UncoveringAmerica

We met some folks practicing team roping. Team roping is a fast paced sport which requires the coordination of humans and horses. Checkout our website, uncoveringamerica.com

We met Mac Arnold while visiting a friends house. Mac plays unique "gas can" guitars which he makes himself. Check out Mac Arnold and Plate Full O' Blues on Mac's website: macarnold.com

Bill, Brenda, and I watched the High Country Cowboys annual match, Shootout at Wolf Creek 2008. Cowboy Action Shooting is a sport where challengers shoot competition stages with firearms from the 1899 period and earlier; single action pistols, lever action rifles, and shotguns.

Bill Inman, his horse Blackie, and the crew, stayed at the VFW in Louisville, Tennessee during our first trip across America. It's been awhile since this happened but I have just put this video together.

Bill and Blackie rode the Custis Trail into Arlington, and with a Police escort through Arlington to the Arlington Memorial Bridge. I borrowed a bicycle from Linda Neimeir, and rode with Bill. We started at Bon Air Park where we had camped the night before. We would like to thank Sgt. Charlie Neal, Sgt. Randy Bilder, Officer Adam Stone, Officer Barry Foust and Officer James Giordano with the Arlington County Police Department for helping us through Arlington.We stopped at The Marine Corps, Iwo Jima Memorial, on the way. There Bill met two Marines, one of whom got on Blackie. After we took some photos at the Iwo Jima Memorial, the officers escorted us up to the Arlington Memorial Bridge where their jurisdiction ended. From there Bill rode over the bridge by the Washington Monument, and on to the National Mall area where he met with veterans whom he delivered some of the letters of thanks and encouragement he had collected.

Angie, whom we met the day before, arrived just has we finished packing up camp. She was right on time and ready with her horse to ride with Bill. Angie and her father brought us some stew the previous evening during the truck pull event. Brenda and Bill visited with them, talked over the route Brenda had planned. Bill always welcomes company when he rides; having someone to talk to helps pass the time. Brenda drove up ahead to a place called O-Henry's Restaurant. We where hungry so we go some breakfast while waiting for Bill. We met the owner, Ms. Bowman, and she told us a bit about her place (watch the video). Brenda escorted the pair across the Yadkin River, as there was “no escape route” as Bill would say. We make a second stop at Tobaccoville, before making our final stop in Rural Hall, Beaver Creek Farm. Owner Ed Wall visited with us and later that evening we met some of his family. Angie had dinner with Brenda, Bill and I later that night at the seafood restaurant across from Beaver Creek Farms. In the morning, Channel 12 News from Winston-Salem interviewed Bill; reporter got on Blackie for his report. Bill rode on and we soon followed suit.

The sky was cloudy, and the wind a bit brisk when I woke in New Hope. The threat of rain hung over us again, though nothing fell that morning. Its easier on the horse when its cool. After Bill made his coffee I got to making breakfast. I used my Colman stove to cook up some bacon, eggs, and toast. Aside from the hills this was an easy day, as Bill and Blackie only had 8 miles to reach the town of Union Grove, our next stop. Jonny and I drove straight to town to check out the Fiddler's Grove Campground. Before the trip I had researched possible places along our route to stop. I called the owners to ask permission to keep the horse there; they had no problem with the horse, so we drove down and setup camp. Shortly after Bill arrived we met with the manager of the Grove, who was a very kind elderly gentleman. We told him about the trip, and later he came back to refund our camp fee (nice! Every bit helps) and invite us to the Cookshack for some family style Bluegrass pick'n. Fiddlers Grove is famous for its “Ole Time Fiddlers and Bluegrass Festival” which will be held May 23 – 25 of this year.

We made our first stop about 11.5 miles from the Taylorsville Lions Club Fairgrounds. The numerous churches have been great places to stop my rig. There's one about every 10 miles or so and most have large parking lots. Theres no one around Linney's Mill, seems they are closed on Mondays, so we move on. When we reach the church in New Hope there is a gentlemen mowing the grass. His name is Jimmy; we tell him what we're doing and ask him if he knows who to talk to to get permission to camp. He drives down to Mr. Youngen's house for us and he comes down to see us. We get permission, and that night camp out near a graveyard. We don't see any ghosts. Bill arrives tired and goes to bed early.

The ride from the Peacock Inn to the Taylorsville was a little longer then we had expected. At the we met with Sonny Cook, President of the Grounds. Mr. Cook opened up the gates and restrooms for us. He chatted with us for awhile and we learned that there was going to be a wresting match that evening. The sky was clear and it was getting warm, so Brenda and I setup the canopy that Coleman had gave us, which was the first time in quite a while. Hal Bond and Nathan Smart, Taylorsville Lions Club Fair GroundsIn the afternoon we had some locals that came by to visit. Hal Bond and Nathan Smart were the first to stop. They petted Blackie and talked to Bill and Brenda about the planed route. We also had the honer to meet J.C Elliott and Bill Ramllett; both men Vietnam Vets. Mr. Elliott is a Navy man, and Mr. Ramllett was in the Army. Bill told them about our trip across the country and showed them he newspaper clipping book. Milestone Championship Wrestling invited us to watch their event. I filmed some of the matches. Later that night a heavy downpour hit, what Brenda called a "gully-washer". The roof of the trailer leaked and some of Brenda cloths got wet.

This is the second to last day of the journey from Lebanon, OR to Henderson, NC. In this video Bill rides Blackie out of rural North Carolina and into the city of Asheville.

After our Christmas brake at Terry's place we contiued on. Terry rode with Bill the first day out. We meet some nice police officers in Vonroe and Terry came out to visit us on the road the next few days.

On the second day at the Best Bar None Ranch everybody got down to business. The team separated the mama cows from their calves. They then roped, vaccinated, castrated, and branded the calves.

Last week (March 28th and 29th) Brenda, Bill and I drove to Georgia with some of Brenda's family: Larry, Dottie, and Cheryl to Georgia to visit the Best Bar None Ranch. Dr. Bill Barns Invited us and many others to participate in roping, branding and steering his calves.

We spent Christmas with Terry and her family while in Tennessee. Although we had just met her she welcomed us into her home as if we were old friends. Part 2

We spent Christmas with Terry and her family while in Tennessee. Although we had just met her she welcomed us into her home as if we were old friends.