Two Mules to Triumph

"A beautiful, emotive book that sings with the uniqueness of America" - Rinker Buck - The Oregon Trail

"Fantastic! Bernie is a gem!" - Atlas Obscura, #1 Apple Travel podcast

"You'll love this eccentric, idiosyncratic and wholly original slow roll across America." - Peter Zheutlin - Rescue Road


In this fast-paced, divided world, you can still saddle up your mule, ride away from home, knock on strangers' doors, and find a good person every fifteen miles across America.

Join Bernie Harberts as he sets off on a seven-month, 2,300-mile saddle voyage from North Carolina to Idaho with his mules Brick, who fears plastic bags, and Cracker who, well, springs studly surprises in public. 

Bernie's journey is as imperfect as his mules. He plans his route by stretching a piece of dental floss across his globe, uses paper maps for navigation, improvises gear and shelters in forests and barns because he doesn't rely on a chase team to line up lodgings in advance. The message? You don't need perfection, just perseverance, resourcefulness, and a little help from others, to get through these uncertain times.

From small-town crossroads to echo-less deserts, Two Mules to Triumph is a message of hope to anyone who feels America is divided beyond repair. It is a celebration of how everyday Americans, from farmers and ranchers to old-school vets, and, yes, even a man in the night with a club, can put aside social, political, and religious differences to reforge the strong human bonds needed to pull our nation back together. 

Two Mules to Triumph is more than just a captivating travel story. It is a valuable resource for those intrigued by the technical aspects of long-distance saddle travel. The book includes over 140 photos, maps, and sketches, along with a section of gear photos and a comprehensive packing list for anyone interested in embarking on a saddle voyage, whether it's an overnight trail ride or a Long Ride covering thousands of miles. 

If you loved Rinker Buck’s The Oregon Trail or Elizabeth Letts’ The Ride of Her Life, Two Mules to Triumph is your next favorite read.

Grab a copy of Two Mules to Triumph today and let Brick, Cracker and Bernie show you the side of America you never knew you needed.