the faces, you’ll get a sense of what it’s like out here.

Off to Bed, er, Bivy

It’s 9:15p, past my bedtime. Brick and Cracker are picketed out on some lovely Nebraska grass. Now it’s time to crawl in to my bivy.

Long Rider Bernie Harberts bivy bag camp at Hemingford Nebraska fairground with mule Brick visible in background — Where I’m sleeping tonight (July 15). Brick is just barely visible in the background.

From here in Alliance, the mules and I plan to travel toward Agate and Harrison, Nebraska.

Great big thanks to everyone that helped us out today…and let me take their photo.

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4 Responses to Faces on the Way to the Fairground – Alliance to Hemingford, Nebraska

Pingback: The Land Around Here - Alliance to Hemingford, Nebraka - RiverEarth.com
Todd Bryant on August 17, 2019 at 3:24 am

Thanks for posting photos of people you meet. Faces tell so much about where you are.

Reply
Christian Harberts on August 16, 2019 at 6:08 am

Sleeping question for you: when do you set up the bivy, as opposed to the big tent? Is weather a factor, time?

C

Reply
- Bernie on August 19, 2019 at 10:43 am
  
  Ah, the bivy – aka “body bag with a mosquito screen”. One of my favorite topics. I’ve used it a lot lately primarily because the nights are getting cooler. Anything under 80 degrees when I go to bed (and absent torrential rains) I use the bivy. Anything warmer and up goes the tent. The bivy bag quickly turns in to an oven roaster bag in anything over 80 degress. I prefer the bivy because of the better view of the stars plus it’s quicker to put away in the morning. It’s a pleasantly interactive experience sleeping under the stars and next to the mules and coyotes. As opposed to the tent, I feel so much more part of the landscape I’m traveling through. For extended stays (more than one night) I usually pitch the tent.
  
  Reply