Goodnight Wishes From Damascus
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.
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.
Clothes For A Three Week Mule Ramble
Good Monday morning. The mules and I are heading to Damascus, Virginia today, to start our mule ramble. Right now I’m getting gear loaded into my saddle bags. Here’s how many clothes I’m taking for our three-week ramble.
Join me For a Mule Ramble Along The Virginia Highlands Horse Trail
Hey, let’s go mule rambling! My mules Brick, Cracker and I are heading out next week on our next mule ramble, and I look forward to sharing the trip with you. Here’s a sketch of my intended route.
Like all my mule rambles, I’ve given myself permission to quit at any point for any reason. That sure takes the pressure of saying you’re going to do… Continue reading
Join us For Mule Days at Leatherwood 2024
Big mules, hairy mules, braying mules and sleepy mules. Mules chewing tie rails, wallowing in mud, running loose and standing with their giant ears flopped out to the side. Yes, Mule Days at Leatherwood is underway this week, May May 4 to 10.
My wife Julia and I are… Continue reading
Which Swarm Box Will Catch the First Swarm of Bees?
I put up four swarm traps this week in the hope of catching a swarm of wild bees. Of the four traps I put out – Walnut, Oak, Wisteria and Willow – which one do you think will catch the first swarm of bees?
How to Catch a Swarm of Bees
Last year, I built a swarm box, caught a swarm of wild bees, and installed them in a horizontal bee… Continue reading
What’s it Like to Float Alone in the Doldrums
This week, I had a great chat with Atlas Obscura co-founder Dylan Thuras about what it’s like to be stuck in the Doldrums. When I say the Doldrums, I don’t mean depression, a funk or a case of the mid-winter blues. I’m talking about the capital D Doldrums, the windless stretch of the Atlantic Ocean on either side of the equator that’s known for trapping sailors for weeks at a time.
How to Move Beyond the Pressure Box With Trust Technique Practitioner Julia Carpenter
My wife Julia recently became the first Trust Technique practitioner certified to work with horses on the East Coast. That’s a big deal and I’m so proud of Julia, especially since she’s already such an accomplished horsewoman.
A Half a Century With Horses
Julia and I grew up with horses, have traveled together with them (like the time we spent a month and a half riding them to Virginia and… Continue reading
Introducing Photo of the Day
I’m excited to add a new feature to RiverEarth.com. It’s called Photo of the Day and features a semi-random photo of my mules, friends, travels, and the life my wife Julia and I live in the mountains of western North Carolina – posted every few days to the home page.
List of Podcasts, Interviews and Reviews Featuring “Two Mules to Triumph”
It’s an exciting time for my new book Two Mules to Triumph. Word is getting out, buzz is picking up and seven podcasts have invited me onto their shows to talk about the book.… Continue reading
19 Million Mule Steps Wins WINNIE Award
19 Million Mule Steps won the WINNIE for the Literary Nonfiction Adventure category
Two pieces of exciting news. 1) My new photo book 19 Million Mule Steps was awarded a WINNIE award at the most recent EQUUS Film & Art Fest. 2) You can download a free copy.
19 Million Mule Step contains 103 pages of photos, sketches and musings that didn’t fit into my upcoming memoir Two Mules to Triumph. Both books are about my 2,300-mile Long Ride… Continue reading
