Man rides mule from Minn. to Wyo. for work

updated 5:57 a.m. ET Aug. 21, 2007

GILLETTE, Wyo. - He rode his mule into town looking for work.

No, it wasn’t the opening scene of a Western movie. It was what Rod Maday did last week, ending a six-week odyssey from his hometown of Boy River, Minn.

“I’ve done about 1,500 miles and I’ve got the saddle sores to prove it,” he said.

Maday said he lost his driver’s license 10 years ago after he was accused in a hit-and-run, and was having a hard time finding work in Minnesota. He heard that Wyoming had plenty of jobs that paid well.

He set out with two mules. About a month ago, both mules got loose and one was hit by a car. It had to be euthanized.

Maday arrived at the Department of Workforce Services office on Friday morning wearing a torn shirt, dusty blue jeans, spurs and a cowboy hat. Astride his brown and silver mule, Henry, he caused several double-takes.

He didn’t stay long. He said some teenagers had yelled “uncalled for” things at him while he was riding into town the night before.

“Gillette’s nothing like what I had thought,” he said.

He left Saturday morning, riding west toward the Bighorn Mountains.

“I could probably get a job and stay here, but I’m not willing to part with my mule,” Maday said. “He’s my best friend and I’m not getting rid of him for nothing.”

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