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Lake Mattamuskeet Covered Wagon Ramble with PBS NC

Published January 12, 2025

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

Let’s get ramblin’! I’m super excited to announce that I’ve teamed up with PBS North Carolina (PBS NC) for my next wagon ramble, a slow roll of Lake Mattamuskeet.

Lake Mattamuskeet is the largest natural fresh water lake in North Carolina (and the second largest east of the Mississippi) and, despite its huge size, is relatively unknown.

It Started With a Lake

Lake Mattamuskeet has an incredible story that isn’t known far beyond Hyde County, North Carolina where it’s located. In the early 1900s, the lake was drained with what were, at the time, the world’s largest water pumps. The lake bed was farmed, producing incredible crops for a decade, and then what happened was. Oh wait, that’s what I’m going down with mule Polly to investigate!

I will be traveling in a wagon pulled by my mule, Polly. This leisurely pace will allow me to fully absorb and share the experience, from spending time among the thousands of wintering tundra swans, snow geese, and ducks to listening to the rich Hyde County brogue. This local dialect, a derivative of an old English accent, has survived for hundreds of years in small pockets of coastal Carolina.

Rambling With PBS NC

I’m thrilled that Morgan Potts of PBS NC is directing this shoot. For me, this is a return of sorts. A few years back, Morgan and his PBS NC film crew spent a week following mule Polly and me through Pamlico County in eastern North Carolina. That ramble turned into “Mule Rider” (PBS NC/Our State magazine), which earned Morgan an Emmy Award. You can stream that right here.

An especially nice touch is that some of the film crew that accompanied Morgan on our last mule ramble will be on this next one. Mike Milstead, I look forward to seeing you! Mike and I went to high school together in Statesville, North Carolina.

Wagon Ramble Thanks

A wagon ramble, especially one that’s being filmed, depends on lots of people. Thanks to the following for making this one possible:

PBS NC, Morgan Potts and film crew
Ronald Hudson – for loaning me his beautiful covered wagon
Craig and Laura Pearson – for letting me borrow their trailer
Kelly Davis – for so generously introducing Morgan Potts and me to lots of fascinating folks and places in Hyde County. Oh, and for putting mule Polly and me up!
All the folks in Hyde County who met with Morgan, Kelly Davis and me on our earlier scouting trip to Lake Mattamuskeet
Julia Carpenter – my ever-patient wife, for taking care of the homestead while I’m out gallivanting with mule Polly

This week, I’m hauling mule Polly and the wagon to Hyde County. Rambling and filming begin on January 21 and will last five days. I sure look forward to sharing the final piece with you when it airs on PBS NC in June.

Here’s some video from earlier this week as I was driving Polly getting her in shape for our upcoming trip.

Have a great week. I look forward to posting pics from the ramble!

You can stream mule Polly’s and my last wagon ramble with PBS NC here.

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