Original oil painting by: Grandfather’s wife
Back when Grandfather was a young buck, 60 or so, he walked behind a mule train on the Bright Angel trail halfway to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Grandmother rode a mule named “Rudolph.” Grandfather had to walk, because the mule skinners said he was too heavy.
Well, Rudolph was walking on the edge above a thousand-foot drop and his skinner said: “Rudolph! You keep walking the edge, we’ll have to replace you.”
At the time, Grandfather wished they’d replaced Rudolph before they put Grandmother aboard.
Grandfather didn’t think then, and doesn’t think now, that Grandmother was replaceable.
Grandmother on Rudolph
Mule train on the Bright Angel trail
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About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian in West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.
Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family
Well, obviously, Rudolph stayed far enough away from the edge, letting you get some amazing photos. I don’t think I’d have taken that trip.
Gee, It was a challenge for me. I had for some time been running all over my mountainous place tending cows which had hidden their calves and I was in good condition. It was a hoot (puff,puff!) One of the mule skinners was a cattleman and we compared notes. He tended cattle on horseback and was surprised to learn I used shank’s mare.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shank's%20mare
All Elaine had to do was hang on to the saddle horn for dear life.
When I finally broke away from cattle tending for awhile and suggested the trip West, Elaine was absolutely delighted! I never saw her happier.