It Takes A Team

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12/22 to 12/24/09, Black Oak, Arkansas (Yes, this is the home of the band by the same name).

12/22/09 - Denise and I got an early start in Leachville.  After picking up a few groceries, we stopped at Bailey’s Saddle shop, where the owner was kind enough to stitch up Doc’s leather halter.

I had Doc and Bob hitched, and we drove past a lot of cotton fields, before reaching the town of Monette for lunch. While stopped, we picked up some horse feed and a new water tub for the horses (Bill, who likes to play with tubs, grabbed the old one and flipped it out of the trailer during the morning).

In the afternoon, I pulled up to rest the team in the town of Black Oak. While there we met Scott McLaughlin, who invited us to camp at his place. It was a nice place, so we accepted and are resting the team for a couple of days. That night, we had a nice barbecue and campfire.

12/23/09 - We woke to rain, that has been falling ever since.  During the day, Scott’s friend Roland, was kind enough to find a few bales of good Bermuda hay for us - Thank you.  Later, Scott took Denise and I out for a Recon of our route for the next couple of days, and to pick up a few supplies.  During the evening, Denise and I went over to Scott’s house for dinner.

The journey for the next few days will be a little challenging.  This part of Arkansas is almost entirely devoted to planting row crops.  Yards are relatively small, and cotton is planted fairly close to the houses.  There are very few, if any homes that keep livestock. This leaves very few areas that are possible camping locations. With the several inches of rain we’re receiving, it will be difficult to find locations to pull in for the evening.

12/24/09 - Merry Christmas (Eve) - It’s still raining like the dickens. After eating their morning grain and hay, the horses are standing with their butts to the wind and rain.

As we are celebrating the birth of Christ, I wanted to once again include St. Luke’s description of that event:

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished and she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The Christmas Spirit is alive and well.

Re-hitching the team after lunch, Monette, AR.

One of B.O.B.’s admirer’s - Scott and myself in the background.

Camped at Scott’s homestead

Denise and Scott’s dog Sadie.