A HEE HAW DAY

Winfield is a small city situated in Northwest Alabama about 30 miles from the Mississippi state line.  The area was once a Chickasaw Indian domain.

We were staying about an hour away from Winfield, Alabama and several of our friends suggested we consider going to Mule Day which is held every 4th weekend of September.  This year was the 45th year of the traditional Mule Day Festival, held since 1975 to honor the hard-working mules of the day.  We were two of the estimated 25,000 spectators in attendance.

Winfield, Alabama's Annual Mule Day has been termed "One of the top 20 events in the Southeast" by Travel and Tourism Magazine.  Mule Day is not only a major event in the City of Winfield but also for the State of Alabama.  

Arts and Crafts were spectacular!

Dr. Pepper brought a Fansville Tailgating Booth

Mule Day lasts 3 days

If you have the time there is also live entertainment, car shows and a diverse venue of homemade baked goods sold in a farmer's market setting.  There are organized events for elementary and middle school children at the Mule Day carnival, including many rides.  

The parade began promptly as scheduled at 11:00 a.m., with staging done at the elementary school.   Not only were there mules, wagons, horses,  tractors, cars, but one wagon carried the Mule Day Grand Marshal and Miss Mule Day.  

Grand Marshal - Mule Day 2019

Miss Mule Day 2019

The mules were judged and arts and crafts booths were set up in the main part of Winfield.  There were flea markets set in many parts of town from Friday evening and all day Saturday.  A Civil War skirmish was called "The Skirmish at Luxapalilla", sponsored by Sons of Confederate Veterans. 

The Skirmish was conducted at another location off-site

"We didn't know what we didn't know" is how we went into a Mule Day experience.  We now know a mule is the offspring of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare).  On the other hand, a hinny is a cross of a female donkey (a jenny) and a male horse (stallion).  A horse has 64 chromosomes and a donkey has 62.  The mule and hinnies ends up with 63.  Mules can be either male or female, but because of the odd number of chromosomes, they can't reproduce.

Mules are reputed to be more patient, hardy and long-lived than horses and are described as less obstinate and more intelligent than donkeys.  The use of mules for farming and transportation of agricultural products largely gave way to steam, then gasoline powered tractors and trucks. 

 

After enjoying an unusually hot but enjoyable day at the Mule Day festivities, we had learned more than we anticipated and think that now we can carry on an intelligent conversation about mules and donkeys.  Just ask.  Hee Haw.

OUR WHEEL ESTATE

Based on the title above, it sounds like we just bought a new motorhome, doesn't it?  No, actually we still have the same motorhome but when we arrive in Red Bay, AL, home of Tiffin Motorhomes, my husband does his best to redo, upgrade, retrofit, accessorize and add to our decked out moho.

Our brand new "somewhere between 2007 - 2014" Tiffin Allegro Bus

First off, if you have never checked the above tab of this blog called "COACH UPGRADES", you will notice our motorhome has had several (understatement) items added that may not have been visible to the casual onlooker.

Updated 2014 Allegro Bus chrome lettering

I'm going to post some pictures because you may be extremely confused if I don't.  Just in case you didn't know, "chrome is in" on motorhomes.  RV, my husband Robert Vance, says "You can't go wrong with chrome and stainless steel on RV's, motorcycles and classic cars."  RV is very proud of our "wheel estate", our full time home on wheels for the past 12+ years.

Summit Stainless Steps and Kickplate Upgrade

For instance, if you crawl on top of the roof, we added air conditioner #3 simply because it is an additional convenience in Florida with the extreme heat and humidity.  We may have the only 2007 Allegro Bus in the country with the Winegard Trav'ler, Winegard In-motion AND the Winegard Rayzar - to assure we will have some form of television reception during the college and NFL football season, including golf, of course.  Our unlimited Verizon mifi is used to provide a signal for the Facebook Lives I produce for my painting class, ARTitude Adjustment  on a daily basis.

For instance, we have stainless steel access pieces on the front and rear of our coach.

Summit Stainless Engine Compartment Accent Pieces Upgrade

Summit Stainless Accent Pieces on Front Cap of Coach

He added LED lights throughout the coach as well on the undercarriage of the coach (he says that it helps keep critters away).  This trip he added new fog lights that have an LED halo for 360 degrees when the motor is running.  When we purchased our coach there was a 36" television but now we have an LG 43" Smart TV.  The bedroom television was replaced with a larger Samsung LED TV and a custom storage cabinet was built.

Additional cabinets, shelves and matching solid surface countertops, new sinks, etc., as well as shades and ultra suede privacy shades were added earlier.   The list goes on....

This trip we have installed a chrome door handle, fog lights, front and rear cap repainted, and an assortment of other items associated with our engine and the engine compartment.

Chrome Door Lock and Handle Upgrade

Chrome Exhaust Extension Upgrade

Upgrade LED Halo Fog Lights

Repainted Front and Rear Cap of Coach

After 5 very enjoyable weeks in Red Bay, we're back on the road and making our way to Lafayette, LA.  He's already thinking about what to do the next time we return.   More stainless?