Sun, Jul 05 2009
|
Published October 31, 2008 11:15 pm - Valerie Dunne knew she wanted to meet Bob Skelding as soon as she saw his horses and wagon. Wagon teamster lives life in the slow lane By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com Star Beacon ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP — Valerie Dunne knew she wanted to meet Bob Skelding as soon as she saw his horses and wagon.
“I think it’s kind of neat,” she said. Dunne was one of a handful of Tractor Supply employees who came outside Friday morning to see the horse-drawn wagon owned by Skelding, 49, who stopped at the store for a little rest and relaxation. The store also donated some food for Skelding’s horses. Sick of paying taxes and working at a nuclear power plant, Skelding quit his job and sold his house in Deerfield, N.H., to live life in the slow lane. “It’s fun,” he said. “No bills, no taxes and I get to meet lots of nice people.” On July 28, he hitched up his four Percheron draft horses to his homemade wagon/house and embarked on his dream — to travel across the country. Percherons are one prominent large draft horse breeds in the United States. Other large draft breeds are Belgians, Clydesdales, Suffolk Punches and Shires. With high gas prices, horses seemed to be the way to go, Skelding said. “I don’t know where I’m going, but I will probably head south next week,” he said, noting the recent cold snap drove him into a pair of long johns and winter coat. Snow would make camping a bit more difficult and the road hazardous for the horses: Joyce, Deedee, Dolly and Doc. Joyce and Deedee are 15 years old, half sisters, and were bred by his grandfather Jake Sheaffer in Muir, Mich. “I’ve had them since they were fillies,” he said. As for the wagon, Skelding built the wagon from scratch on a running gear. It’s 7 1/2 feet wide and 16 feet long. “Since it’s my home, I designed it as one,” he said. Inside the wagon Skelding has a full size bed, bathroom with shower and commode, a kitchen area with stove, refrigerator and sink, a small kitchen table, and a reclining, stuffed chair. It has 12-volt and 120-volt power, hot and cold water and propane for cooking and heating. 
More from the Archives section
|
Print this story
Post to del.icio.us
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
© 2009, Ashtabula Star Beacon
P.O. Box 2100, Ashtabula OH 44005-2100 (440) 998-2323, Send news tips and feedback 
|
Popular Business directory links - Ashtabula Apartments | Ashtabula Attorneys | Ashtabula Auto Dealers | Ashtabula Auto Parts | Ashtabula Auto Repair | Ashtabula Beauty Salons | Ashtabula Car Rental | Ashtabula Dentists | Ashtabula Doctors | Ashtabula Flowers | Ashtabula Hotels | Ashtabula Insurance | Ashtabula Loans | Ashtabula Mortgages | Ashtabula Movers | Ashtabula Pizza | Ashtabula Realtors | Ashtabula Restaurants | Ashtabula Storage | Ashtabula Tax Preparation | Ashtabula Travel | Ashtabula Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
