This story of travel is about when the modest travels of Team Trox intersected with the (much more extensive) travels of Cheryl and Joe. Specifically we met at the Lorenzo Driving Competition in July 0f 2019. A conflagration of story- telling sparked when Joe and I shared a shady spot at a picnic table on that sultry summer day. As Cazenovia lake sparkled in the distance and horse and carriage combinations of all descriptions crisscrossed the beautifully manicured grounds, I asked Joe (who described himself as “just a helper”) if they travelled a lot for driving competitions? With a definite twinkle in his eye, Joe asked if I really had enough time for that story?
It was at that moment that I knew that I was in for a treat! Challenge accepted—of course, I said “bring it”! And boy I’m glad I did. In the space of maybe 30 minutes Joe took me from New York, to Pennsylvania to the Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria England, then back to New York and then to Nepal.
When we parted ways in Cazenovia, I made a point of getting contact information from them because I knew that we’d only touched the tip of the iceberg of (what I’ve come to think of) as The Tales of Whiskey Hill.
The next part of this story happened in August when we managed to get all of our schedules to match up so that Mike and I could take a 40 mile trip to just northwest of Skaneateles to go and see Joe and Cheryl’s Gypsy wagon and a Sicilian donkey cart—or so I thought.
My preconceived vision of our visit to view said Sicilian donkey cart and the Gypsy cart of “the Journey to the Appleby Horse Fair” was totally blown apart the minute Cheryl opened the door from the tack room. We found ourselves in the aisle way of the barn and carriage house that they are building to house—what can only be described as—a very cool collection of horse drawn vehicles and accessories. The Gypsy Cart and the Sicilian Donkey Carts were just small portion of what they've collected so far.
But truly, what makes this group of objects special are the stories that Joe and Cheryl have collected as well. Stories about their travels as they tracked down the craftsmen and artisans that created these vehicles. And while they start their research online, that’s just how they grab hold of the first thread of the story. They then follow that thread, but not by staying in the virtual world but by going out and exploring the actual world. By communicating whenever possible with real people connected to the tale. By reaching out and asking questions. Asking first one person and then another. Traveling from one town to another town. Driving down driveways and knocking on one door and then heading down another road, another driveway and knocking on another door. And while some of their searching has led them to far off locations, they are cognizant of the fact that history might be just one state over or right in your own back yard.
Sicilian donkey carts are a traditional craft on the island of Sicily characterized by extensive carving and vibrant painted colors.
No part of the carts is left unadorned, from the panels to the undercarriage to the spokes of the wheels.
It doesn’t take long to realize that for Cheryl and Joe collecting the stories of the cultures and the people that created each piece is every bit as satisfying as owning the vehicle itself and that sharing those stories adds to the experience as well.
Interestingly enough, Dolce&Gabanna have a great feature on the history of the art and craftsmanship of the Sicilian Donkey Cart on their website as part of their focus on traditional Sicilian art under the theme of #DGSICILYISMYLOVE. Click on the image below to read the feature on their website.
So, you are probably asking “why is there a picture of a yak on the cover of this blog”? Well, that’s a Tale of Whiskey Hill for next time!