Day 1 - Monday, March 4

After a very full last day & evening - witnessing the work of our hosts from Wild Horse Ministries (they use a Natural Horsemanship join-up demo with unhandled horses as basis for a sermon) and having a great cajun dinner at home of the local newspaper publisher - packed up last night in prep to leave Monday.

Morning: daughter Lorena graciously followed me into Alexandria to drop off my parents' leased car at the dealership, and drove me back. Then to the vet to pull blood from Ruth mule for Coggins test/health certificate. The vet wasn't there - it was just the tech - so didn't get a vet check, have to have farrier look at her feet later. Back at the bunkhouse, arranged for Lorena to drop most of my packs off at our next stop to make it an easier 1st day's ride on Ruth.

Late start, almost 2 pm, but still time to arrive at the flower shop before nightfall. Supposed to be about a 7 mile ride. At the end, warm night predicted, a place for us to pitch our tents and tether the herd in a back yard.

Finally, heading out! Alas, neither of us took photos this first day. But the local paper did. Young Ruth mule was very brave. She followed Mr. James and Finehorn right through the heavily trafficked outskirts of Jena, blowing nervously and skittering a little but holding her own as the photographer snapped her lovely likeness while huge trucks lumbered past. We took a recommended shortcut to Hwy 84 and found ourselves on a road that seemed right but had no signage. Hours wore on and the sun got lower. Seven miles? We should have long since arrived. Ruth was stumbling and looking back at me, telling me in mule language that she was tired and could we please stop for the day. Sea was concerned about her ponies also, being a bit out of shape after such a long break. We decided to turn in at the next driveway and ask where we were and if there was someplace nearby to pitch our camp.

As we walked slowly up the long drive an entire family and 2 horses came tumbling out to greet us! The Willis's were full of cheerful excitement and hospitality. They told us the flower shop was only a half mile away but why not stay with them? They gestured around at the lush spare pasture and offered a place for the herd, hay, dinner and a roof for the night. What a wonderful relief! Shorty after, one set of grandparents arrived to make the welcome complete. After going to fetch our packs (and meeting the smiling owner of the flower shop) we settled in for an evening of good food and good conversation.

Next morning the other set of grandparents arrived and told us our next stop, the Lazy T arena, was only 8-9 miles. I was relieved as it turned out the maps were inaccurate and we really had ridden about 12 miles on Monday. I felt bad for Ruth, though she was trotting about and seemed none the worse for it. We arranged, again, to have packs delivered ahead to ease the load on our out-of-shape herd.