Armel
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Armel, my cousin, joined me for the month of September 2012, travelling from Helena (Montana) to the Canadian border. |
| We celebrated his 20th birthday and finished the adventure together! |
"It all happened very quickly. On the first day, I told Krystèle that I’d love to join her, but that I couldn’t imagine doing it for a whole load of reasons. On the second day, I started to look on the Internet to find out about flights and the administrative procedure for going to the United States, just because I was curious. On the third day, the words “why not?” kept running through my head. On the fourth day, there wasn’t much time left if I was going to go, so I had to decide: it was now or never.
I chose now. I couldn’t let the opportunity go by. I still can’t get my head round the fact that it’s not just kilometers, but a few days that separate me from the other end of the world. Unless, of course, I miss my connecting flight at the airport, which is in fact what scares me the most, much more than grizzlies and storms!
As well as spending time with my cousin and enjoying the views, I’ll be taking projects with me that I had planned to work on in September. The landscape will feed into my cinema projects and I’ll be able to talk to real English-speakers instead of reading my English text book at home!”
Armel
Sarah
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Sarah accompanied me from mid July to mid September. I have shared numerous other adventures with Sarah, such as hiking in Guatemala, Bolivia, Peru, India, biking New Zealand or driving on the Gazelle car race in Morocco... |
| When Sarah wasn’t following American trails, she communicated the latest news by keeping the blog updated. |
"Let’s set out on an adventure and join Krystele and her mule for a few weeks on the trails of America!
I’d like to be able to say at the end of the journey, Did you live? Did you love? Did you marvel at it all? And, without saying anything, I’ll open up my heart filled with names and my spirit filled with indelible images.”
Sarah
Kitty Kat
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Kitty Kat joined the team on 31 May and replaced my mule Céline, who had accompanied me since the start of the voyage before Celine died in an accident on 25 May 2012. Miss Kitty, as she is called affectionately, was found by my friend Paula close to her home in Los Lunas (Albuquerque, New Mexico). Her color is unusual, like “desert sand” with scattered zebra stripes. She has strong, sharp bones, solid hooves and beautiful eyes and long ears that everyone falls for! She has been well trained, has had a lot of experience, especially of the mountains, because she was used by a mule trainer for courses in the mountains. What’s most striking about her, though, is her gentle character and willingness. She’s a “pet mule” who likes human company and would rather mooch around the tent than explore further afield.
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Unfortunately, Kitty had to leave the team on 13 June 2012 after a short week of travelling together: she damaged her muscles and broke a tooth in a struggle on the snow in the San Luis pass north of Creede (Colorado).
Thank you Kitty for your kindly disposition and bravery during the short time we spent together.
She was adopted by Paula and lived happily in Albuquerque (New Mexico) until she died of natural causes in January 2013. Living with two other donkeys was wonderful for her and she became the Queen of the Donkeys!
Champ
Champ was my mount mule from 18 June to 21 September
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The name Champ apparently comes from “Champion”, but I think of him as Champ as in “Champagne”, in tribute to the Champagne house Mathé, who was my grandmother! |
| Champ is our latest recruit: this jack mule replaced Céline and Kitty, my previous mounts, on 18 June. Champ is an 18-year-old granddad of a mule but he has quickly gained muscle walking through the Rockies. His previous owner, who lives in Salida, bought him so that his wife could learn horse riding the gentle way. Champ learned how to pace his energy and overcome all kinds of obstacles. After starting out as a corral mule, he has is now a diehard hiking fan! Champ is a good old mule, always willing, very affectionate and he REALLY likes his food! |
When we arrived at the Canadian border, he joined Paula’s team of horses in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he has been living happily ever since. She renamed him "Tecumseh" after the famous Indian Chief, and he is now Paula’s Number One riding Mule.
Céline
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I was hoping that Céline the mule would be accompanying me for the whole journey. Things turned out differently. |
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Céline, the mule that I bought at Steve Edwards’ ranch, was my travel mate in April and May. Early in the morning on Friday 25 May, she lost her life in an accident with her tether.
Céline was strong-willed, brave, of a sound constitution, well trained and very endearing.
Her previous owner, a woman of over 70, had ridden her for fifteen years.
She had become bilingual in French and English and taught me how to boost my confidence and become a trail rider. She loved the journey we had embarked on, especially the grazing stops, and in particular after the arrival of our new travel mate, Frog, on 14 May. She had taken on the task of teaching her how to be a pack mule and encouraged her through the difficult parts.
Thank you Céline for the joy I experienced by your side along the way.
Card made by Hugo and Carol, my hosts in Grants (New Mexico), after Céline’s death
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