Erin is underway

COLUMBUS,NEW MEXICO. May 7th and 8th. Days 1 and2. The journey has begun. Yesterday May 7 after pictures at the border near Columbus, New Mexico Erin departed for parts northward. The horse saddled, the mule packed, and the dog mounted with red backpack they set off. Perhaps they were a bit anxious to get started given that Yoakum rolled his pack saddle in the first 5 minutes in full view of several curious onlookers. Very embarrassing. After repacking they set off again only to have Yoakum roll over on his back, requiring another repacking. Later the team got 'pulled over' by the border patrol in the first mile. The exchange was cordial and went something like this. "Little lady where are you headed?" they inquired. "To Canada," she replied. "How far have you come?". "Oh about a mile," she said. "Well have a good trip."

They rode along highway 11 through Columbus where interestingly Erin met the famous teamster mule that starred in Dances with Wolves. Once through Columbus they set off cross country along a jeep trail and camped at the foot of the Tres Hermanas Mountains. Ledoux went right to sleep; he was very tired.

Today they got into a rhythm; travelling north then crossing over Highway 11 to the base of Florida Mountain. Towards late afternoon "the hail from hell" hit. There were very high winds with hail going almost horizontal; with no cover the team "put there butts to the wind and hunkered down. The hail was followed by torrents of rain; so much for the desert. It did solve the days water problems though. Erin did have to rescue Ledoux when he got caught under a gate; he is not used to his back pack yet.