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Watch the Official “Two Mules to Triumph” Book Video

Published September 12, 2024

Exciting news. The video for my upcoming book Two Mules to Triumph is up. Check it out!

Two Mules to Triumph book cover by Long Rider Bernie Harberts
Two Mules to Triumph is about my (Bernie Harberts’) 2,300-mile saddle voyage from North Carolina to Idaho with my mules Brick and Cracker (306 pages)


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Shop now at: Amazon / Barnes&Noble / Kobo / Download on Kindle

Reviews for Two Mules to Triumph

  • “A beautiful, emotive book that sings with the uniqueness of America. The book is great!”

Rinker Buck,… Continue reading →

Posted in Around the Homestead, Splinters, Travel by Horse & Mule, Two Mules to Triumph — Riding from North Carolina to Idaho | Leave a comment

Welcome Home

Published November 8, 2019

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.

Welcome Home Bernie Brick and Cracker sign on front gate made by Julia Carpenter for Bernie Harberts return from Idaho mule journey
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.
Bernie Harberts riding mules Brick and Cracker out the front gate of North Carolina home on April 6 at start of Two Mules to Triumph journey
April… Continue reading →
Posted in Around the Homestead, Splinters, Travel by Horse & Mule, Two Mules to Triumph — Riding from North Carolina to Idaho | 10 Comments

Sought: Ride for 2 Mules from Idaho to North Carolina.

Published October 21, 2019
Bernie Harberts with mules Brick and Cracker on final day of ride from North Carolina to Hailey Idaho
Our final day on the road: Cracker and Brick spent 6 months riding from North Carolina to Idaho. Now it’s time to go home. (Sheila Lieramann photo / Hailey, Idaho)
Map showing mule trailer route needed from Hailey Idaho to Lenoir North Carolina
Where we need to get: Hailey, Idaho to Lenoir, NC.
Bernie Harberts and wife Julia Carpenter, available to help drive mules home from Idaho
I’d be happy to pitch in with driving. Yes, my wife Julia trusts me to haul her Haflinger Pickle. No, I won’t embarrass you by wearing my top hat. Or maybe I will.
Posted in Travel by Horse & Mule, Two Mules to Triumph — Riding from North Carolina to Idaho | 4 Comments

Arco, Idaho: Down to the Final 75 Miles

Published October 15, 2019

The mules and I have arrived at the first town in American powered by nuclear power, Arco, Idaho.

Bernie Harberts walking beside mules Brick and Cracker up Taber Road toward Arco Idaho through sagebrush on frosty morning
Across a sage brush land: Cracker, Brick and I walking up Taber Road toward Arco. I’m walking to stay warm. Yes, I’m lightly dressed for days where night time lows dip to 20-degrees but no amount of clothes keeps me warm sitting in the saddle. These frosty mornings, the only thing I can do to keep warm is walk beside my mounts.… Continue reading →
Posted in Travel by Horse & Mule, Two Mules to Triumph — Riding from North Carolina to Idaho | 2 Comments

The Top Hat Mystery

Published October 13, 2019

It fit my head when I got married. It fit my hat when I rode out the front gate. It doesn’t fit my hat any more. What the hell’s going on with my top hat?

Mule Cracker inspecting Bernie Harberts stitching repairs on water jug denim cover with top hat nearby on mule journey
Cracker, my top hat and me: here Cracker is inspecting my stitching as I repair the denim cover to one of my water jugs. This photo was taken 8 states ago, back when my top hat fit better.

Some Top Hat History

The mules and… Continue reading →

Posted in Travel by Horse & Mule, Two Mules to Triumph — Riding from North Carolina to Idaho | 3 Comments

Winding Down the Two Mules to Triumph Ramble

Published October 10, 2019

April 6, 2019, mules Brick and Cracker and I rode out our front gate and headed west from North Carolina. This week, 181 days and 10 states later, we arrived in Idaho. Crossing Wolverine Gap, east of Blackfoot, we ran in to snow for the second time in 3 days. The Rocky Mountain winter is coming. It is time to wrap up the Two Mules to Triumph ramble.

Snow slog through Wolverine Gap Idaho on mules Brick and Cracker
Snow slog (Wolverine, Idaho)
Google map showing Two Mules to Triumph route from Lenoir North Carolina to Blackfoot Idaho
The Two Mules to Triumph route to date… Continue reading →
Posted in Travel by Horse & Mule, Two Mules to Triumph — Riding from North Carolina to Idaho | 2 Comments

Welcome to Idaho (Rhymes with Snow)

Published October 7, 2019

The icy flakes hit us in the Caribou National Forest where I was expecting to find the “Welcome to Idaho” sign. Except there was no sign, only sideways blasting snow and 2 mules. They looked at me wondering why the hell we were still headed up the mountain toward the flake spitting clouds.

Long Rider Bernie Harberts and mules Brick and Cracker crossing into Idaho in snow wearing top hat, Caribou National Forest
Welcome to Idaho Cracker! Yes, the top hat, which I traditionally wear when crossing a state line is in this photo – just not on my head.… Continue reading →
Posted in Travel by Horse & Mule, Two Mules to Triumph — Riding from North Carolina to Idaho | 13 Comments
General Store Too Proud to Ride a Cow

Designed by Christian Harberts.