Yesterday late afternoon, we arrived in Sanger, California and stopped to rest between two buildings. Earlier in the morning while we were in Reedley, Linda posted that she could bring hay if we needed it. When we found our spot to rest for the night, we wrote Linda back asking if her offer to bring hay to us was still available. She said yes. So the kids had nice hay for dinner and breakfast thanks to Linda, Matthew and Jacob.
As we were packing up to leave in the morning, Javier and Efrain from Apache Smog and Tire in the building next to us, came over and asked what we were doing and what we were all about. We talked a bit and they looked up our website. Javier said that Academy Feed Store is 3-miles down the road and asked if we needed anything. We said that we needed two horseshoe files. He said to go to the feed store, and if the store had what we needed, tell the store to give him a call and he would pay for it. We walked to the feed store, which had what we needed and they called Javier. Thank you Javier for your kind support toward the mules.
While securing the kids in a shopping center parking lot so that we could go buy bread, an animal control officer told us that we were not allowed to be walking through the City of Sanger. We said that we had the right to walk in any public thoroughfare in this country. I went in the store to buy a loaf of bread and when I came out the animal control officer was still there. The officer said he had looked at our website. We talked briefly and went our separate ways.
We went to deliver the Declaration of Emergency (DOE) to Sanger City Hall, then continued our way towards Fresno.
“When we think of those companions who traveled by our side down life’s road, let us not say with sadness that they left us behind, but rather say with gentle gratitude that they once were with us.”~Author Unknown
This past Sunday while crossing a bridge, Babe stepped into a gap in the planks and broke her leg.
Babe was not with us long, but the energy that was Babe will be forever harbored in this place of one human being walking with his or her animal companions. That energy will re-materialize in the most magical of ways and be seen and experienced again and again.
Babe was a shining example of how the Mules live. The Mules live for the magic and beauty of the Natural World until they die from accident, natural causes or stealth. Babe was diagnosed and humanely euthanized by a veterinarian. Another service picked up her body.
Everything the Mules and Monk carry in our nomadic, minimalistic lifestyle that we’ve been living for over thirty years has specific purposes and must meet specific criteria that must withstand the test of time and the harsh elements we face living outside all day every day. Harsh elements include weather resistance to hot/cold temperatures and rain, abrasion and tear resistance from tree branches, brush and jagged rocks when the Mules walk against them, dust resistance for our electronics, and break and leak resistance for our canisters that hold our liquids (water, cooking oil, gas).
About seven years ago, I had this 1000 denier nylon tarp custom-made in Arizona with specific dimensions measuring 75-inches by 105-inches. I don’t remember where I ordered the nylon or who custom sewed to these dimensions, else I would be returning to them. Our current tarp is worn out and needs to be replaced.
We use this tarp for many applications. The main application is to cover our top load while traveling against the scraping of brush and trees and to protect our gear by holding it together in place and protecting it from the elements when we travel. It is also used as a ground cloth when we sleep with or without a tent.
Can anybody out there make us a green-colored, 1000 denier nylon tarp measuring 75″ X 105″ (8’9″ X 6’3″) with 1/4-inch grommets on all four corners and on the middle of each side? Color preference is green, tan, brown or grey, not black as that would absorb and retain too much heat. This is not a size that we can simply purchase at a hardware store. If so, please message us with total cost (material, labor and shipping to California), time to deliver, and contact info. Thank you. ~The Mules
What happened last weekend in Lake Shasta (link to Los Angeles Times article) is when people are disconnected from nature and live separated from the Natural World.
Living our ages old, nomadic way of life for over three decades, we the Mules hold Mother Earth with very high value and respect. We leave no trace wherever we stop for the night.
The article states that “Rangers don’t want to ban the students because their visits stimulate the local economy.”
In May 2014, the Mules were sleeping at night and woken up by federal rangers. Monk was arrested and the mules were impounded because we refused to leave in the dark for our safety. The Rangers refused to let us wait until sunrise.
Even though one 68-year old monk and his three animal companions have high respect for Mother Earth all our lives and never have and will never do something as atrocious as these hundreds of adults at Lake Shasta, our ages old, nomadic way of life is not acceptable in the suburban model, so we are jailed, penalized and convicted for our way of life of living outside all day every day.
However, large groups of college students (who are also all adults and not kids) that descend to Lake Shasta each May is acceptable, because they fit the suburban model by stimulating the economy even though they have no respect for the Natural World and Mother Earth. Their penalty for their behavior is suspension from participating in university’s social activities.
The Mules are still waiting to hear from the 9th Circuit United States Court of Appeals in our appeal to clear our conviction.
Yesterday after leaving the Old Ridge Route Road, we were going along the highway and Dawn appeared (materialized) out of the mist. She stopped her car and said she was a farrier, asked if we needed anything. We said yes we did. She said, “What?” We said nails, rasp, horse shoes. She said you got it. We said thank you.
Dawn appearing as she did is a perfect example of how the Mules and the energy that is created by the way we live materializes into what we need as we go along one step at a time all day every day.
So the Mules say thank you Dawn for your kindness and support and may the energy of the Mules travel with you.
Saturday, April 30, 2016, we left Griffith Park where we stayed for the night. While grazing the kids, we met Brian. He rode 12-miles with us on his really big horse to the United States Court of Appeals Ninth District courthouse in Pasadena.
Thank you Brian and friend for giving your hope faith energy to this most important case of one human being (all of us) traveling with his or her animal companions across this country and the absolute right to stop and rest (sleep for the night) on public space.
Synopsis: On May 9, 2014, the Mules were arrested by the National Park Service and issued three citations for camping outside of designated area, violating order of a government agent, and conditions concerning use of pack animals in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
On July 16, 2014, the Mules attended an arraignment at the United States District Court in Los Angeles and pleaded not guilty and a trial date was set for November 6, 2014.
At the trial on November 6, 2014, the Mules were charged with 1) not obeying an order of a federal employee; and 2) camping in an undesignated area on national park land, while the third charge related to the pack animals was dropped. If found guilty on these charges, the maximum penalty for this petty offense was term of six months imprisonment, $5000 maximum fine, $10 special assessment for misdemeanor conviction, $25 processing fee payable to the Central Violations Bureau, and five year probation period. The Mules pleaded not guilty and were found guilty on both charges with no imposed penalties or fines, but were assessed a $35 court fee.
The Mules in front of the U.S. District Court of Appeals Ninth District in Pasadena
May 2, 2016: Oral Arguments. The Mules attended Oral Arguments before a three-judge panel in the U.S. District Court of Appeals Ninth District in Pasadena. The defense for the Mules and the government prosecution each had 15 minutes to provide their argument in front of a three-panel judge. Click to watch U.S. Court of Appeal Ninth Circuit Oral Argument court video recording:9th Circuit Court of Appeals video recording United States of America v. John C Sears 5/2/2016.
Thank you to Kevin who once again brought his energy and support to the Mules by taking care of the kids by watching them and our belongings while I was in court for the initial trial in Los Angeles and this Oral Argument in Pasadena.
On June 15, 2016, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed the magistrate judge’s finding that the Mules were guilty of violating two National Park Service regulations.
Click to read ruling 9th District Decision 6/15/2016:
To hear post-court discussion between John Sears and pro bono attorney Dan Kapelovitz, click here: https://youtu.be/eNIc2_TjcME
——————————————————————————————— Statement from the Mules in response to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision: On May 2, 2016, the Mules appeared at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena to hear our appeal before three judges brought forth by the Megatropolis to decide whether the Mules or anybody else, hiker, bicycle or somebody traveling in a wheelchair, in this continental United States has the right to use public space to stop and rest for the night.
The National Parks are without question public space. They belong to all of us and they must be open to all who seek use of them in ways which conform to the mission of bringing people into the Natural World with reverence and respect.
The Mules and the way of life they live are a stellar example of that mission. When the Megatropolis uses its courts and judges to deny the Mules that most necessary function of life (rest) on a National Park, its subverts the mission of the Natural Parks – bringing people and the Natural World together in a natural way as opposed to the Megatropolis way (man-made world way) arriving in an air-conditioned bus with all the comforts of home.
The Mules on this day, September 13, 2016, have declared themselves to be the official mascots of the Natural Park system. One human being wandering in one of all four directions with his or her animal companions with reverence and respect for this totally unique sparkling jewel in the universe – our home EARTH.
Hence, the Mules, in the process of performing their duty as the official mascots of the Natural Parks, will bring clarity, direction and purpose to administering the mission of the National Parks. Rather then continuing down the slippery slope of the commercialism which is destroying the National Parks.
2/6/2015 Appellant Opening Brief. Mule’s legal representative Daniel Kapelovitz has submitted an appeal to the United States District Court, which has ten days to respond.
3/2/2015 Reply Brief. Mule’s legal representative Daniel Kapelovitz has submitted the Reply Brief to the Government’s Answering Brief Outcome: The Judge stood by the initial ruling and rejected the appeal.
As I was grazing the Mules yesterday, there were two areas adjacent to each other, one being the open unkept field, the other the well manicured park grass. The kids were constantly trying to get to the lush green park grass. I had to keep turning them back to the open field.
The Megatropolis behaves in much the same way as the Mules. It has an insatiable appetite for lush green grass (your freedom, your energy). It will leave no stone unturned, no scheme untried, consequences no matter.
While most everybody has been set to distractions and pre-occupations, the Mules have not. Our nomadic way of life demands that the Mules stay in constant vigilance and alert. So when the Megatropolis turns to the lush green grass, our freedom, our energy, we are there to grab its lead rope and turn it back to the open field.
The support for the Mules to do this most necessary job will not come from government, a political party, corporation, or a super pack. The Mules are not registered Republicans or Democrats. We are not capitalists, socialists, communists or terrorists. The Mules are free-flowing energy and a living moving connection to the Natural World.
Support for the Mules comes from the soul of a people who love freedom and recognize and understand the creativity, magic and light that is bestowed on those who practice it.
Long live this place of one human-being, moving freely with his or her animal companions. Viva La Mulas.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance so said somebody…can’t remember who, it’s been quoted by many. The Mules are a venue of that vigilance providing a real live moving scene of eternal vigilance by which anybody at anytime can open the window and watch the Mules moving freely when they choose , how they choose across this country and across this earth.
You take a pause in your busy day, look through the window, you see the Mules there moving freely and unhindered. They’re strong, healthy and well. Now you know your personal freedom and your children’s future is still here.
You look through the window and you see the Mules limping then you know you must jump through that window and give your strength and support so the Mules can continue their journey which is to protect and preserve their freedom as well as yours.
In these complicated and troubled times, the Megatropolis is taking full advantage. Our case in Pasadena at the United States Court of Appeals is a perfect example. The National Park Service arrested the Mules for stopping to rest – one of the most necessary functions to sustain life.
The Megatropolis must come to understand it cannot meddle or tread on the Mules or anybody else’s basic functions of sleeping, eating, walking, etc. that are necessary to living. For allow it to do so will certainly be the end of freedom.
Earth Day. One day every year, the Megatropolis designates a celebration of Earth. The Mules, we do it a little differently. Our life is a celebration of Earth Day. The Mules celebrate Earth Day 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. As we walk along, we bring that celebration to every city and town we go through, every neighborhood, by everybody’s front door. We bring the magic and celebration of the earth and all its inhabitants. Our Earth Day is never ending. We celebrate Earth Day on April 22, but we know that we will celebrate Earth Day the next day, the next day, the next day. It is relentless with us. That is where our wealth lies, in the health and the wealth of the natural earth, this natural world. That celebration for The Mules will never end.
