Winnie Banned from the Public Highway
This afternoon I received a phone call from National Park Official, Michelle Kuna, who informed me that I would not be allowed to lead Winnie in hand on the shoulder of Pennsylvania Highway 209. Excuse me? Isn't that a public highway? I asked. "The National Park Service has jurisdiction over the section of Highway 209 that runs through the Delaware Water Gap," she replied, "and you can't walk there."
"Is that right?" I said, "So, let me understand this. I'm not allowed to use the Appalachian Trail to get to my destination in Stroudsburg, PA, and I'm not allowed to use Highway 209. Just how am I supposed to get there?"
She replied, "That's not my problem," and repeated her directive that I would not be allowed to lead my horse along the shoulder, through the National Park. That's what I get for stopping into the ranger station and asking for information. No explanation, just a "You can't do that." Well, why not?
Are people allowed to walk on the shoulder with their dogs? I often describe Winnie as "my big lap dog," and she's on a lead, calm as can be, trained to move over to the right whenever she hears a car or truck approach from behind. As far as I am concerned, Winnie is my assistance animal, helping me get from East to West, carrying my food and survival gear.
I suppose it would be too much to ask the rangers to enforce the speeding limit, which would make us safer. I suppose it would be too much to grant us special permission for a one-time use of the Appalachian Trail to get from here to there. In the middle of this dilemma, I called my next host, Toni-Lu Martin, of Galloping Dreams Farm in Montague, NJ, and told her I'd be walking there tomorrow, but I could not walk out of there; instead I'd need a trailer to Stroudsburg, and did she know anyone who could help me?
Bless her, she doesn't even know me, but has promised a ride on Friday, to get me out of New Jersey and into Pennsylvania, beyond the National Park's Jurisdiction. Part of me wants to boldly disobey and walk the Appalachian Trail in defiance of the no horse rule, but if I get arrested will they separate me from Winnie? That I could not bear.
Other news today: Documentary Video Producers John Sanders and Julie Donegal, drove all the way from Pittsburgh to get the scoop on why I am walking with Winnie across the USA. They have a terrific website The Hardest Year. Spend a little time there, reading about other Americans down on their luck. BTW, Julie asked me how folks had been receiving Winnie and me out there, and I got choked up and told her I couldn't get over how good everyone has been, always giving us much more than we ask. It seems whenever we need something, an angel appears to provide help to us, and that really keeps my faith strong.
Now we say our good-byes to angel host MaryAnn Donegan and her handsome son, Scott, who made a "God's Eye" for me to carry along for safety. Scott, a senior boy scout and outdoorsman, also gave me a lot of good advice about hiking gear, nutrition, and clothing. His mom, MaryAnn, called in her farrier to give Winnie a trim, and called in her vet to examine Winnie and float her teeth. MaryAnn also let Winnie stay extra days so we could receive the new saddle tree shipped by Outfitter's Supply. Winnie's sore is better, thanks to advice from long rider Andi Mills, who recommended Blue Lotion, but she will walk naked another week or so before I try to pack her up again.
A big Thank You from Winnie and me, to all the kind people helping us. Please forgive us for tardy email replies and failure to update the Thanks page more often; there are not enough evening hours after walking to get all our thanks expressed!
"Is that right?" I said, "So, let me understand this. I'm not allowed to use the Appalachian Trail to get to my destination in Stroudsburg, PA, and I'm not allowed to use Highway 209. Just how am I supposed to get there?"
She replied, "That's not my problem," and repeated her directive that I would not be allowed to lead my horse along the shoulder, through the National Park. That's what I get for stopping into the ranger station and asking for information. No explanation, just a "You can't do that." Well, why not?
Are people allowed to walk on the shoulder with their dogs? I often describe Winnie as "my big lap dog," and she's on a lead, calm as can be, trained to move over to the right whenever she hears a car or truck approach from behind. As far as I am concerned, Winnie is my assistance animal, helping me get from East to West, carrying my food and survival gear.
I suppose it would be too much to ask the rangers to enforce the speeding limit, which would make us safer. I suppose it would be too much to grant us special permission for a one-time use of the Appalachian Trail to get from here to there. In the middle of this dilemma, I called my next host, Toni-Lu Martin, of Galloping Dreams Farm in Montague, NJ, and told her I'd be walking there tomorrow, but I could not walk out of there; instead I'd need a trailer to Stroudsburg, and did she know anyone who could help me?
Bless her, she doesn't even know me, but has promised a ride on Friday, to get me out of New Jersey and into Pennsylvania, beyond the National Park's Jurisdiction. Part of me wants to boldly disobey and walk the Appalachian Trail in defiance of the no horse rule, but if I get arrested will they separate me from Winnie? That I could not bear.
Other news today: Documentary Video Producers John Sanders and Julie Donegal, drove all the way from Pittsburgh to get the scoop on why I am walking with Winnie across the USA. They have a terrific website The Hardest Year. Spend a little time there, reading about other Americans down on their luck. BTW, Julie asked me how folks had been receiving Winnie and me out there, and I got choked up and told her I couldn't get over how good everyone has been, always giving us much more than we ask. It seems whenever we need something, an angel appears to provide help to us, and that really keeps my faith strong.
Now we say our good-byes to angel host MaryAnn Donegan and her handsome son, Scott, who made a "God's Eye" for me to carry along for safety. Scott, a senior boy scout and outdoorsman, also gave me a lot of good advice about hiking gear, nutrition, and clothing. His mom, MaryAnn, called in her farrier to give Winnie a trim, and called in her vet to examine Winnie and float her teeth. MaryAnn also let Winnie stay extra days so we could receive the new saddle tree shipped by Outfitter's Supply. Winnie's sore is better, thanks to advice from long rider Andi Mills, who recommended Blue Lotion, but she will walk naked another week or so before I try to pack her up again.
A big Thank You from Winnie and me, to all the kind people helping us. Please forgive us for tardy email replies and failure to update the Thanks page more often; there are not enough evening hours after walking to get all our thanks expressed!
posted by Ann S. Byrns
7 Comments:
Hi Ann and Winnie! So you were in NJ huh? Well that explains everything. It is its own country. I lived there for a few years. :) Hopefully my hometown state of PA will be more welcoming!
Greetings to Sadhaka (aka Ann) and Winnie the wonderful mustang! I find this whole situation with the National Parks to be outrageous. I wonder, too, if Winnie were still a wild mustang, would she still be banned? I doubt it, since then the Parks would have to ban all the wild animals living on their lands! I don't know if or how this might be managed, but filmmaker Ken Burns has a new documentary series, National Parks, that will be aired on public tv this coming season. Perhaps we can mount some kind of campaign to bring attention to this problem with the Parks. At the very least, accommodations for special permits ought to be made! If anyone else has ideas, let's keep the walkers posted.
Hello from Stan in wyoming,,I admire your spirit, I also do admire your spunk, The NPS is getting out of hand, and is not being ran for the enjoyment of the public, but the rules are being made by an agency full of know it all people, with no experience concerning what this country was founded on. Sorry for your problems,, get with the media, people, they love this kind of story, ask your sponsors to contact a media person as you make your trip.. You are more than welcome to put Me down in your reference book if you plan on making a trip across the western U.S. the NPS is not going to bother you out here,, we still have a few people who have a sense of decency and are willing to help out in any way. Now a email campaign needs to be started, asking about this incident. Good Luck, hope your trip is safe, and you are Welcome to Wyoming. Stan
www.777morgans.com
I got an idea! Wear sunglasses and carry a big stick! When the police come by you can tell them that Winnie is your "seeing eye Mustang!" By the time they try to disprove it you will be out of the park. This is just outragous! They will let motorcycles ride sidebyside, ATV's on the highways, Cyclists do races! It's just WRONG! Hope you have a safe journey. Love reading the updates. KUDOS TO YOU AND WINNIE! Gwen and her Mustang "Cisco"
I think Stan from Wyoming (howdy neighbor!) is onto something! A letter to the editor and newspapers is a great idea! And so is getting the media involved, in advance of your arrival. I think that is what Longrider, Gene Glasscock did on his cross country adventure...I know he stopped at the State Capitol of each State in the continental US on his journey.
You might even be able to secure a Governer's pardon to get you through difficult areas.
To bad you're not coming through WY...I know you'd have tons of support here!
Gonna send you another PM on Horse Tweet...an invitation to join several mustang groups, with members from all over the USA, we can secure more hosts for you :)
Keep the Spirit Alive! Ride a Mustang!
Lona in WY
I have contacted Congressman Olver via e-mail and requested his help on this matter. He is generally very good at responding to peoples needs. Hope he can help you here.
Rich
South Hadley, Ma.
Winnie is looking so healthy and shiny! Don't let the grumpy people get you down - you're doing an awesome thing for the mustangs. Chin up! ~Michele from FL
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