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Goodnight Wishes From Damascus, Virginia — Night Before the Mule Ramble

Published May 20, 2024

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

I am writing you tonight from my hammock. It’s slung between my horse trailer and a stock panel. It’s pitch black outside and the night air smells like camomile.

Long Rider Bernie Harberts writing from his hammock in Damascus, Virginia the night before the mule ramble — Where I’m writing you from

I hear Brick and Cracker munching clover off in the night and I feel a deep peace. Tomorrow I saddle up and start my ramble. Here are a few more pics of where we’re camping.

Cindy Johnson with her goat Cake at the Johnson farm in Damascus, Virginia, hosting Long Rider Bernie Harberts and mules Brick and Cracker — Tonight I’m staying with Mike and Cindy Johnson. That’s Cindy in the back right. The goat’s name is Cake. Julia and I met the Johnsons a few years ago on another mule ramble.

Mike and Cindy Johnson's hay barn with mules Brick and Cracker standing off to the side in Damascus, Virginia — Mike and Cindy’s hay barn and Brick and Cracker standing off to the side

Mule Brick rummaging through the back of a pickup truck in Damascus, Virginia — Brick rummaging through the back of the pickup

Mule Cracker holding up traffic in Damascus, Virginia — Cracker holding up traffic

Going Cellular

In the past I’ve posted all my updates on a laptop. On this trip, because I’m heading into remote country (which these days is defined by lack of cell service) I’m going to do my posts on my phone. This means you’ll probably get more sketches and audio recordings of my thoughts. Oh, and spelling mistakes as I’m a crappy phone typer.

This’ll make these posts feel more like a scrap book than an essay.

Okay now a photo from my pocket journal.

Page from Long Rider Bernie Harberts' pocket journal with a note about meeting Joey and his wife in White Post, Virginia — Note from my notebook. I was driving through White Post and stopped to talk with a skinny man named Joey and his wife. He said, “It sure has rained a lot lately. It finally stopped and we’re just out walking now the weather’s fit.” I like that turn of phrase “now the weather’s fit.” Then he asked me if I knew Jesus.

And Now a Goodnight Message

Goodnight thoughts and wishes from my hammock

Read more posts from this ramble: Virginia Highlands Horse Trail — A Mule Ramble.

A few years earlier, Julia and I rode a good stretch of the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail together. That became its own adventure. Julia documented that ramble on her blog Saddle Under the Stars and you can read those posts here:

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