A very interesting traveler is making his way across the country, and he recently passed through the West Central Region.

Emile Bragen came all the way from France, and has spent the last two years travelling across the United States and Canada, carrying only what he can fit onto his 3 mules, named Jack, Sally, and Jojo. While Bragen said that the idea for this journey was initially a dream he had as a teenager, he explained why he wanted to do this.

“I wanted to know better these countries, and I enjoy so much the wildlife, the landscape, and to be outside and to meet people. I am a mule man, and a horse man, so sometimes it is very interesting to share horsemanship with the horse people of these countries.”

 

To help understand the scope of how far he’s traveled on foot, Bragen shared where he began his trip, and where he plans to go.

“I started the First of July from Cottonwood, Idaho, and then went to Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota. Now I am coming from North Dakota, and passing through Moose Jaw, and I'll keep going, south of Edmonton, and I would like to be in Grand Prairie before April.”

Bragen said that once he reaches Grand Prairie, he will return to France for two months to be with his family. He’ll then take his family for a visit to B.C.

He has also been putting Canada’s hospitality to the test, by spending the nights with whoever will b kind enough to take him in. He exclaimed that the kindness of those who have welcomed him was “wonderful,” and that it’s made his journey a bit easier.

When asked what it was about his journey that he enjoyed the most, Bragen had this to say;

“I cannot say! I enjoy something every day! It can be to meet people, it can be to the nice landscape, it can be the wildlife, it can be a good day with the mules. There are so many things to enjoy every day.”

Emile Bragen is doing something very simple; he’s walking to a city. However, the way he’s doing it ensures that he will appreciate the sights he sees and the people he meets as he continues on this life defining journey.