Three butts on a beanbag couch and Thick says “I’m outta here!” That was Tuesday the 24th, shortly after arriving at Twilight Farms, seeing the Mustard Seed parked cheerily out by the road (thank you Melvin Beiler, Pequea Carriage Shop and Weaver Trucking for getting it here right on schedule!) and then quickly measuring the ponies’ feet for their new Cavallo CLB Hoof Boots. (Huge shout-out to Cavallo for offering to sponsor the ride with hoof boots for both ponies! – more on that soon.) That’s Theodore on the Left, Franklin on the right, me in the middle and Thick mid-leap. Twilight Farms is home to Kristin Mulhall – who has welcomed me with a delightful warmth and practicality that I didn’t know how much I needed. I arrived with a brain full of mush after over a week of driving and hotel rooms, broken up only by editing the proof of my upcoming book (3x and counting) and choosing a cover. My cousin, equine artist Suzie Burgess stepped in and helped with that. Once I decided “no AI” and we went through a bunch of options this is what she came up with (I hope you like it!)

Kristin has taken charge of Executive Function, helping make sure I’m getting the important things done in the right order, which has meant understanding that keeping up with social media and book editing and blog posts is equally important to working with the ponies, taking photos and videos at crucial moments, making sure I have all the gear I’ll need to make this trip a success, and tossing the singlepole (the long pole that goes between the ponies as they are pulling the cart) in the back of her truck and driving us down the road to a neighboring welder when it became obvious that the pole was 10″ too long for this team – we were on the way to the Amish harness shop so I could order pony sized single hobbles for tethering and pony sized neck ropes (for brief stops – so I can leave their bridles on and not tie to their bits) which I will pick up on Wednesday. Then back to pick up the singlepole – which now works perfectly.

Duane Yoder is the man who has been driving the ponies, training them and getting them legged up for their upcoming adventure and he’s been patiently teaching me how to harness and hitch up my new team and answering all my questions as he rides along on my first few drives (he’s only had to actually grab the reins once!) I have done quite a bit of driving in my life, and it’s coming back quickly, but all of that was 30+ years ago and I’ve done more single driving than team driving. Harnesses have a baffling number of straps and to start the process, the pony’s head has to go through the whole mess – already arranged in a certain way – if I get one strap that’s supposed to go over the head under, or vice versa, I have to take it all off and start again. The ponies are being very patient with the process which bodes well for our future relationship. They are super calm about being groomed and led and harnessed and played with – but once they get hitched to the wagon they really want to trot out and go places. This is also encouraging.

Twilight Farms is one of those magical kingdom sort of places. I’d been anticipating horses and ponies, probably a donkey – but Dutton the ancient mule wanders around freely accompanied by his mini Zebu cow, Matilda, who shelters under him when it rains! There are chickens and ducks and a young black swan, a bottle fed goat (another goat showed up today!) quite a few donkeys and mules of various sizes, a mini horse smaller than the Australian Shepherds, an amazing giant roan QH/Bravant cross named Toast who exudes calm sweetness and majesty in equal measure, also several cats and a mini pin named Baracuda that Thick is absolutely smitten with. It’s honestly really lovely and somehow Kristin never seems to be flustered or in a hurry. To all outward appearances she’s having fun – which is exactly the vibe I need as I’m getting ready to embark on this crazy adventure. The motto of the farm is “Where Strong Foundations Build Lasting Partnerships” and I’m meeting so many horses and ponies that are unflappable, friendly, well-trained, well put together, and absolutely gorgeous.

Franklin and Theodore work really well together as a driving team. They share a stall and hang out together in the pasture. Theodore is the boss, but he’s kind about it. Franklin is smaller by 100# and a couple of inches but makes up for that in heart and drive and enthusiasm. He’s the little engine that could, a nose ahead of Theodore as we go down the road. I think of him as a little dragon. Theodore is steady and solid, he reminds me of the old-style Shetland ponies that used to work in the mines, like a draft horse in a tiny body. He trots right out, but he’s not going to waste any energy. On the way back to the barn there’s a big hill and that’s his time to shine – when Franklin starts to scrabble a bit on the gravel I ask Theodore to “step up” and he drops his head, rounds his back, leans into the harness and just Pulls. This is what he’s been saving himself for and he’s an absolute mini-powerhouse. The first time I drove them it was in the two-wheeled training cart that they’re accustomed to pulling. Duane rode along for moral support (and to make sure I was at least basically competent) and things went really well. Yesterday, with the new, shorter team pole in place, we hooked the ponies up to the Mustard Seed, Thick wore his new harness and I tied him in the back with a horse blanket for padding and away we went! The Mustard Seed is heavier and louder than the training cart and right as we turned from the parking area onto the road Theodore had an idea about bolting, but Duane grabbed the reins and steadied him back down and I was able to handle them the rest of the drive. At one farm we passed, a couple of large dogs came running out barking at us, right out onto the road, but the ponies didn’t break stride, Thick didn’t say anything ridiculous, and on we went.

The only tricky spot came when it was time to turn around and head home. The Mustard Seed is a bit like driving a school bus. Requires more room to turn around than the Nun (my Toyota Sienna) and I’m not sure I’m ready to try a 7 point turn with the ponies. We got to a place where three roads came together around a triangle of grass – I went up the hill to the right, trying to swing wide, then cut left – and there was a truly shocking sound – sort of a grudging squeal coming from the wheels, it didn’t last long and then we’d made that part of the turn, but it shocked me and Thick and he tried to come up onto the seat between Duane and I, wide-eyed and avid. My hands were busy with the reins, so Duane got Thick back behind the seat again while explaining that there was a rubber part that doesn’t let the wheel turn so far that we tip over – warning, not actual damage – but now we’re on a down-hill and I need to complete the turn. I swing as wide as seems prudent, still get a bit of that noise, and now Theodore and the right wagon wheels are off the road into the muddy verge – just a bit, but dang! Obviously I’m going to have to develop strategies – and think ahead so we don’t get into tight spots, especially when we’re in a hurry. I’m thinking about those Forest Service roads that limit the length of RVs that can go on them.

And now, on to a few of the versatility hacks built into the wagon cover! Elam of E&M tarp shop in Paradise, PA really came through on the design. The front hoop is actually a double hoop. In the first image, with Duane driving, it’s tucked all the way back. The image on the left here is for rainy days (or possibly when the sun is low and I’m needing extra shade.) The image on the right is my nighttime/privacy set-up. I can lace through the grommets and tie to the back of the team pole if it’s windy. You’ll notice that the solar fridge fits inside the cover, so I don’t have to go out and around to get a snack or make dinner. Going down the road, the whole thing tucks back with little bungees.

These images show the back of the cover extended, from the inside and the outside. The wagon is in the hay barn today because it’s cold and windy outside, but you can get the idea. The second hoop in the back opens out to give me a covered alcove behind the wagon. This area can be used for chamber pot privacy at night, for changing out of wet or dirty clothes, as a dry place to cook when it’s raining, etc. Both end covers attach with twin zippers and can be stowed when driving on nice weather days. I’ve also figured out how to secure the back one for rainy days when I need to keep my bed dry. The bucket on the left will serve as a water bucket for the ponies and also as a trash receptacle. My privy bucket will ride on the twin shelf on the other side. The tail lights work like hazard lights and as turn signals, depending on how I set the switches up front – they’re battery operated and the batteries run off of solar panels that will be mounted to the top of the canvas soon.

Watching the weather, my departure date has been pushed back a week or so. A couple of nights ago we had rain, wind, hail, lightning and a tornado warning. It was 77F at 9pm. The next morning it was overcast and below freezing. My bedroll is comfortable down to about 40F. I’m waiting for a few things to arrive in the mail (rear view mirrors!) and I’m hoping to practice a bit with tethering the ponies before we’re on the road – which i can do starting this Wednesday after I pick up the hobbles from the carriage shop. So – April 6-7 is looking likely.

One last note, if you’re still with me here. I did an extended interview with Bernie Harberts awhile back for his Travel Grit Podcast – all about the Long Ride I did with Jesse James and Saint Finehorn. It was really fun to chat with him and remember back to that earlier adventure. I even found myself doing a bit of singing! I asked him to hold off on releasing it until March, when I was a bit closer to the new adventure and had started up the blog again. So – if you’re in the mood to listen to a story – here it is!