Subdeacon Joe Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Interesting. Quote Death Valley Conservancy about a year ago · Follow 3-dots-h The 20 Mule Team practice their turn (...jumping the chain, aka "Dance of the Mules") this past week in Bishop, CA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Pepper Kid, SASS #60463 Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Wow that's cool!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 If you ever get the change you should plan to attend the Mule Days Celebration in Bishop CA during Memorial Day weekend. Got to see them up close do that same manuver along the parade route. Very memorable experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438 Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 If you are a mule team and history fan, try reading "The Oregon Trail" by Rinker Buck. https://www.npr.org/2015/06/28/418211092/2-brothers-and-a-team-of-mules-tackle-the-historic-oregon-trail I knew nothing about mules or the Trail before I read this book, and after I felt as if I had been along for the ride. Great writing, great characters, and it's all true. LL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Dan Troop 70448 Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Decades ago, from the late 70s, Borax had a special limited premium of the famous 20 Mule Team painting on linen. Almost 3' by 2', its a large picture. But have it hanging in my den proudly. For a premium offer, it still had a high price, but cherish the depiction of the work that these teams encountered. MT Wonder if anyone else was lucky enough to get a copy also? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Terrific maneuver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted January 22, 2018 Author Share Posted January 22, 2018 20 minutes ago, Capt. R. Hugh Kidnme said: Terrific maneuver. I had never before thought of the mechanics of making a sharp turn with a team like that. I watched it and thought "AH! That makes a lot of sense!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 MT-I have the same from about 35+yrs ago. Bough it when I first toured the mine. Boron is not that far from my home, and have toured the mine and visitor center several times over the yrs. Until you see the size of the 'train'. Only then does one appreciate the skills needed to handle/control it. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Dan Troop 70448 Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 14 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: MT-I have the same from about 35+yrs ago. Bough it when I first toured the mine. Boron is not that far from my home, and have toured the mine and visitor center several times over the yrs. Until you see the size of the 'train'. Only then does one appreciate the skills needed to handle/control it. OLG I toured the mine in the early 60s with parents. Wonder how much it has changed. Still have the original wagons in front, along with the water wagon? They are huge wagons. MT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 That’s cool. I never made it to the mine when I lived in SoCal. I will have to put that on my list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 Takes a master at handling the jerkline! Got a Charlie Russell print on my wall showing a mule team with a wagon master cracking his whip over the head of the leaders. They are coming up from a river (The Missouri???) and the leaders are off the trail to the wagon's right. When the rider cracks his whip, they will swing back to the left! Rinker Buck's book is a real treat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 The coolest thing about the 20 Mule Team is that the driver on the wagon doesn't have any reigns. All the mules take their cues from the mule ahead or from one of the other muleskinners spaced out along the team. Once a mule learns its place in the team it can remember what to do for years later. Also if the team decided to run away there is nothing the wagon drivers could do except go along for the ride. Even fully loaded the mules could drag both wagons and the water tank with the brakes set for a long ways over flat terrain before they would tire out and stop of their own accord. I learnt a lot of interesting trivia from some of the muleskinners at the festival. Wife and I happened to run into them at one of the local watering holes. They loved my wife's regalia and struck up a conversation with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wapaloosie73 Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 I pack mules and have tons of respect for these guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted January 23, 2018 Share Posted January 23, 2018 I don't think they made many sharp turns on the Mojave. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmony_Borax_Works#/media/File:Twenty_mule_team_wagon_Harmony_Borax_Works_sw.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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