Bishop is one of my favorite places in California, a beautiful little ranching town nestled against the Sierra mountain range and along the Owens River. It's famous for its trout fishing, but what interests me more is the annual Mule Days festival every year around Memorial Day. Bishop is also the "mule capital of the world," and the local ranchers take advantage of the event to show off some prize animals. I never realized how handsome a mule can be until I saw a parade of them up close. They have the fine physique of a horse, thick and nimble feet, and ears like cornstalks. The are renowned for their patience, their sure-footedness, and their capacity as pack animals.
The mule rules that week, and you can watch them in the street or log skidding and barrel racing at the rodeo. Eating ice cream, watching a mule parade on a small-town main street, having a steak from a local ranch--sounds like America.
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