Eric's Beijing Diary

Melissa took me to a hoedown this evening with some friends of hers in the countryside. I am not much of a dancer, but I do like to get out in the country. They had some very well trained mules and a mule wagon, and a whole bunch of very good food. It was a very American event.

There were lots of cars parked along the driveway, and at one point, when we were trying to get the wagon out, the mules sorta spooked and one of them started fight with her traces. Horses don't like the feeling that they are subject to something beyond their control, so in small spaces they spook easily. We finally decided to give it up for the evening. Too many cars. I felt sorry for the mules. They aren't really afraid of cars once they get out on the road, but it's not that easy to ease a mule wagon between vehicles when the mules can't see that there is enough space to get through.