2/4/09, Amory, MS - The morning was spent visiting schools, while the afternoon was spent on the road. At about 8:30 am I was hitched and on the road with my hostess, Debbie Gray as a passenger.
First stop was at the Nettleton primary school (Kindergarten through 3rd grade). At various times we had about 400 kids show up to see the horses and talk a little about wagon travel. As always with kids, it was a great time. The team really knows the drill when they’re amongst the kids. They move slow and are very careful how they pick treats out of little fingers using their lips. I let some of the kids set on Deedee and Doc while I talk to them and let them pet the horses.
Debbie rode with me to the second stop at the Happy Hearts Day care center, a couple of miles away. Here the 2 through 5 year olds got a chance to pet the horses and give them some treats. The 4 year old class gave me a whole envelope of Thank You cards that they made!
It was 11 am by the time we finished up there, so I broke the team out for lunch before we went any further. After lunch, I sadly said goodbye to Jimmie and Debbie Gray and to all the other good folks I got to know in Nettleton. Nettleton, MS joins a list of favorite towns that I have visited on my trip. Other memorable towns (this is not a complete list) include, Franklin, NH, Cavendish, VT, Hudson Falls, NY, Urbana, OH, Shelbyville and Elnora, IN, Slaughters, KY and Paris, TN.
Down the road a few miles, Debbie’s cousin Chris stopped by with a couple of bags of grain for me - Thanks.
I’m camped tonight in the city of Amory. It was pretty amazing moving the team through this town. Everywhere we went cars were pulled over with people waving and taking pictures, Just about every buisness we passed people came outside to watch and wave. This is in sharp contrast to some cities of this size that I’ve traveled through when only about half a dozen people have waved.
Tonight, I’m camped behind a gas station next to a Mexican restaurant. The gas station manager and employees have been great. I walked next door for some enchilladas for supper.
This has been a really fun day. Tomorrow, I’m continuing down route 25 south, then picking up route 45 south.
|