“Two Mules To Triumph” Book Update
A little over two years ago, I finished riding mules Brick and Cracker from North Carolina to Idaho. I am currently working on the third draft of the book. The title of the book is “Two Mules To Triumph”.
Writing the first draft took three times as long as riding the mules 200 days to Idaho. It sure was worth it, though. I think you’ll really enjoy how the book is coming. In this post, I wanted to share a bit more about the trip and how that’s translating into the new book.
How I Got Here
On April 5, 2019, I rode my mules Brick and Cracker out our front gate outside Lenoir, North Carolina, turned right, and headed west. Unlike the “Lost Sea Expedition” (view on Amazon here) – my wagon voyage from Canada to Mexico – this was just a good old-timey ramble – no firm route, no destination.
About the only timetable I had was to keep going until the snow started falling or I had to call off my journey for some unforeseen reasons – from saddle sores to homesickness. Mule travel is a fickle business. But that’s what makes it so interesting.
You can read plenty more about the journey here on the RiverEarth.com site. Just browse the 2019 archives for stories like the video of the mules and I crossing Ohio River with a police escort.
About the Upcoming Book
While I posted a lot of my journey on my RiverEarth.com travel blog, that was just the stuff that was quick and easy to write about. The meatier stuff, my personal observations on everything from roadside trash, peoples’ thoughts on religion, agriculture, pesticides, dogs, farm subsidies, grasshoppers, herbicides, crop dusters, to uranium mining, pigs and Woolly Bugger trout flies, well, for that, I needed to write a book.
There will be lots of things about horse and mule travel in this book. How the mules wore hoof boots instead of steel shoes on this trip. How we dealt with traffic. How I kept mules Brick and Cracker fed along the way. How we found places to stay.
I took my trip without a chase vehicle, sponsor or much forward planning. That meant I had to rely on folks I met along the way to put the mules and me up. This gave the trip an unscripted feel and introduced me to all sorts of folks I would ordinarily not have met, from shrub diggers and truck drivers to coal miners and spinners.
Putting all those thoughts into a book takes time. It takes months to pore over all the pocket notebooks (3), journal (1), emails home to wife Julia (lots) and photos (over 10,000) I compiled on the trip. And then there are all the memories I carry around in my head. It takes lots of time to digest all this material and then extract meaning from it. It takes even more time to weave that all into a book.
Here’s a glimpse at some of my source materials.
Remembering Their Faces
What I enjoy most about writing this book is remembering the folks I met on my journey. The Cowboy Bride, Cowboy Dave and the Girl Who Just Wanted to Catch a Turtle.
Some of the folks that put me up on my journey have become friends. Laurel digger Richard Gragg, who I stayed with the second night of my journey, visited Julia and I a few weeks ago.
Other folks are dead or incarcerated. One of them was killed over a pile of dirt. Another is back in jail.
Yep, that’ll all be in the book.
How to Get a Copy
I’d be happy to let you know “Two Mules To Triumph” is published. If you haven’t already, please sign up for the RiverEarth.com newsletter and I’ll drop you a line when it’s ready.
Signing up for the newsletter really helps me out. In addition to letting you know when the book is ready, it helps me show publishers how much interest there is in the upcoming book. This is vital in an era when publishers rely on authors to generate interest in their work.
Fear not, mules Brick and Cracker and I won’t sell your address to anyone or bombard you with emails. We’re too busy writing the book for that!
You can sign up for the newsletter here. Thanks!
Bernie you did something I have wanted to do for thirty years, now I’m going to find me a riding partner and put Billy Fred and Liberty on the road, that is my two mules.congradulations I really look forward to reading your book
Holy Smoke Edgar,
Thanks for signing up for the newsletter. We sure look forward to letting you know when the “Trash to Triumph” book is released
I love your dream! I don’t know Billy Fred and Liberty but they sound like good traveling partners to me. Don’t wait for another one. You’ll be waiting another 30 years! Okay, just kidding about that but I think it’s vital to do a trip like this when you can. I’ve had the incredible luck to have my wife Julia join me for the 45 day mule ramble we took together. I’ve also spent over 1,000 nights traveling alone. Many of these were done with just a single animal.
Keep us posted of progress. Oh, and get going as soon as you can.
You can do this.
Bernie
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Bernie
Hi, Bernie. Just logged into your website for the first time. Glad to see that you’re still traveling. I envy you! How’s my trailer doing? Still working well for you? I didn’t recognize you with all that face brush! I look forward to your new book.
Howdy Marlene. Your 1992 Brenderup trailer is doing terrific! After arriving in Idaho with my mules, I flew home, hooked it to my 1992 Dodge, hauled it out to Idaho and brought them home in it. Another 4500 miles on the rig. That’s on top of all the other trips we’ve taken with it. I even built a shed extension for it to keep it covered. Your husband’s repairs are holding up great. We’ve added to them in a tasteful and structurally sound manner.
I hope all’s well with you.
Happy Adventuring!
Bernie
PS: In case you haven’t seen them, some adventures with your trailer:
https://riverearth.com/the-long-journey-home/#.YIdbj2gpAi4
and this:
https://riverearth.com/driving-home-end-day-1/#.YIdcfGgpAi4
PPS: If you haven’t already, sign up for the newsletter and we’ll give you a heads up when the book come out. The link is:
https://riverearth.com/sign-up-for-the-newsletter/#.YIddFGgpAi5
I definitely want your book ,we still talk about the good visit we with you at crazy acres.
Howdy Dave. Great hearing from you! We’ll be sure to give you a heads up when the book comes out. Please give the whole Crazy Acres gang a big Christmas howdy from me! Bernie
[…] on the new book about my latest mule voyage from North Carolina to Idaho is going really well. This week I worked on passages on why you can’t jerk a mule across a […]
[…] on the new book about my latest mule voyage from North Carolina to Idaho is going really well. This week I worked on passages on why you can’t jerk a mule across a […]
met you at leatherwood,nc and saw your film during mule days have your book great reading would love to get a copy of the new one. Stanley Robbins. rocky mount,nc
Hi Stanley. Leatherwood rocks! I’ll be happy to let you know when the books is released. Hope all’s well with you out Rocky Mount-way. Bernie
Much admiration. I would like to ride across Texas.
Hi Pamela, I love the idea of riding across Texas. I don’t know what part you’d think of doing but I loved riding the Palo Duro canyon across a good chunk of the Pan Handle on my Atlantic to Pacific mule ramble. Heck, that got me +- “across” a good chunk of Texas on a trail! The roads are good in that area for saddle riding. Do you have a route in mind? Happy Texas Rambling. Bernie
Wow, I cannot imagine what an adventure that was!
Hi Joan. That’s what I’m working so hard to get this book written! This is a grand country. Traveling at our pace, we were able to absorb, record and now, write the whole caper up. Hopefully that’ll go a long way toward helping you imagine what it’s like out there. Bernie
Its Diana, Bernie, not fyana????? Dang computers
No prob
FuanaDiana. I fixed it for you. Humans to the rescue! Have a great day. BernieHi Bernie its Dianna from Daniel WY. You stayed at my ranch and I sent you the bridle you forgot in Alpine WY. I would like 3 copies of your book. How do I order???
Hi Diana, What a lovely surprise hearing from you! Brings back lovely memories of Daniel and owning my first can of bear spray. You asked about ordering 3 books.
Do you want to order copies of “Too Proud to Ride a Cow”, the account of my Atlantic to Pacific ride? If so, you can order them here at the RiverEarth.com General Store. Order 2 copies. I’ll gift you the third for free just for your hospitality.
If you’re looking to order the new book of my latest trip (where I visited you), well, you’ll have to wait. I’m still writing it. Still, I’ll be happy to put you on our mailing list so you get a heads up when it is published. Thanks again for all the help on our trip. Big howdy to everyone at the Green River bar! Bernie
You are simply amazing, setting out to do what most (like me) only dream of! Can not wait to read the book!! Thabk you for being you and doing what you do!
Howdy Heidi,
Thanks for the lovely compliment. Kind words like that keep me slogging ahead through by far the hardest part of journeys like this. The toughest part of these trips is not dodging hurtling logging trucks on skinny mountain roads while astride a bolting mule, wrestling with tiny buckles with heavy gloves in the snow or even missing my ever-so-patient wife Julia. It’s writing up the experience. I sure look forward to sharing it with you when it’s done! What’s your dream? Bernie
PS: Just let me know if you want me to add you to the RiverEarth.com newsletter or you can sign up right here.
Good evening.
That sounds like it was an amazing ride across the country.
I would like a copy of the book
Hi Paul,
It really was an amazing ride across the country. I met with so many people with so many different views I couldn’t possibly agree with them all….and yet they gave me an amazing passage across our nation. I sure look forward to sharing the book – and the people, places and thoughts I encountered – with you when it’s published. I’ll be sure to put you on our mailing list for the heads up.
Sure was good hearing from you Paul.
Bernie
I have followed you i so need details excited about the book
Great hearing from you Sarah. Right now the “details” are keep writing! And write some more.
And of course keep riding mules Brick and Cracker to keep the words flowing.
I’d be happy to give you a heads up when the books is released.
If you haven’t already, feel free to sign up for the RiverEarth.com newsletter
Have a great weekend!
Bernie
Hey man we gotta get on the trail down in these parts papa
I know. I’m thinking blackened spots, collards hanging from wagons, hung up wedges, headlight chandeliers with beer can shades, asleep at the lines, running the law off the road, draw bridges and Ronald.
Is that what you had in mind?
I could be the outrider on Cracker.
When are you heading out next?
Big howdy from up the hill.
Bernie