Month: May 2017

 

In recent posts, I’ve alluded to getting mule Polly in shape for an upcoming trip. Pulling logs for firewood, driving her to the mailbox. Here’s the real reason I’m muscling her up. Mule Polly, the Lost Sea Expedition wagon and I are heading back to Colorado.

The Lost Sea Expedition, the 4-part series about my Canada to Mexico wagon voyage, has been chosen to premier on Rocky Mountain PBS.  I figured in the months leading up to broadcast, it would be great to take mule Polly and the wagon on the road in Colorado. Meet with folks where the Lost Sea Expedition series will run. Visit with underwriters and viewers. Give wagon tours. Hell, maybe even give some slide shows on the wagon awning.

So when do I leave? Soon. I’m thinking it will take a few more days of  packing and tending to the farm. Then it’s time to hit the road!

Right now, things are sort of crazy getting ready. The transmission on my Dodge just got rebuilt after a quarter century of faithful service. I need to a vet certificate for mule Polly to ease her way across state lines.  Still, I’ll be posting details of our voyage out to Colorado. Who knows, maybe we can catch up on the way!

 

I’m embarrassed. I’ve been so focused on fund raising for the Lost Sea Expedition TV series that I failed to notice friends have been hitting that  yellow “Donate” button. Soooooo….a hearty Thank You to everyone who’s chipped in! Now you can check out your name on the LostSeaExpedition.com/supporters page. Oh, Thanks again!

Folk artist Charlie Frye painted all the paintings for the Lost Sea Expedition series. During last weekend’s Lost Sea Expedition program in Oriental, NC, we projected some on stage. They looked huge (and great!).  That’s me sitting on the stage. Now I know what it feels like to be a baitfish.

Great big thanks to the 70-plus folks that attended Friday night’s Lost Sea Expedition program.  We’re currently raising $20k (yes, $20,000) to get the 4-part series up to Public TV specs.  Last night’s coverage charge ($5 per head) and donations all went directly toward that goal. We’ve now raised $9k. Only $11k to go……..!

Thanks to Lynn and Art Whalen for setting us up at the Old Theater. Kudos to Keith Smith and Melinda for getting the word out on TownDock.net.

This coming week mule Polly and I get back to training. More on the upcoming road trip soon.

Fancy a sail around the world and across the Lost Sea? Join me tonight for the Lost Sea Expedition in Oriental, NC. 7:30p – 8:30p (doors open at 7) at Oriental’s Old Theater. Five bucks gets you in the door and those Lincolns go toward the Lost Sea Expedition on Public Television. The Old Theater, 609 Broad St, Oriental, NC 28571

Hey, here’s my straight-from-the-wagon invite to you. Join me this Friday night at 7:30p for a talk about the Lost Sea Expedition Public TV series.   Thanks Keith and Melinda at TownDock.net for the funky video announcement!

I’ve been getting Polly in shape these past weeks. Some days I hitch her to the Lost Sea Expedition wagon and we do the mail box run. Other days we haul firewood. I felled the trees last winter while the sap was down. Makes them easier to dry. Most years I used the tractor to haul the logs to the wood shed. This year, I used Polly. Check out the video. Stay ’til the end and I’ll invite you to a wood cooked meal!

Hey check it out, the official Lost Sea Expedition trailer.  While the mule wagon voyage across America took my mule and me14 months, now you can take the trip in under 2 minutes. Hang on!

 

 

I’ve started many of my voyages in Oriental, NC, from a solo circumnavigation to a mule voyage across America. Join me at the The Old Theater, Friday, May 26, 7:30 – 8:30p (doors open 7p) for a program about the Lost Sea Expedition  Public TV series.  There’ll be sailing footage from my solo circumnavigation and how that inspired me to set off exploring the Lost Sea. Come learn about life in a solar powered prairie schooner, how the Lost Sea Expedition was filmed without a film crew and the best ways to chase down a mule. $5 (helping cover Public TV costs). No life jacket required.

In the meantime, here’s a great straight-off-the-boat-after-many-days-at-sea story (complete with photos of me sobbing) TownDock.net did shortly after I finished sailing alone around the world.

In preparation for my next wagon voyage with Polly (more on that soon) I’ve been working her to the harness most every day of the week. This week she dragged fire wood logs from the forest. Thing is, her shoulders are still soft from lack of work. So, to give the hide a chance to thicken up, I hitched her to the wagon for a light workout. Just a wee road trip down the drive to get the mail. What a relaxing way to end the work week. Have a great weekend!