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Trip Log
After a lot of planning, discussing, hashing, and rehashing, Danny Sommers, President; Jim Krutz, Vice-President; Jim Stevens, Treasurer; and several other members of the Southern Indiana Draft Horse & Mule Association put together an eight day wagon ride of approximately 150 miles. They drove and re-drove the route checking mileage, places to stop for the night, and planning the safest routes possible. Our very personable secretary, Janet Drach, kept a diary of the journey and without her notes, this article would not be possible.
Day 1 of the ride began on Saturday, September 8, at Danny’s hunting camp on German Ridge near Tell City, Indiana, with six wagons; Jim Stevens, Danny Sommers, Jim Krutz, Bob Pfeiffer, Raymond Nix, and Vince Robinson.
One of the six wagons had to drop out before the end of the first day because of the horses not being in condition for such a trek. A slow drizzle fell most of the day but the caravan arrived at its campsite, Buzzard’s Roost, near Alton, Indiana, without incident. The campsite is sometimes jokingly referred to as "buzzard roast." and people are said to avoid eating chicken at that location.
Leon & Arlene Kirkpatrick joined the wagon train at this camp as did Janet and her trusty white mule, General Jackson, and served as an outrider for the rest of the journey. Bobby Pfeiffer also joined the group as an outrider but was only able to ride the second day because of a prior engagement.
Day 2 began after a whopping big breakfast prepared and served by wagon master and chef, Jim Stevens. The wagon train left in the rain to go to the old Tower Orchards at Leavenworth, Indiana, the site of the second night’s stop The group’s ingenuity was evident the way it came to the aid of Janet who had forgotten to bring her mule’s bridle. The loan of a rope from one member for a headstall, the loan of a bit from another, and the loan of more rope from a third member for reins, and she was ready to face the challenges and dangers of the journey.
This part of the route was beset by some very long, very steep hills that could not be avoided, and took the edge off the teams and taxed their endurance. In fact, one member unhooked his mules, hooked them in front of Jim Stevens’ team, and helped them over a gigantic hill. Jim now says that his mules, Bert & Ernie, are sooo spoiled that whenever they see a yellow tow rope, they think it’s time to wait for help.
After a good long break and slow going, all but one team made it to Leavenworth. That team was overextended and the owner was taken back to the Buzzard Roost campsite by a passerby so he could get his trailer and haul the horses to the Leavenworth camp. Another passerby surprised the entire group by giving brownies to each wagon on the trip. Friendly gestures like that prevailed throughout the entire ride.
The Tower Orchards campsite consisted of several barns, plenty of parking, and the makings for a primitive shower. My wife, Peggy, and I joined the group for supper that was furnished by Danny’s wife, Alice, and it was delicious. Afterwards, one of the members made homemade ice cream with raw goat milk. My! I had forgotten how good ice cream could taste.
Some horses got loose in the night and Janet stayed in her tent and pretended to sleep throughout the incident as she didn’t want to embarrass the guys by letting them know that she saw them rounding up horses clad only in their underwear. Her secret will be revealed when they read this account of the journey, but they are good sports and will get a big laugh out of their spectacle.
Monday morning, Day 3, began at the usual 5:00 a.m. After caring for the animals and after another huge breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, and gravy by Chef Jim, the group was ready for the third day’s journey which would take it to the Brunner farm near Corydon, Indiana. It was joined by Harry Winters and his team of Appaloosas.
This part of the route was along busy US Highway 62 for about five miles until back roads could be taken. A very steep hill located on a back road was extremely slick due to being freshly paved. . After much slipping and sliding, the group made it down the treacherous hill and across a creek to the campsite for Monday night. That part of the journey took the group past a Buddhist Monastery which is a new experience for most people in that placid area
Supper was furnished by Peggy Byerly. It was delicious and plentiful. This was a good campsite made even better by a policeman who lives next door and who generously offered the use of the bathroom and shower facilities in his garage. That gesture was most welcome and will not be soon forgotten.
I joined Tuesday’s ride on Day 4 and led the wagon train to Mauckport. We were also joined by Dexter & Lula Marsh. However, we lost Leon & Arlene Kirkpatrick who had to return home because of some personal business. The only incident of the day was with Ray Nix’s mare that was in season and exhibiting an attitude toward her gelded teammate. After some expert teamstering by Ray, she decided it was easier to "go along and get along." This was one of the shorter routes and the wagon train arrived at Mauckport, Indiana about 2:00 p.m. Mauckport is located on the Ohio River and is as far south as one can go and still be in Indiana. The campsite was a park-like setting on the banks of the Ohio with plenty of trees and a shelter house, and is owned by the lady who owns the local tavern - the only business in town. By prior arrangement, supper was taken at the tavern, and the group was well fed and enjoyed the evening with the local patrons.
Due to wanting to get an early start on Day 5 because of the length of that leg of the trip to the Wolfe Creek boat ramp, Jim didn’t serve his famous breakfast and participants fended for themselves. I only drove the one day but the group was joined by Harry Winters’ wagon on this part of the trip, making a total of eight wagons.
The Harrison County sheriff and his chief deputy escorted the wagon train over the Ohio River bridge to the Kentucky side. The bridge is on a heavily traveled north-south route and crossing it could have presented problems if it hadn’t been for the assistance of those two. The deputy told me a couple of days ago that this was a very pleasant experience for them, and that he would like to join the group for next year’s trip.
An elementary school at Battletown, Kentucky, was on this part of the journey, and the caravan stopped so that the children could see and pet the animals. The children were very excited but no more than were the teachers and staff. One young man from the Battletown school came to that night’s campsite with his camera and note pad and asked lots of questions; he wanted to write about the wagon train for a school project
The Wolfe Creek boat ramp location is easily accessible and several members led their animals to the Ohio River for water. The only incident of the day happened when Harry Winters broke his double trees, but they were immediately mended by a local welder who was more than willing to help. This assistance was typical of the friendly people along the way, including the person who came to the campsite and drove some of the participants a few miles away to where their cell phones would work so that they could check in at home. One nearby resident offered the use of his driveway as a place to leave a camper so that it wouldn’t be left unattended and subjected to vandalism at the boat ramp where so many people come and go each day. His generous offer was immediately accepted.
Before leaving Mauckport, Jim put a big kettle of beans in water to soak and that was supper at the boat ramp. Peggy and I took a pan of corn bread to the campsite and it made the beans just perfect. Merle & Sharon Mullis brought their team to the camp to join the ride the next day and brought more food as did Harry Winters’ wife.
That evening’s main topic around the campfire was about the abundance of water moccasins and rattle snakes along the river. A couple of people who took the snake story to heart decided to take no chances and slept in their wagons instead of in sleeping bags on the ground as they had done before.
Day 6 began after another of Jim Stevens’ huge breakfasts. This day’s trek took the group to the Yellow Banks Game Reserve where Janet’s dad met the group and furnished the night’s entertainment with his fiddle. Bob Pfeiffer’s wife, Janell, along with Bill & Phyllis Crockett brought a bountiful supper for everyone.
Friday’s Day 7 trek was to Gedling Farm near Stephensport, Kentucky. That part of the journey could have been disastrous as one mule team, Porter & Dolly, decided they didn’t like the looks of a utility truck and took off down a steep embankment. The driver bailed out when he thought his wagon would upset, but a fence at the bottom of the embankment kept it from rolling over and a major disaster was averted. The challenges of the day were soon forgotten with the delicious supper that Ray Nix’s wife, Sudie, their daughters, Donna Hess and Brenda East; Jim Krutz’s daughters, Cindy Jones and Kathy Luallen, plus Eloise Hughes and Glenda Gibson furnished for all to enjoy.
Day 8 began with Jim serving another humongous breakfast. It sometimes looked like he expected the US Army to show up for breakfast. If it had, he would have fed them. The group became very spoiled with that kind of care. Since this was going to be a fairly short trip to the Hawesville, Kentucky fairgrounds, the group slept in until 6:00 a.m. instead of the normal 5:00 a.m. Several other members of the club went to the campsite that evening for a pitch-in supper, and everyone ate like kings. One member’s wife quipped that she wasn’t going to allow her husband to go on next year’s ride because he had gained too much weight.
Sunday was the final day and went without incident except for some jerk who shouted obscenities at the group because of their speed in going across the bridge back into Indiana. As if he hadn’t shown his lack of intelligence enough, he turned around and came back to spew more of his garbage. Some people have a knack for showing low IQs, and he certainly knew how to show his.
The group, now consisting of Jim Stevens, Danny Sommer, Jim Krutz, Bob Pfeiffer, Ray Nix, Harry Winters, Merle Mullis, Dexter Marsh, and Janet Drach, arrived back at Danny’s camp, the place of beginning, and was very happy and appreciative for a successful wagon ride. Although they were tired and eagerly looking forward to sleeping in their own beds that night, they were already talking about next year’s ride.
A lot of people who were not a part of the ride, helped to make it a success in their own way. There were countless people who gave the group encouragement by stopping their vehicles to watch and wave as the wagons passed, and asked where it started and where it was going. There was the lady with the brownies, the lady who went out of her way to take one of the drivers back to the previous camp site so that he could get his trailer when his team tired out, the policeman who opened his bathroom and shower facilities to the group, the county police who helped the wagon train across the bridge, the ladies who provided meals for the group, the gentleman with the fiddle, the welder who fixed the double trees, the person who hauled people to where their cells phones would operate, the people who showed up at each campsite and took the drivers back to the previous night’s campsite so that they could get their trailers, campers, supplies, the very welcome porta potty, etc., and many other polite and friendly people that the group encountered along the way.
People smile and wave at such a sight because they are happy with the pretty mental picture that a wagon train makes. It also shows they appreciate how much this relic from our past reflects our rural heritage.
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