Bronze's Expedition Log

I’m finding it somewhat difficult to locate a packing rig to purchase in Southern California. Of course there are plenty of setups to be found online, but I can’t quite bring my self to throw down $800+ on something so crucial, sight unseen. I need to play with it in person–feel it in my hands, visualize how my supplies will fit in it. (more…)

I got out to Western Feed & Livestock Supplies in Yucaipa and spoke with the very affable and knowledgeable owner, Ken Winnefeld. He could not have been more helpful and friendly and I feel lucky to have crossed his path. He’s been doing some pretty extensive packing trips for the last 4 years or so and had an answer for any question I could muster. (more…)

Today I enlisted the aid of a horse whisperer named Dee Howe. Given my utter lack of equine skills, I have up until now restricted my visits with Bootsie to simple grooming and walking around the yard. The one time I took her out for a walk down the road nearly ended in disaster, and since then I have been hesitant to act without some guidance. Mules, from my understanding, remember all your mistakes; I have no interest in giving her any further reasons to believe that I am a clueless fool.

We experienced heavy downpours throughout Thursday and Friday, turning Bootsie’s pen into a sloppy morass. Before the rains on Thursday, I’d ventured out of the property to begin nudging her outside of her comfort zone. We did a couple passes up and down the street, staying within a 20 yard radius of the front gate. I was hoping to build on this until we could walk back to the place she lost her cool on our initial walk. (more…)

I rose at 6:30 this morning and headed out to work with Bootsie. It’s pleasant to see the sun come up in the morning, especially lately when there are such billowy clouds in the sky. There was a layer of hoar frost on the grass by her corral, and my hands were numb and taut as I brushed her down and picked the caked mud and manure out of her hoofs. It will be nice when the rains are done and her corral dries out. As soon as the sun was out we warmed up quickly.