by Laura Freeman

Reporter

Hudson -- The bearded man in an orange T-shirt loaded the two white dogs into the wagon, climbed aboard, saluted and urged the draft horses forward onto Route 303.

Lee "Horselogger" Crafton, 46, passed through Hudson May 11 at approximately 3 p.m. on West Streetsboro Street.

Eastbound drivers passed his converted hay wagon, which resembles a shed on wheels, pulled by two Suffolk Punch draft horses, Max and Tom.

Crafton is traveling to Boston from his home in Montana the old-fashioned way, and he's lived most of his adult life without electricity and running water.

Crafton says he considers his way of life and even his cancer a blessing.

He said he was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2005 and chose to fight it with holistic medicine.

In August 2006, Crafton says, he left his ranch and logging job in Montana and began his cross-country trip with his horses, wagon and two Great Pyrenees dogs to visit his childhood sweetheart Nancy in Boston.

With only $75 to begin the trip, he lives out of his wagon and relies on the kindness of others along the way.

Crafton stayed in a field next to the Valley Fire District Station on Route 303 in Peninsula, where he did his laundry and took a hot shower after breakfast in downtown Peninsula. It was nearly 1:30 p.m. before he was finished grooming the horses and getting them hooked into their harness to begin his day of traveling through Hudson and Streetsboro.

"I usually like being on the road by 11 a.m.," Crafton said.

Crafton said he travels approximately 2.5 miles an hour, or 20 to 25 miles a day.

Crafton admitted he felt exhausted, but the trip made him feel better.

"It's too much of an adventure and too much fun," Crafton said.

Crafton eventually hopes to write a book about his adventures.

Friends document his trip at www.leehorselogger.com.

E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150