two mules to triumph
1991 Brenderup Royal Horse Trailer: Specs, Photos, and What It’s Like to Own One
UPDATE: This trailer sold in September 2025. Leaving this post up because so many people have written in asking about Brenderup trailers in general. Details, specs, and photos below for anyone shopping for one.
After eight years of reliably happy ownership, my wife Julia and I sold our 1991 Brenderup two-horse trailer. We originally bought this Brenderup trailer to pull with our 4-cylinder 2006 Toyota Tacoma. It worked perfectly. We upgraded to a bigger truck and stock trailer, so no… Continue reading
Listen to Two Mules to Triumph on the Creative Spirits Unleashed Podcast
I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on Lynne Carnes’ podcast, Creative Spirits Unleashed. Lynne and I spent nearly two hours discussing my 2,300-mile journey across America with my mules, Brick and Cracker. Click on the player for all the adventure without the saddle sores.
Note: the audio of my voice is a bit muddy at the beginning of the podcast because a connection issue on my end. It improves as the podcast goes on.
There’s a lot… Continue reading
Watch the Two Mules to Triumph Program
If you didn’t get to attend the Two Mules to Triumph program that I recently gave at the Caldwell County Heritage Museum, here’s your chance. Here is Part 1. Click on the video player below and let’s hit the trail.
Part 2 is Coming
Part 2 of Two Mules to Triumph is coming as soon as the bandwidth is available to upload to RiverEarth.com.
Get a Copy of Two Mules to Triumph
How to Make Cowboy Coffee on a Covered Wagon
Do you feel like Mr Coffee is taking too long to do his thing? This week I rigged up my wood stove on the covered wagon I’m taking on my next ramble with PBS North Carolina. Climb aboard for a cup of cowboy coffee straight off the covered wagon’s wood stove.
Get a Copy of my New Book… Continue reading
Shadows of Mules and a Covered Wagon: Sneak Peek
I got an idea while I was putting the new cover on my covered wagon this weekend.
While I was dinking around on the wagon (“dinking” was one of my dad’s favorite words, along with “piddling” when it came to describing just messing around with something), I thought of a new art project. I don’t want to say much more about it at this point, but I wanted to let you have a glimpse because it’s so beautiful. Enjoy!
Melissa Priblo Chapman’s Review of “Two Mules to Triumph”
Big smile on my face when I read the email from Long Rider and author of Distant Skies Melissa Priblo Chapman. “I truly enjoyed every word of TWO MULES TO TRIUMPH” she wrote and that reminded me of a great chat Melissa and I had about riding her horse Rainy across America.
Warning! Do Not Use Compressor As Breathing Machine
I took a break from signing copies of my new book Two Mules to Triumph to run down to Lowe’s to pick up some bolts for a wagon I’m getting fixing up for my next mule ramble.
While I was at Lowe’s, I took a detour through the tool section to check out the… Continue reading
Legging Polly up for the Next Mule Ramble
Happy Sunday morning. I recently hooked my mule Polly to the wagon I borrowed from my good buddy Ronald Hudson.
I bought Polly from Ronald about 15 years ago and she’s still going amazingly strong. In addition to pulling my wagon from… Continue reading
You Need a Mule Cart Ride With Two Border Collies
Feeling stressed? You need to take a quick mule cart ride with Lucky, Diggity and me and you’ll forget all that stuff that’s jacking up your shoulders. Just click on the player above and enjoy the cheap trick at the end.
Buy a Copy of My New Book Two Mules to Triumph
If you enjoy stories about horses, mules, travel, or adventure, you’ll love… Continue reading
Clotheslined in Steffenville: “Two Mules to Triumph” Excerpt
Enjoy this outtake from my upcoming book “Two Mules to Triumph” about traveling from North Carolina to Idaho with my mules Brick and Cracker. The Steffenville I’m referring to is in Missouri.
There would be no… Continue reading
Watch the Official “Two Mules to Triumph” Book Video
Exciting news. The video for my upcoming book Two Mules to Triumph is up. Check it out!
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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
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
Queen Valley Mule Ranch Trail Lite Saddle Review: 2,300 Miles from North Carolina to Idaho
This is a review of how my Queen Valley Mule Ranch (QVM) Trail Lite saddle performed after I rode it 7 months and 2,300 miles from North Carolina to Idaho.
I may be calling… Continue reading
A Long Walk Home: Bernie Harberts on the Atlas Obscura Podcast
I recently sat down (via Zoom) with Johanna Mayer of the Atlas Obscura Podcast (#1 Apple travel podcast / 17 million listeners) to talk about riding my mules Brick and Cracker from North Carolina to Idaho. We talked about saddle travel and the loneliness of solo travel. I also described what it’s like to ride a mule across the Ohio River, the second largest river in the United States. That part… Continue reading
Steve Edwards of Queen Valley Mule Ranch and I Talk Mules
Had a great online chat today with Steve Edwards about some of my long distance rides. Steve is the owner of Queen Valley Mule Ranch. In addition to be being a great saddle maker (I used one of his saddles on my latest mule voyage) he sure knows his mule. A few of the topics we… Continue reading
