I once again find myself on the road alone. I rode to Columbia, Tennessee, to watch the Mule Day parade. I found a parking spot and whipped my van into it. I got my camera, cell phone, coat, and chair, and walked across the road.
I picked out a spot, opened my chair, and sat down. Decided it was too cold, so I went back to the van for my bigger coat.
Both sides of the road started filling up.
I went back to my chair, and I sat patiently waiting for the parade.
A couple from Sheffield sat right next to me. They said this was their first time coming to the parade. We discussed which direction the parade was coming from; neither of us was sure.
The woman's husband said he was going to walk down the road to Hardee's to use the restroom and get some snacks.
The woman placed two chairs next to mine, and we began to talk.
It never fails that I meet someone I know or someone from the same area. She asked me where I went to church, and I told her, thinking she had never heard of our church. Wrong! She knew a couple who had been attending our church for years. It shows that we should behave wherever we go. The Lord is watching us, and he is sending his angels to make sure we behave.
The man returned, stayed only a few minutes, then put on short pants and told his wife it was too cold to sit outside, so he went back to his car.
He told his wife to call him on his cell phone when the parade began.
There were over 200 entries in the parade, making it very long.
I was taking pictures with my big camera and videos with my cell phone.
Once, I heard a man say the horse almost sniffed your butt. I had turned around and was taking pictures of the parade that had already passed. I was standing very close to the road so I could get photos of the parade. The parade started with a motorcycle police escort. Next were men & women dressed in black pants and vest-wearing yellow shirts carrying the US Flag and three other flags. One was red, white, and blue with three stars in the middle. It may have been the Tennessee State Flag. The other two were different shades of blue.
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| Mule Day Parade |
Next, we saw the grand marshal riding in a wagon being pulled by two dark gray and black mules.
Next, we saw a couple of brown mules pulling the first, second, third, and fourth runners-up of the Mule Day court. The girls were dressed in orange, green, purple, and white gowns.
Next was a couple of white mules pulling a red wagon.
We saw wagons being pulled by one mule, two mules, three mules, and four mules.
We saw people riding mules, horses, & ponies in every shape and color.
We saw a young girl dressed in blue. She was riding a brown-and-white horse and waving to the crowd. Many riders were dressed in western attire. Many of the horses and mules were harnessed in black and silver.
A couple of riders were pulling a horse without a rider. They said that they lost their rider.
We saw floats, horses, and riders.
We saw a 1394 train with wheels rolling down the road.
We saw a bright blue Corvette in the parade.
We saw a man wearing a red, white, and blue flag shirt. He had an American flag hanging on the back of his wagon, which was pulled by two miniature mules.
He was smiling.
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| Mule Day Parade |
We saw a group of terrifying clowns. Their float turns at the entrance of the academy just before they reach us.
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| Mule Day Parade |
We saw a man riding a brown mule. He was wearing a red shirt and a long white beard. He could be Santa Claus at Christmas.
We saw a girl riding a horse with orange hoofs, orange ears, and a tail.
We saw a float with "Old George," a mule, and a man singing.
We saw an all-white male with orange hooves.
We saw a wagon train.
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| Mule Day Parade |
In the distance, we could see the wagon train, the crowds of people watching the parade as it passed, crossed the highway, and headed up the hill to the Maury County Park.
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| Mule Day Parade |
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| A stunning pair of mules |
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| Many riders had their pets. |
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| Many different riders |
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| We had riders in jail. |
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| We saw a team of mules pulling a HURST |
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| Many loved having their picture taken, while others turned away or covered their faces with their hats. |
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| The kids also loved Batman and Wonder Woman. |
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| We saw a horse performing tricks |
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| We saw mules wearing overhauls. |
What a day! What a grand parade!
If you missed this parade, be sure to tune in for the next one!
