On the Hoop to Berry Camp

On the Hoop to Berry Camp
July 24, 2008

Finisia departed Root Camp in Arco Idaho yesterday headed north towards the mountains and Berry Camp near Council Idaho. For the first time in 10 years she is traveling horseback with a 3 horse pack string, carrying all of her worldly possessions. Finisia had to leave her covered wagon behind in Nevada this spring during her long 720 mile journey to Root Camp. It was like a primitive RV with a bed, wood burning stove, pots and pans, wash basin, lamp, a sense of home (security), and a few other crude “luxuries” that she misses. She hopes to rescue them within the next year, as her fortunes allow.

Finisia’s horses are accustomed to walking side by side, pulling the wagon, so she had to retrain them to walk one behind the other in a pack string with all of her gear tied and balanced on their backs. To do this she tied them in a string and tied the lead horse to the back of a pickup truck, and led them slowly behind the truck for 26 miles from Arco to Mackay. It was the School of Soft Knocks whenever one of the horses would try to move up alongside the horse in front, as they knocked up against each other, until the “troublemaker” :wink: gave up and fell back in line behind. They finally learned the lesson after 26 miles and it would now be safe for Fin to ride the lead horse in the pack string. She told me that she made a video of it, that we will be posting on You-Tube when I recieve it - stay tuned!!

Today Finisia arrived in Mackay, returned the pickup truck to Arco and then some friends brought her back to her horses in Mackay. Tomorrow morning her real horseback, 3 horse pack string adventure begins. During her 2 week journey on the back roads to Berry Camp she will be pitching camp every night, cooking on a campfire, and sleeping under the stars. After being in the company of the Coyote Camp fellowship for the last month at Root Camp, she’s feeling a bit lonely :frowning: being on her own again. All of her 20+ Coyote friends scattered like seeds in the wind, each carrying with them their own vision of mending the Hoop of Life. She wishes there were more people living on the hoop full-time like she is, that she would meet along her trails, to share a warm camp fire, a hot meal, tall tales, laughter and perhaps share a few miles together down the trail. :slight_smile:

By Orion (for Finisia)
www.pullingforwildflowers.org