from Natchez to Rodney

Monday, Sheriff Chuck showed us his herd, all rescue horses given a new life, and his amazing collection of vintage saddles, scabbards and guns used for reenactments. Then took us to a huge private estate where we met the world's friendliest, funniest camel and zebra vying for our pets and attention.

Tuesday we left. Deputy Wayne Rabb again came to the rescue, trailering us past the city congestion to the beginning of Hwy 553.

 

 

We were headed for a farrier about 8 miles on. Wayne couldn't recall the man's name but knew the directions to his place, and said he was so well-known and well-regarded that if the directions were wrong the neighbors would steer us there.

 

A few hours later we rode up the drive of a big ranch to a beautiful, stately 200-yr-old farmhouse, where a clearly surprised Mrs. Marie Lane welcomed us graciously in for tea while we awaited the arrival of her husband Al and son Alan, the farrier.
 

Alan Lane's reputation for excellent farriery turned out to be well-founded. After looking over Walter's feet, showing me the areas of white-line and giving detailed options on how to treat it and some prognoses, and the pros and cons of shoes vs boots (recommending boots for our type of trek), he donated his services and gave Walter a beautifully perfect mule trim. And a set of leather hobbles which Walter wore in the large open pasture that night. Thank you, Sir!!
 

The Lanes invited us to a delicious true Southern dinner including buttered beans and thier own ranch-raised beef, and though we had set up tents already, insisted we sleep inside. Well! How could we possibly resist an invite to spend the night in a 200-yr-old farm mansion where 3 presidents had slept (I didn't take notes, but I think it was Taft, Taylor and George Washington)? Maybe even the original bedsteads!

 

The next day we got off late after Ms. Marie drove me into Natchez for an errand. We said goodbye to a family that embodies the best of old Southern hospitality.

 

 



 The next day we set out on a small logging road to a pre-arranged stop at friends of the Lane's. A gravel road. Some of the worst footing for equines. It turned out to be a terrible ordeal for poor Walter. His feet were a bit tender anyway after just being trimmed, he's barefoot, and suddenly the white-line disease became a huge issue. The gravel packed into the gaps in his feet and ground into the tender part with each step. And with huge logging trucks occasionally roaring by at close quarters and the lack of a shoulder, I couldn't safely get off and lead him. So we inched along step by painful step. What would have been a short 2-1/2 hour ride took over 3 hours, into sunset. Walter's patient willingness only made it feel the more awful to be riding him.

We were so relieved to finally arrive at the home of our next hosts, Camella and Bill Richardson. They had generously agreed to put us up sight unseen. The herd was turned out into a half acre pen full of nice green grass with access to a covered barn for bad weather.

Which it looks like they will need. It's forecast bad storm with hail and possible tornados tonight through Sunday morning. So after literally going the extra mile by driving us on a reconnaisance tour of possible stops from the ghost town of Rodney all the way to Port Gibson, Camella and Bill offered to let us stay, not one more night, but until the storm passes - 3 nights! And that will give Walter's tender feet time to recover as well.

All we hear about in the media, how awful people are these days, don't you believe it. The world is full of angels.