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The Answer Always Drives Up: Crossing the Mississippi on Mule Woody

Published August 7, 2004

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

Woody and Magnolia have crossed the Mississippi River! We’ve broken the thousand mile mark.

Woody the mule on the west bank of the Mississippi River in West Memphis, Arkansas, 2004 — Woody and Magnolia on the west bank of the Mississippi in West Memphis, Arkansas

For days as I strode down Highway 64 I wondered “How in the world am I going to cross the Mississippi?” Then, just outside Memphis, Jim Darnall pulled up in his pickup and asked “How in the world are you going to cross the Mississippi?” And offered me a ride across in his trailer.

So it pays not to worry.

Next time you have to cross a big river, get a good night’s sleep and just keep walking down the road.

The answer always drives up.

Woody the mule drinking from the Mississippi River in West Memphis, Arkansas, 2004 — Woody taking a well-deserved sip of Big Muddy water.

More from the Too Proud to Ride a Cow voyage.

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