The two friends lived 30 miles apart. They would have probablynever met if it was not for their love of wagons and horses.

But David Travis has stopped at Mike Barron’s house for the pastseven or eight years on his way to meet the Wesson wagon train.

“He has a little deaf dog,” said Travis, of Clinton, La. “Thatdog would jump every time my wagon would stop.”

Travis noticed Barron, of Smithdale, had a wagon and he wouldmake it a point to bring his animals to a halt and mingle each yearuntil two years ago when Barron decided to join Travis in his tripto Wesson. The two have been close friends ever since.

“I like his wife better than I like him,” joked Travis. “Shemakes good cornbread.”

Travis and Barron were driving two of four wagons being drawn bya total of eight mules and four horses from Clinton, La. to theDixie Nationals in Jackson. The wagon train could be seen chuggingalong Hog Chain Drive Wednesday morning until it stopped inBrookhaven for some food and to pick up another wagon beforeheading to Wesson and joining the train there.

While the four wagon drivers enjoy traveling across the countyand taking in the sights and sounds of new areas, it is the bondsthey make with each other and their love for animals that make thetwo-week trip to Jackson worth every gallop.

“We enjoy all the fellowship with everybody, mainly showing ourhorses and mules,” said Travis.

Traveling at a pace of three to four miles per hour and 12 to 20miles a day, the group expects to make it to Jackson a week fromThursday. In their wagons, which they built themselves, they keepall the provisions they need such as a stove, heater, cookingsupplies, food, feed, beds and even a portable toilet.

“All but our money, but our wives got that,” said Travis.

While each puller has his own reasons for traveling in aprimitive RV, Travis enjoys the comfort that comes with thewagon.

“My tail got sore on that saddle,” said Travis.

After building cars, racing and traveling across country by wayof motorcycle, Travis said nothing compares to a horse-drawn wagon.He has been pulling for 26 years, and last year even pushed backsurgery to remove his cancerous bladder until March so he coulddrive in February.

“You don’t have to be crazy to do this, but it helps,” addedBarron.

When the group finally pulls into Jackson, Travis said they havebecome part of the show. He said schools will bring students andspectators will stop and ask questions about the pullers’ means oftransportation.

“It’s an old thing,” said Travis about traveling by wagon. “Ifwe don’t do it, it’s going to be lost.”