September news throughout the month
We await photos of the reception from you eagerly ! We will obviously be putting up lots more photos as soon as we can.T
Thank you Brigitte (Williams) so much for photos received today (071011)
Saturday 29th September - Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre to South Kensington
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| A huge thank you to Jonathan (Giles) in the photo above with his wife Cathy for all they did to organize the wonderful reception for us all - a great success and hugely appreciated by all of us!! |
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| Alphie and Max with Printemps' tail |
zand so to our reception so kindly offered by Eurostar at the Institut Français and in the playground of the Lycée Charles de Gaulle with the kind permission of Monsieur le Proviseur to all of whom we give our deep thanks - our welcome is in the presence of the French Ambassador, M. Bernard Émie the new French Consul General, M. Olivier Chambard, the Director of the Institut Français, M. Xavier Guerard, and also in the presence of Mme Marianne Eshet and Mme Andrée Maitre from the Fondation SNCF and Ms Mary Walsh from Eurostar.
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| In the carriage from left to right: Mme Andree Maitre, Mme Marianne Eshet, Jakki and Gill + the whole team and Princesse on left and Printemps on right |
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| The French Ambassador, M. Bernard Emie with Jakki and behind Vincent Roussel, the caterer |
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| From left, Richard Portham, Jonathan Giles and Xavier Guerard, the Director of the Institut Français amd on the far right, the French Ambassador |
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| Mme Marianne Eshet, Déléguée Générale of the Fondation SNCF - one of our largest sponsors |
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| Ms Mary Walsh from Eurostar to whom we owe the lovely reception as well as large sponsorship |
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| Monsieur Bernard Emie, the French Ambassador and Monsieur Xavier Guerard on the left |
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| Monsieur Olivier Chambard, the new French Consul Général |
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| From left: Brigitte Williams, Steve Axon, Jakki, Cathy Giles, Isabela Hughes |
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A happy team with a very proud of all of them, Jakki
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Photograph courtesy of Ki Price Photographer
The team leaving after the wonderful afternoon |
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Photograph courtesy of Ki Price photographer
The French Ambassador inspecting the 'nerve centre' of the expedition: the état major |
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Photograph courtesy of Ki Price photographer
Coming away from the French Institute |
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| Setting off home to Wormwood Scrubs (Jakki's grandson Alphie in between Gill and her |
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| Happy to be home at Wormwood Scrubs by the looks of it ! |
After much preparation we set off from Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre at 12 sharp. What an experience driving and riding through London again. We stop off in Prince Consort Road (inbetween Exhibition Road and Queensgate) to much a sandwich and time our arrival round the corner at Queensberry Place. Policemen and meter wardens are all very friendly. Fred is opposite the Royal Albert Hall - when has a Frenchman ever done that - station his carriage and horses outside the Royal Albert Hall - certainly not for many a year...
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| Yes, it is our Fred and Harry with Rita and Séduisante outside the Royal Albert Hall |
We arrive in time, around 2.00 pm and quite a few people are already assembled in Jakki's old playground at the Lycée (which appears far smaller to her than it did as a schoolgirl)!
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| Mandy P who has done so much to help SLL since our arrival in England |
The horses behave immaculately through London's traffic. Amongst the people there on our arrival is Lyndon Paisley - who some of our readers will remember we had to ask to leave, early on in the trip. We are absolutely thrilled he is there and admire his courage. He seems moved and pleased to see us all.
We've stopped for sandwiches in some strange places, but this beats it all in Prince Consort Road
Individualized thanks will come to you all much later in the year and we pray for your indulgence with us.
More and more people, including parents/family members of the young people, arrive, chatting to the team and admiring the horses as we congregate in the playground before going up to the reception in the salon. We are incredibly moved and deeply honoured that the French Ambassador, M. Bernard Emie, has come along with his son as well as the new French Consul General, M. Olivier Chambard. Both these gentlemen chat to everyone and the atmosphere is friendly and informal and they most kindly stay amongst us us for the two hour duration of the reception.
Nous vous remercions de tout coeur ! Also, we are deeply touched by M. Xavier Guerard's presence, the Deputy Director of the Institut Francais (who also helps Rene le Tal Jonathan and Cathy Giles, Richard Portham and Rene le Tallec clear up the rest of the horses' mess in the playground. Thank you to you last 3, not least for this noble act...).
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Well here's Jonathan and below are Cathy and Richard
but where is René le Tallec - no doubt chatting to Xavier (Guerard) |
We must say that there were some lovely people who continually cleared up behind the horses while we were upstairs enjoying the speeches and festivities. Thank you to Lyndon and Jack Tucker, amongst many others who helped. We are also hugely delighted that Mme Marianne Eshet, Mme Andree Maitre (who make the journey specially from Paris) from the Fondation SNCF and Ms Mary Walsh from Eurostar (our huge sponsors) are there to welcome the team and horses and
we thank them also most deeply.
We extend our deepest thanks to Caroline Baldock, Gill Nurse's friend, for having so very kindly agreed to be at the 11th hour our escort driver for the day, using her own car, to and back from the French Institute. Caroline is the link person for the Museum of the Horse. Thank you so much, Caroline for all you did for us on the day - AND FOR TAKING JAKKI'S DOG NANA IN THE CAR WITH YOU TOO. It is deeply appreciated.
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From the right: Mme Andree Maitre, Mme Marianne Eshet (Fondation SNCF), Ms Mary Walsh (Eurostar) and Jakki
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Many of the RDA people are there too, also good friends, family and others and we thank you all most, most sincerely for making it so memorable for the team. Some are unable to join us due to illness and we wish them all well and
'get better soon our Sheila, for instance'. Thank you also to Carole Rogers and Brigitte Williams for being there too ! We thank Jonathan and Cathy Giles for organizing everything so perfectly and liaising with the lovely Vincent Roussel, the caterer at the Institut Francais who did us proud (again huge thanks to Mary Walsh from Eurostar for the drinks and food).
The speeches are given by the French Ambassador, M. Bernard Emie, followed by Mme Marianne Eshet, Déléguée Générale from the Fondation SNCF, then by Jakki and are wound up by the French Consul Général M. Olivier Chambard - a rider himself !
Truly, truly, thank you to each and every one of you present, from the heart and from the whole team.
We are deeply grateful to Anna Tyzack from the Weekend Telegraph who wrote that lovely article early on when we had just set off from the Camargue, for sending the lovely Ki Price, a photographer, to capture the moments of this wonderful afternoon. Anna is intending to write another article about SLL White Horses and the winding up of our project and we look forward to reading the article.
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| The Lycée Charles de Gaulle playground |
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| Edwin - 4 years old |
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| Alphie - 8 years old |
While we wait for everyone to arrive, Jakki's grandsons are given a ride by the team who treat them affectionately. (The grandsons do the carriage trip back to Wormwood Scrubs one in Fred's carriage, one in Jakki's carriage and we hope that sitting in a two-horse carriage through central London will be forever remembered by them).
The riders and drivers get 'home' safely to Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre, again the horses and team cope brilliantly with the busy Saturday late afternoon traffic through South Kensington, up High Street Kensington, on into Notting Hill, down into Ladbroke Grove (well, up and down as it's steep) and so back to Scrubs Lane. Sister Mary Joy Langdon calls to make sure we are back safely. Our hearts are full as this is our last ride/drive all together with our lovely, lovely and most noble horses.
From Wormwood Scrubs to South Kensington on 290912
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The French Institute map to get there |
SATURDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER AT 2.30 pm - 4pm
We are happy to announce that the French Ambassador and the 'incoming' new French Consul General, Monsieur Olivier Chambard, have had the very great kindness of greeting the Caravan of Hope. We thank them both deeply for stepping in at the last hour and we also thank deeply Monsieur Xavier Guerard, the Deputy Director of the French Institute for all he has done to help. Monsieur Edouard Braine, the outgoing French Consul General, hopes to visit us Friday afternoon at Wormwood Scrubs RDA. He is deeply sorry that he will have left for France and will no longer be there to greet us. Edouard has done a very great deal for the SLL White Horses Charity project and we also thank him deeply.
N.B. The location for this will now be at the French Institute, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DT. We hope that you will be numerous to come and acclaim the young riders who deserve support for their Oylmpian achievements.
Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Margaret and Ed Hayes for Saturday 21st September when the funeral of Roger and Andy Hayes will take place - Roger and Andy were killed over France in late June when their light aircraft crashed.
We send our heartfelt condolences to our Fred and his 3 children, his mother, sister and their family and friends on the recent death of his father.
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Just in case you need reminding, Chris on the "Normandie" showing everyone the route covered in France
on horseback and by carriage !! |
**** PLEASE KEEP GOING BACK DOWN - WE ARE ADDING NEW PHOTOS AND A BIT OF TRA LA LA all the time.
Tuesday 25th September - the team arrives at Wormwood Scrubs Pony Club, London
(almost 5 months since setting off from the Camargue)
RDA reception at RDA Wormwood Scrubs Pony Club - Friday 28th September
Reception at French Institute – Saturday 29th September
2nd October - RDA Centres coming to collect their horses
2nd October - young French and young English leave London for home
FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2012 AT 11 AM
The RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) reception at Wormwood Scrubs RDA Pony Club, takes place Friday morning, through the very great kindness of Sister Mary Joy Langdon and her team, who give SLL this memorable and warm reception at 11 am at Woodman Mews, London W12 0HU. We thank deeply and from the heart Sister Mary Joy Langdon, Daphne, Jenny, Anca, Bee and Ben amongst others.
It is lovely to see Ed Bracher, Chief Executive of the RDA here today as well as Steve, Lynn, Anna and the other lovely person from the Diamond RDA Centre as well as Sally-Anne Field accompanied by husband China. Also thank you so much to Dan Brown and David Pritchard for being here too. Sister Mary Joy rehearses the riders through a 'routine' which they perform beautifully. Fred and Luke help with rehearsals and the show goes on accompanied by wonderful music.
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| Medals and rosettes so well deserved by our riders being handed out |
At the end of the display by our young riders, Sister Mary Joy hangs a
'Queen's 60 Diamond Jubilee Medal' round all the 6 riders' necks and a rosette saying
"Winner" for each horse
. How thoughtful is that !! And then we tuck in to a wonderful reception with yummy sandwiches, cakes, tea-cakes, chocolates, crips and drinks.
Thank you so, so much for this memorable reception, Sister Mary Joy, and to all your wonderful team. (The riders all confess to having felt nervous...)
And every one's a winner !
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| Getting ready to go into the arena |
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| Sister Mary Joy waiting for our riderst to go through to rehearsals |
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| Our riders in the wonderful indoor school that "Challenge Anika" put up in 72 hours |
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| After the tail shampooing - and we mean the horse, not Beth! |
26th/27th September
The team busy themselves cleaning tack, harnesses, looking after the horses, doing the shoppingn. When chores are done, on Thursday afternoon some of them go into central London (leaving some to look after the horses, of course).
25th September onwards - Deen City Farm to Wormwood Scrubs Pony Club RDA !!!
We make it through London today safely in cold, but sunny weather from Wimbledon to Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre where Sister Mary Joy Langdon, Jenny and Ben are there to welcome us warmly and emotionally. Our last stopover all together. We have made ourselves at home and please forgive us if there aren't any photos for a day or two. We know that Sister Mary Joy took some on our arrival so we will see if she can give them to us tomorrow. Gill navigates brilliantly through the route chosen by her and Jakki - a scenic route over Putney Bridge, down through Fulham to South Kensington, High Street Kensington to Notting Hill Gate (where we stopped for water for the horses) and onwards to Ladbroke Grove and thereon to Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre. People were snapping away at us most of the way! Jakki is extremely proud of the whole team. Truly proud of them and, as for the wonderful horses, well there are no words to describe their courage, loyalty and sangfroid.
24th/25th September - St Ebba's Farm to Deen City Farm Wimbledon
Thank you to all at Deen City Farm for allowing us to stay with you.
We have an interestingly fraught drive along the A240 and A24 to Deen City Farm, but all goes well and we arrive late afternoon. Sorry for the lack of pictures, but we are dodging the rain, most of us are soaked, but we are all in good spirits and the horses are fine.
Leaving St Ebba's Farm with our stoic crew
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| Leaving St Ebba's farm after our lovely stay |
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| Leaving RDA Epsom on Monday morning |
22nd/23rd/24th September - Ockham to Epsom RDA, St Ebba's Farm, Hook Lane, Epsom
Thank you from the heart to Stella, Bo, Joanna, Pauline, Ewan and all of you here at St Ebba's Farm for having us to stay and being so very hospitable. Thank you Bo for your extremely funny stories tonight about your prosthetic arms.. the laughter did us all a power of good. You are an example to us all !
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| Thank you for these photos, Stella ! |
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We hope that some of you at Epsom RDA can send us photos to illustrate our lovely time spent with you !
Beth took these at night, but alas, we don't have any that illustrate... |
It pours with rain all day but we hear that the Open Day goes well despite the weathe: good British stoicism.. Thank you so much to you all for the barbecue you kindly gave to the team for free at lunchtime. Amanda comes to visit and it is a real pleasure to see her. Thank you so, so much for coming Amanda. Dominic, Jakki's son pops in with his new girlfriend, Louise, and it is lovely to see them. Gill's friend donates a large tin of Quality Street and some fruit which is extremely kind. We eat supper in the coffee room and Bo is hilarious with her stories about her prosthetic arms. A friendly atmosphere prevails during this wet, wet night.
Sunday is RDA Epsom's Open Day as well as the Diamond Centre's Open Day - we wish both groups success (despite the rain forecast). We shall of course be here for St Ebba's Farm Open Day and Amanda from Worlds End is coming. It will be lovely to see her again.
When we approach the Hook Road Arena roundabout, there is a welcome party of RDA volunteers on the look out for us. Thank you so much - it warmed our hearts. Stella Milne, the lovely chairman of the group, organises tea and biscuits for us on arrival (after we've looked after and showered the horses). Stella has kindly organised some horse feed for us having asked Jakki what we needed and Ewan, the Group's Treasurer, kindly goes and gets some items of food that we need for the next two or three days.
Bo is utterly helpful. Bo is a disabled volunteer and Trustee of the group (with some 26 years at the Group) and she lets us clean our saddle cloths in the washing machine as they are a bit grubby, not having been washed since Elven.
Jakki gets angry because some of the team (who shall remain nameless for the time being) walk into town leaving others to feed the horses and do the chores - of course, they are back by the time supper is due. She is especially cross because Fred is still unwell and could do with some help. Good old Kevin is doing the cooking. Good old Beth and Luke feed the horses as they do again Sunday morning and Peter washes up.
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| Max, Gill's rescue Breton spaniel, enjoying his carriage drive - he's becoming an old hand |
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| No water at Fairmile |
On the way, the carriages try to stop for water, but even along this tree-lined road with large houses, no one gives us water or is to be seen to ask. Perhaps they think we are gypsies... A driver waves to us - it is Hannah, Gill's daughter whom we saw last night at Fiona and James'.
We bid farewell to Fiona and her daughter Bethany and set off through our last countried ride which becomes outer London as we approach Epsom. The horses cope well with crossing major roads as we give them some pre-London tasters. They've done it all before, in France !
21st/22nd September - East Clandon to Little Upton, Ockham
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| Saying farewell to Fiona, daughter Bethany and friend Jo |
A delicious chicken casserole hits the team's stomachs and gives them warmth and sustenance as we sit round James and Fiona's lovely table in their lovely dining room with their sweet daughter Bethany. We had been going to eat outside, but it starts to rain heavily. Good old England ! Gill's daughter comes bearing what we are missing - milk, ham and other goodies which she very kindly donates to us. An extra chair is put round the table for Hannah.
James and Fiona Fielding are there to welcome us onto their lovely land and announce that they are very kindly giving the team a chicken casserole tonight. We are getting very spoiled with you all. Thank you so much James and Fiona for putting us up and especially at such short notice too. Gill gives Jakki some yoga practice for a sore back. James drives Harry, Chris and Peter into town. Fred has caught " la crève " and is resting. James and Fiona's daughter comes back from school and feeds all the horses some carrots. Gill's daughter, Hannah, who lives nearby, is popping round after work.
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| At James and Fiona's, Ockham |
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| Poor old Fred, feeling a bit poorly - still he never complains |
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| Seduisante |
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| Printemps & Princesse |
19th/20th/21st September - Godalming to East Clandon
Our huge thanks to you Carol for your wonderful reception and the curries you so kindly and
generously ordered for us Wednesday night when we arrived. Truly, thank you. Also thank you for the washing you did... Truly, Truly THANK YOU !
We hope that you will send us the photos that you took, Carol and truly, truly thank you.
Well what a lovely, lovely evening at Liz and Roger Harrison's. Thank you so, so much Liz and Roger for your very great hospitality which we ALL THOROUGHLY, THOROUGHLY ENJOYED. It was truly lovely seeing Pauline Lane, Maria, Angie and her husband, Petria, et al, and the food was absolutely delicious. We've all just had a slice of brownie and thank you for those as well as all the other gifts you showered on us. (Lifts, bath for Jakki, clothes wash and tolerating our dogs, amongst many other things). Roger's stories were absolutely fascinating and as you yourself say, Liz, he is unique.
We gather that there will be a possee of cars coming to pick us up to take us to Liz and Roger Harrison's tonight for a barbecue ! Gill, Luke and Beth took a bus into Guildford and Beth came back panicked by the noise and traffic ! She wants to live in a cornfield ... The others spent their day eating, looking after the horses and resting. Harry's mum, Mary came to visit and took Fred to see the route for tomorrow's ride, some 4 to 5 miles away in Ockham.
The curries are hugely enjoyed by Brits and French. Carol's hospitality and warmth are enormously appreciated as well as her beautiful surroundings. Lovely to meet your daughters, Nicky and Sam and grandsons too, one of whom Jakki has dubbed 'filthy' Finley and the other 'naughty' Noah - neither of which reflect these lovely children, by the way! Oh, and lovely meeting all the dogs. The riders have yet another wonderful ride through bridle paths and are elated. The carriages negotiate Guildford safely and driving through Guildford, we are hailed by Marisa from Cranleigh RDA, who pops round later in the evening, armed with Swiss chocolates for the team and offering her services as a physio - to the team and not for the horses we must add. Lovely seeing you Marisa. Liz Harrison, through whom we are staying here at East Clandon, is having us all to supper tonight. Liz pops round too.
p.s. Thanks, John for all your help - sorry we took away all your hot water...
Let's not forget Gill and all she is doing to help us - her navigation skills are great and her groom duties are wonderfully performed !
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Our watering-the-horses stop at the Horse & Groom just outside Guildford
(no free drinks this time, but we are of interest to the 'locals and passers-by) |
17th/18th/19th September - Fernhurst to Godalming
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| Surrey Advertiser article |
Our very great thanks to Becca and Rupert Harvie at Heath Farm for putting us up !
On the way to Godalming with the carriages, Gill knocks on the door at Gospel Green Cottage at Gospel Green. A charming couple who are cider makers give us water for the horses and speak excellent French to boot. Not only do they give us a bottle of their excellent cider, but also a £10 note !!
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| Riders on their way to Heath Farm, Godalming |
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| Gospel Green Cottage dating in part back to 1640 |
At the next watering stop, we stop by The Sun pub and whom do we meet, but Tony Singer, Judi's husband.
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| The Sun |
The publican kindly gives us water for the horses and free drinks ! Then on arrival at Heath Farm, Judi is there to meet us. The next evening, thanks to the generosity of Judi and Tony it's fish and chips all round - with PUDS too.
Thank you so much, both of you, for all you have done. Amongst the people who come to see us and join in with our supper are Pauline Lane from Cranleigh RDA where Perdigau, the Camargue horse we gave in 2008 is, and Rosemary Harrison as well as Sally Anne and her husband who are having Thais from East Park RDA. It is lovely seeing you all. If we have forgotten any of you, please forgive us ! The evening is a bitterly cold one, but our hearts are warmed.
16th/17th September - Steep to Fernhurst
A huge thank you to Joyce for the absolutely beautiful site we are staying in at Fernhurst. We are also incredibly grateful to you too (and thank you again, Amanda, for your intervention).
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| At Joyce's at Fernhurst |
The riders have a fantastic day.
The writer, as yet, hasn't got the details, but they are all very excited. You'll have to wait an hour or so to hear what happened, but the pictures, in the writer's eye, show that they started off rather tired from their over exertions at Selina's and Paul's... Something must have bucked them up...
In Beth's words: "W
e were just riding along and then we saw 6 different coloured horses and we stopped and chatted and there was a girl who had lived in the Camargue but she has come to England for university but she is English and was riding with her grandfather and grandmother and there were also friends of theirs at the farm and then the French girl recognised the Camargue horses" And then coincidentally we were going in the same direction so we decided it would be nice to ride on together through the forest and it was nice and we stopped at their place for English biscuits (custard creams) and cups of tea. We exchanged emails and stuff like that. They really envied what we were doing. There was a white (or shall we put grey) horse called Sparky who looked identical to little Thais."
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Our dormouse, Kevin
Kevin tells Jakki, on arrival at Fernhurst that for the first time in his life with all the riding he did today, he didn't feel like losing his temper. He was thrilled and so was Jakki ! May his lovely humour tonight continue! Alleluyah - the horses are helping !!
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| This is not our destination - What are you doing?? |
We set off from our lovely new friends, Selina and Paul's house, surrounded by their friends and well wishers. Though the weather is dull, the afternoon turns to sunshine. Jakki manages to break the gyrophare on her carriage from the overhanging branches, but thanks to Amanda's father, Trevor, we have another one that he gave us, just in case. Thanks, Trevor, you must be psychic - and Harry fixes it onto the carriage, so all's well that ends well. (Thanks, Harry).
Joyce had shown a pub yesterday on the map to stop at halfway on the way to water the horses: Joyce is at the pub to greet us and the
RISING SUN PUB AT MILLAND offers us free drinks and passersby donate £8 to us. A huge thank you to all.
Fred starts cooking supper - he's had a few days of not doing so. It's nice to hear him whistling while he works chopping away! His first time cooking in England for us. Yummy, we hope.
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| Pasture at Fernhurst |
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| Joyce, our host tonight, outside the Rising Sun pub (Joyce is holding Max, Gill's dog) |
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| The sign is just by a little bridge... Well spotted by Gill! |
14th, 15th,
16th September - Buriton to Steep
Thank you so, so much to Selina and Paul for your huge hospitality - we are incredibly grateful to you both and to your friends for all you have done.
Again, we are indebted: now it is to Selina and Paul for their hospitality. The day (Saturday) was spent by some in the pool, or going to Petersfield to do the shopping (Fred and Jakki), or others wandering into the town.
And guess who, play?
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Frankie, an RDA friend of Selina's talking to Gill
Some of us play while some of us work. Notice who aren't in the hot tub
THE WORKERS OF COURSE |
Selina and Paul lays on a second supper for the team - everyone is showered and is fed. Selina also, like Amanda, does our washing for us, so clothes are clean too. Scores (exaggeration, of course) of people came during the day bearing flapjacks and brownies, chocolate biscuits, scones with jam, cream and a strawberry on top. We have lost count of how much we have been given and how much we have eaten and whom we have met. But, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL. Also, Selina organises a journalist who comes from the Petersfield Herald.
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| Jakki and Dominic with Seth |
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| In Selina and Paul's garden |
Oh yes, and Joyce with whom we are staying in Fernhurst tomorrow evening. We owe Joyce to Amanda ! 'Our' Amanda who doesn't stop helping us !! Again, thank you from the heart Amanda and thank you to Joyce for coming over especially to show us the route for our next two journeys to Fernhurst and East Clandon - and for driving all over the countryside to look at the roads on our behalf and for giving us a stop over in our hour of need. Jakki's son, Dominic, comes to visit the team - an unexpected surprise. Our jour de pause, is a busy one and a happy one.
And Friday morning, just after the riders have left Amanda arrives with Fred !! In the rain !! Thank you again, Amanda, deeply from all of us - Welcome Home Fred... We are all thrilled to have you back safely with us again. Andrew hado to leave before Fred arrives, but yet again, we are so grateful to Andrew for his hospitality.
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| A watering stop in an English village |
Fred's carriage is ready and waiting for him as are Séduisante and Rita, groomed and harnessed up.
Off set the carriages in the rain en route to Steep across beautiful countryside, sloping hills and narrow, narrow roads.
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| Princesse and Printemps really enjoying the English countryside |
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| A back view taken by Gill... not very 'office like' inside Jakki's carriage... |
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Fred chopping wood in an English Country Garden
He does actually have a wood burning stove at home so is ued to it, but he makes all laugh |
Drivers are very courteous. Gill (and Max) enjoy their second day in the carriage. The welcome at Selina and Paul's is amazing - tea is laid on in the garden with home made coconut sponge cake made by a friend of Selina's - Pauline. Selina and Paul have made a lovely lasagne for supper with baked potatoes and carrots and beans. The team eat heartily by the brasero (which Fred chopped the wood for amidst laughter) and the promise to not leave any leftovers is kept.
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| En route to Steep |
12th, 13th
till 14th September - from Worlds End to Buriton
Thank you so much, Andrew (and of course, Molly too) for having us to stay and all your kindness. The loo and shower were most, most welcome and the horses just loved their beautiful field!
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| Beth's service to the team - she makes our sandwiches every morning ! Bless, Beth x |
Acutally Fany and Gwen made the sandwiches today
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| Nothing like a good stretch, Princesse, is there ! |
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| Gill, who is now permanently on the team |
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| Snoozing in the September English (??)sunshine |
Amanda has offered to pick up Fred from Southampton airport, so yet again, we owe a debt of gratitude to Amanda for going to be bringing our Fred back.
Arrival at Buriton at Andrew Mcgraham’s in the rain and a real downpour during the night which is a chilly one. Thursday turns out to be a lovely day. Sunny and warm. Andrew has given us the use of a shower and loo which is wonderful and a lovely field for the horses to graze in which slopes down majestically from the woods above. Andrew’s neighbour, Sarah, also helps us, and we are incredibly grateful to Sarah too. Hope the eventing goes well tomorrow (Saturday).
The team enjoy the sunshine, showering and BEING CLEAN AGAIN – Kevin has the very great thoughtfulness, to make a Welcome Home sign for Fred.
Fred will be very touched, that is for sure. The evening brings a distinct chill on but Gill and Beth are preparing ‘Pork Stew à la Gill’ ! Tomorrow evening NO COOKING FOR THE TEAM AS SELINA HAS PROMISED US A LASAGNE. Gill's hotpot is delicious and enjoyed by all.
We don't meet our lovely host till Thursday evening and meet his equally lovely daughter Molly and take them for an evening meeting of our horses in the dark.
Our
departure from Amanda’s is emotional.
She and her family have done so much to help us. Barbara Woods comes to visit – carrying a
large marrow and 3 boxes of eggs for us.
Thank you so much, Barbara ! She
had also rung up the BBC locally. An
Andrew Higgings calls Jakki up from the BBC.
He will try his best to send a crew before we leave the area. We will see... Phil Madgwick is dropped off
to carriage drive for us for the day by his wife Emma. Thank you so much Phil for the help you have
given us for this day, enabling us to move on before Fred’s return, and of
course, to Emma too.
It’s the
horses’ first time on the left. It
doesn’t phase them. Phil seems to like
to keep up a fast pace with the horses.
He knows people all along the way and we either drive in to their farms
for him to chat to them (while watering the horses) or they stop in their cars
to hail him. It’s Gill’s first day in
the carriage with her dog, the Breton Spaniel, Max who is very obedient. Gill copes beautifully with her first time as
‘groom’. Thatched cottages and typically
English country cottages and houses make for a definite separation from France.
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Phil Madgwick driving P & P to Buriton from Worlds End
Phil does the journey map plan for the drive... |
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| First time for the riders and Camargues in England |
8th, 9th, 10th ,11th, 12th September - Portsmouth to Worlds End, near Waterlooville
How does one describe the kindness of Amanda Prowting who lives with her son Peter, who is a wheelchair user. Words are not sufficient to say thank you for everything Amanda, her father Trevor, sister Nicky, and all her family and friends who have visited us over the last few days have done for us. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF ALL OUR HEARTS FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US TO MAKE OUR STAY SO WONDERFUL AND MEMORABLE!
Thanks to Amanda, Angela from the HAMPSHIRE SADDLERY has donated a huge amount of equipment to us including, shampoo, witch hazel and arnica creams, detanglers for manes and tails, bandages, cotton wool, eye treatments and countless other items. THANK YOU DEEPLY FOR YOUR HUGE GENEROSITY, ANGELA !
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| Nicky, Amanda's friend, not only gives the horses a massage, but... |
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| Luke too gets the full Monty(bless you Nicky, we all loved meeting you) |
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| Hello, I'm Seth ! Look at Fany's handiwork on my mane and tail |
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| Fanny's work on Seth |
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Amanda on the left, Peter in the middle ,and Amanda's 'just married' friend |
Tuesday: Patrick and Pascal leave early to go to Poole to catch the ferry. Gill and Beth have tidied up the kitchen carriage and done an inventory ready for Jakki and Gill to go shopping when the car is back.
On Monday morning, Patrick Moan and Pascal arrives with the other five horses and 3 young French people, Gwen, Fany and Kevin.
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| Welcome Gwen, Fany and Kevin to England ! |
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| We're not so sad to have left France |
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Gwen couldn't wait for her English breakfast on board which Kevin declines
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| On board |
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| Seems that even on board, we can't get away from horses |
Patrick goes to pick up some Welsh A Ponies from Terry Wall - who has done so much to help our charity (Thank you, as ever, Terry) and Amanda has 15 further horses, all told, on her land for the night.
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| Patrick with 3 of his Welsh A's bred by Terry Wall |
What luxury we have here: 2 portakcabin loos - one for the boys, one for the girls. Amanda arranges for an awning to be put up by our kitchen carriage. Amanda does our laundry which comes back sweet smelling. Phone calls are made to help us. Her next door neighbour, Rocking Robin, finds a garage for the car which needs some urgent attention. Patrick's lorry is welded where it needs to be.
The horses are all relaxing in a field and the newly arrived Princesse, Rita, Osiris, Qualitous and Lilas recover and find their landlegs. Much neighing and excitement at finding each other altogether again.
Amanda is amazed at how friendly all the horses are with us humans.
Printemps, Seduisante, Thais, Raboliot and Seth are the first horses to be loaded up onto the lorry.
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AND SO TO ENGLAND FOR HALF THE TEAM AND HORSES ON NIGHT OF 7TH AND THE OTHER HALF ON NIGHT OF 9TH abord the good ship Normandie courtesy of Brittany Ferries Freight.
4th to 7th/9th September Cairon to Douvres la Delivrande thanks to Mme Stephanie Lehodey who saved us by offering us a large field as base camp here at Douvres la Delivrande in a field at her Ferme de la Baronnie. Enormes THANKS TO YOU MME LEHODEY FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY FOR OUR LAST STAY IN FRANCE !!! And thanks to you DD (André Cheron and your little grandaughter Maeva) for your lovely visits, the freshly baked bread, lettuces and bread for the horses and to the neighbour for his water, electricity, strawberries and more lettuces !
DD works for the Count and Countess of Miribel who live at the Château de Cairon, near our previous stop, but he lives here at Douvres la Delivrande. The young French and Fred have the pleasure of meeting the Count and Countess.
Each evening while we are here at Douvres, DD comes with his grandaughter, Maeva; on Thursday evening, she has been promised a ride on one of the Camargues and Luke obliges with his usual helpfulness. The little horse behaves beautifully and all's well that ends well.
Jakki reads the riot act about tidiness and getting sorted for the next day. Help and action happen!
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| Dear old Luke (and Beth too) giving little Maeva a ride on one of the Camargues by night |
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| Maeva looking quizzically at DD and Jakki doing the big handshake |
Some of the team will be leaving on Friday 7th September to sail from Ouistreham - the 4 draught horses and 1 Camargue, Harry, Luke, Peter, Beth, Chris, Jakki and Gill Nurse + 2 dogs + 1 carriage; then our lovely Patrick Moan, accompanied by Pascal Offredo, will be driving the lorry across to Ouistreham for the Caen to Portsmouth sailing to arrive early on 8th. Patrick will then come back and fetch the other 5 Camargue horses and Fred, Gwen, Fany and Kevin +1 carriage on Sunday 9th for the night sailing. The blog may get a little spasmodic, but we are sure that our readers will "understand".
Our last ride and drive in convoy to Douvres la Delivrande happens in beautiful sunshine. A little nostalgic for some and the ride/drive is calm as the drivers/riders remember from whence they've come ! No more rides this time round in France. This is the last one. On to England now! Our field is just after the
'Musée' du Radar' and a signpost saying
'Overlord Assaut' is more than moving (to some).
The sunny day turns into a rather cool evening, but we stay hopeful for an Indian Summer in the UK.
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| Sweet dreams |
DD and Maeva come to visit. We had met them at Cairon. He promises us lettuces and some brioches.
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| Kevin captures this little beauty (on film) |
Jakki is thrilled: she didn't see any corn fields on this last drive through France - they are her pet hate! Millions of acres across France just covered with corn! Why is so much grown? What's happened to all the other crops??
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| Base camp at Douvres la Delivrande with that oh so lush grass |
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th September from Ellon to Cairon in another field !
Our huge thanks to Monsieur Marc Bellet, the owner of the field we are in, and a Conseiller Municipal to boot, and to Mme Sylvie Jeanne for loaning us their field and kindness shown
We decide to have a barbecue of jacket potatoes, dripping with Normandy butter and pork chops. Don't worry, rest assured, we do clear up...
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| Nana, ever hopeful |
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| Well deserved rest for a couple of days |
We are to stay a day longer than we thought here at Ellon where, despite all the kindness shown, facilities are at a minimum. Still, it's not raining ! Gill Nurse will be joining us for the English leg of the journey and we all look very much forward to welcoming her (and Max) on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning at our base camp near Ouistreham, which at the moment of writing is still not defined. Séduisante and Rita have been ridden several times and are as good as gold. We'll try and get some photos of them with saddles on as soon as we can. At Jakki's request, Monsieur Bellet brings some hay, but the horses aren't very interested in it yet, still finding enough grass to munch through. Monsieur Bellet also brings hot water in milk churns for the team to have a sponge-down with.
On the way to Ellon
Yes, we are in September now and the day is overcast. The carriages stop for water just outside a rather elegant chateau and Jakki asks Peter to pose as if he was the owner. A few minutes before, the real owner has walked down the drive, suspicious no doubt at seeing our carriages, and tactfully tells us that they are having a family wedding later on and there will be many cars. We reassure her that we will be leaving in two minutes, which we do.
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| The Lord of the Manor: we mean Peter, not Printemps |
Jakki goes onto the internet and finds that one of the articles done recently by the journalist from Ouest France at Balleroy has come through, so here it is. The next door neighbour from whom we run our cables has suggested that the girls have showers. Some of us, including the writer, haven't had a shower for a week...
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| A series of strange trees as if planted in pots but in stone surrounds in the fields |
Normandy really differs from Brittany as does each region differ one from another. Here we pass stone houses, enormous farms, but the stones are not the grey of Brittany, but have a pale, warm yellow/whitish hue, reminiscent of the whitish stone buildings in the Charente. The stone is called
Pierre de Caen.
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On our way down small, narrow roads, in a biting cold north-easterly wind, but with a lot of sunshine, we pass the beautiful Abbey de Mondaye - an enormous site which, as the pictures show, is being restored.
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| The beautiful Abbaye de Mondaye with a shiny onion dome in one corner of the huge, walled Abbey estate |
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| Renovations to the Abbaye |
For the first time, Harry hasn't been able to locate/get hold of the Mayor,
but he has found a nice farmer's wife, Madame Havard, who shows him the field the Mayor has earmarked for us - with no water or electricity point. Mme Havard then shows us her field - which has water for the horses - and that is where we stay (she's also happy to let us run the extension leads). The Mayor arrives and gives us permission to use the local school toilets just 30 seconds down the road and which also has fresh water for our drinking needs. Beth and Jakki go to the tap in the sink out in the open in the playground and wash their hair. Freezing water refreshes them botth and they are glad to have 'clean hair. The evening is crowned by a
pot-au-feu alla Fred cooked in the pressure cooker, which is both delicious and heartwarming.
30/31st From la Barre de Semilly to Balleroy
Merci beaucoup a vous, Monsieur le Maire de Balleroy !
We leave the department of La Manche and are now in the Calvados department of Normandy. Another lovely welcome in another field and in another place: this time with no loos (and no showers of course) - we go 'pleine nature'.
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| Yummy, more lovely, lovely Normandy grass after a hard day's work |
Thanks to the local Mayor, two journalists come to do an article. Liliane Grimaux from La Renaissance newspaper and a man from Ouest France. Today - a distance of about 20kms - the riders follow the carriages for some of the way or take paths or GR's. Stopping for water for the horses (and eating one's sandwich once the horses have been watered) always seems to yield nice people and conversations. Today, we ask for water at a house and it turns out to be the local lady Mayor's home. She chats happily to us as does a passer by who stops his car. It turns out that he has a Cob Normand and a Roulotte d'Archimedes. He compliments us on the state of our draught horses. (Jakki had been to see these wonderful roulottes at Isigny in 2009, but they were a little too expensive for our purse strings. Our new friend has just spent a week touring in his home region of Normandy with his family in his roulotte and with his Cob Normand.
Balleroy is an historic, large village, a little reminiscent of an English village. 4 very steep roads lead out of the town centre and our field is at the top of one of these.
29/30th August from the Haras National de St Lo to La Barre de Semilly
We leave the Haras National in glorious sunshine and arrive at our lush green field, some 5 kilometres away, at La Barre de Semilly. The Mayor, Monsieur Renimel comes to see us. It turns out that not only is he Mayor of the Commune, but also Président of a 50 year old association called
"Reines de la Vie" or "The Reins of Life" which helps 500 people with mental disabilities ride each year n the Manche Department of Normandy. In fact he is hoping to organize the National Championships of France at St Lo in 2014.
Tres grands remerciements a vous, Monsieur Renimel. pour votre si gentil accueil a La Barre de Semilly.
Then, to cheer the team up (as if they need it), along comes a French lady with two homemade brioches and some homemade rhubarb jam for tea. A journalist comes along and does an interview from La Manche and should be sending us the link to the article when it appears. Two ladies turn up on horseback and find it difficult to get past our carriages and our horses. Overhearing English being spoken, they turn out to be English and go by the names of Chris and Penny ! A longish chat ensues. They run an association for English Riders in Normandy called Galloping in Normandy.
26th/27th/28th/29 August from near Hambye to the Haras National de St Lo which is the cradle of the Selle Français horse: Our very, very GREAT REMERCIEMENTS to Mme Lucie Henri, the Acting Director of the Haras National de St Lo, and to M. Vincent Ferey for allowing us to stay in your beautiful grounds. Our very, very great THANKS to the student farriers and, especially, to their 'Prof', Monsieur Franck Tabac from the Lycée Agricole at St Hilaire de Harcoet in Normandy
On Tuesday, we have the pre-arranged visit of the RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) Vet, Judy Scrine along with Judi Singer, Chairman of RDA South-East Region and Deputy Chairman of RDA National, here at the Haras National de St Lo. It was good meeting Judy and seeing Judi (Singer) again. The horses that will be going to RDA centres have been approved. We trust that the two J's caught their ferry in time from Cherbourg and have a safe trip home. Thank you so much for coming over!
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| We're not all tall enough to see out properly |
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| Hi there |
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| Hi to you ! |
We have 10 farriers to shoe the horses on Monday morning and the charming Professor of Maréchalerie , Monsieur Franck Tabac, who has brought them along is supervising everything.
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| Seduisante and Rita |
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| The Camargues have a harder time seeing out |
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| Our Gwen |
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| Printemps lifting a leg |
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A brilliant job done by the Trainee farriers from the Lycee Agricole
at St Hilaire de Harcoet under the supervision of their Prof, M. Franck Tabac
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It's a long day for the riders and carriages, but a good one.
We're made welcome by the Haras National de St Lo and are currently based at the Centre Equestre adjacent to the Haras. When we arrive, a jumping event is taking place, so there are people, horses and loud music blaring. All our horses want is food and water, which they get, of course. They sleep their first night in boxes.
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| More than Fred bargained for doing the shopping at St Lo... |
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| One could be forgiven for thinking this is a lighthouse |
25th/26th From Gavray to near Hambye -
Here, we are staying at the Centre Equestre at La Caboche, near Hambye, run by Martine Gordolon.
NOS GRANDS REMERCIEMENTS A VOUS, MARTINE, POUR VOTRE ACCUEIL. One cannot term the weather as anything else than filthy.
The riders pass by the beatiful Ancienne Abbaye de Hambye. The carriages can only glimse it from the
road.
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| A bit of laughter at our own pet dormouse who's (or one of them as we have 3) |
Very strong winds, rain and it is cold. There is a marquee which we should be able to use to eat under tonight. It's the first paddocks for a few days where the horses are on hay as there's no grass. The hills are incredibly steep over the last few days in Normandy - sheer ascents and sheer descents. The drivers of the carriages are relieved that the distances are not huge.
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| Trundling through the Normandy countryside - cows and horses abound |
24th/25th from St Ursin to La Planche, Gavray at the Centre Equestre du Val de Sienne. ENORMOUS THANKS TO YOU, MONSIEUR BERARD, FOR LETTING US STAY WITH YOU.
We see giraffes as we drive along in the carriages. Nothing surprises us now, llamas, giraffes, tame pigs. Fred stops his carriage to rescue a young calf which is on the road. The riders have the same thing happen and scoop up two calves lying in the ditch by the road. The Centre Equestre is at the end of a very long cul-de-sac and far removed from anywhere. It is a huge place. It absolutely pours down in the evening but this kind of weather brings together a lot of laughter - more of the Dunkirk spirit as the team hasten to get the tarpaulin up between the carriages.
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| They do clean up... |
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| and get loads and loads of love |
23rd/24th August from Genets to St Ursin at the Haras de St Ursin at La Sanguiniere. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MONSIEUR POPOT FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY. The horses
experience a different kind of shower at these stables Cubicles which they go in and which close at the front and the back. None of them show a particular aversion to being showered in this unusual, for them, way. Monsieur Popot breeds trotters. We are staggered by the amount of horses we are seeing in Normandy and how many places appear to be breeding farms.
22nd/23rd August from Pontaubault to Genets (Genets is South of Granville)
Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside, the silvery sea...
and who can blame the riders the evening before and the morning after !
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| We don't do this in the UK |
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| Who's more bemused, the horse or the rider? |
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| Gwen, happy as a lark |
Although it is only about 20kms for the carriages, it feels a long way. We drive straight into the sun as we go West towards Genets, having bypassed the centre of Avranches, on this very hot afternoon.
A pretty seaside town where the local Mayor greets us.
TOUS NOS REMERCIEMENTS A VOUS, MONSIEUR LE MAIRE DES GENETS, POUR VOTRE GENTIL ACCUEIL ET VOTRE AIDE. We are to camp on a sort of shingle path by flat fields which give onto the sea.
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| The horses have a good view |
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| You'll have to take our word that it's the Mont St Michel lit up at night |
A beautiful sunset accompanies the evening and a lit-up view of the Mont St Michel frames the horizon with an azure and red sky. The Mayor has kindly arranged for water to be delivered. It is defintely a hot afternoon and for a moment or two, tempers get a bit frayed on arrival but it calms down. It's always about who is helping and who is not that seems to set tempers flying. A familiar story...
Fred has to do an emergency shoe to one of the horses and the farrier who
happens to be passing doesn't even charge for the shoes and nails. Fred tells Jakki that she lives a charmed life as things or people always seem to be there at the right time on the project...
We had an unexpected visit last night - Patrick Moan, who will be driving the horses across the Channel and does so much to help the SLL Charity and his daughter, Enoraa, pay us an unexpected visit as they are on their way to Avranches, so they park their lorry along with us for a few hours. Patrick's visit coincides with Fred's return - his sad duties done, he is back into the swing of things.
While the team and horses have a couple of days rest at Pontaubault, Fred rents a car to drive to the funeral of his best friend's son's friend who drowned three days ago in the sea. We all send our heartfelt condolences to the family and to the close friends of the bereaved family. The young man was only 21. Also, Fred's father has been taken to hospital. We send our best wishes to the Kermel family. Fred will be back with us on Tuesday, prior to our departure for Genets.
19th/20th/21st until 22nd August: to Pontaubault and a rural campsite, we're now in NORMANDY.
Monday dawns fine and bright - we expected it, despite the forecast, as there was a beautiful red sky the night before. Beth and Jakki take the car to Carrefour to get some shopping in.
We decide to try out Printemps and Princesse, the Cobs Normands, with a bridle and saddle on. Most of the team get a turn to ride in the field around our wagons and tents after Luke has tested the horses and their reactions. Both horses behave beautifully as
'riding' horses and are not phased out by the request for this change in discipline. They are rewarded with carrots. We make do with the tack we have.
Avallon, the name of the place we are staying at is right by a railway track - some way of getting the horses more used to trains...
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| Luke on Printemps |
Peter on Princesse with Chris leading Printemps
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| Princesse looking the part of a riding horse - which she is |
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| Desensitization - no probs, he's cool as a cucumber |
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| Luke long reining the way he learned at Monty Robert's farm in US |
The afternoon of Monday 20th August above
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| The riders get much, much closer than the carriages can to the Mont St Michel along the GR (Grande Randonnée) |
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| Add captionand dozens of charabangs |
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| Beth, enchanted by a lizard |
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| One end of the country to the other for this little Camargue |
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| Seth |
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| And here it is ! |
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| Gwen and Raboliot |
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Yes, it is the Mont St Michel that the carriages see over in the distance on the roads they take. This is when they wish that they could take GR's.
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18th/19th August in a field in the commune of Pleine Fougeres but nearer to Pontorson - The river at Pontorson, which leads to the Mont St Michel divides Brittany from Normandy.
The team's last night in Brittany. The Mayor adjoint, Mr Davey, welcomes us in the field - a kilometre along a track - which we. are to stay in, courtesy of a local farmer, M. Christian Menard.
Our huge remerciements to you, Monsieur Davey and Monsieur Menard.
A journalist from Ouest France comes for an article. The horses have lush grass to eat and the farmer has delivered a tonne of water. Although there are no loos, no showers obviously and no electricity, it is a very hot night and we manage well. A 'man' throws some lettuces (beautiful and firm) at us or ratherr for us, a woman screams over the hedge :"
what are you doing here" - she is calmed down on hearing that the Maire Adjoint has given us permission as has the farmer who owns the field and the owner of the land, the farmer, sends two young people from the South of France, who are staying with him, to come and visit us. A sweet young couple, Vincent and Manon who live at Sommieres in between Nimes and Montpellier and have a Camargue horse - of course.
We are given instructions by the very helpful Monsieur Bertholet to take the ancient railway line which goes from Antrain to Pontorson. Additionally, Maeva has suggested that we stop for water along the railway line as she and her delightful parents live there. They have a house that dates back to 1700, although they don't live in that one, but in the one opposite which dates back to about 1850. The 10 kms or so of the ancient railway line is full of character with station master houses every kilometre or so, kitch gardens, ecologically minded people like Maeva's parents who are pretty much self-sufficient and, along it, we drive/ride in a convoy.
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| One of the many tiny station master's houses encountered along the way |
Maeva in the middle with her parents. They grow all their own vegetables, and have their own ducks, geese, rabbits, goats, chickens, sheep. A very sweet and ecologically minded family.
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| It doesn't get much kitcher - look below at all the bird houses |
17th/18th August Camping Municipal at Antrain (still just in Brittany) in the Commune de Tremblay
The hot evening terminates with a slight disagreement about washing up - who and when... and especially, the old favourite - WHO DOESN'T. Mercifully, peace is restored.
Nadia comes to visit us in the evening with one of her daughters, Judith. She will be putting an article in AACIV (Association A Cavaliers d'Ile et Vilaine). Thanks Nadia and for sending us the link when you can.
We leave the Desilles' with Nadia there to wave us off too, in burning sunshine and have a good ride/drive to Antrain. What a delightful couple the Desilles are, as is Nadia, as are all the AACIV people we have met! The distance is not far, about 17kms, though some pretty steep hills for the carriages.
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| Thank you, Jacques, for sending this photo |
We arrive at the Camping Municipal and are met by the Maire Adjoint, Monsieur Jacques Bertholet. He comes back later that evening and tells us that he will be putting an article about us in the local paper. Kindness and helpfulness itself. He arranges for some hay to be delivered through a local farmer as the grass is not thought to be sufficient for our larger horses - or for the Camargues. The campsite has loos, a shower and clothes washing facilities. The horses are just below us, out of sight though and with no shade.
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Some mothers do have 'em
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| Swings for the'children' amongst us |
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| Horses just below the hedge |
Still night will keep them cool. They were showered on arrival though. The Mayor, Mme Claudine Clossais, had apparently been extremely helpful when Fred spoke to her to arrange our stay here. Her second in command is utterly delightful!
The riders kept coming up against barriers or closed off tracks, so had to improvise some of the way.
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| Gandalf wending his wand through the woods... |
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| ...to get rid of spiders... |
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| for the rest of the team - with a nonplussed Camargue |
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| Setting off for new adventures from the Desilles' home |
15th/16/17th August at Les Meliers, Sens de Bretagne courtesy of Monsieur Robert Delisses and through Nadia, a friend of Myriam's. ENORMES REMERCIEMENT A VOUS, M. et Mme ROBERT DESILLES ET NADIA FONTAINE DE L'AACIV>
Our day off was spent with the shopping being done, the horse care kit (brushes etc.) being washed, the carriages being cleaned and a general bit of a clean-up. The horses are enjoying their rest and being so close to us.
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| M. Robert Desilles, our host, on left, talking to Nadia, with daughter Daria, and Fred |
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| Some keep busy |
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| Whilst others sleep... Kevin, our dormouse |
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| And our six Camargues much away at their dinner - they're used to the wind, but this isn't the Mistral |
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| Long Riders, Luke & Jakki flying our treasured Long Riders Flag |
Nadia Fontaine usually keeps her horses in Robert's lush, lush pasture and she is a friend of Myriam's with whom we stayed a couple of nights ago, so the network of the AACIV casts a wide net. Robert makes us very welcome and the carriages are parked right against his house. He was a baker/patissier for 35 years and is now retired with his lovely wife. The pretty orchard gives onto lush pastures which the horses are regaing themselves with. The riders followed the carriages on the short ride from Feins to Sens de Bretagne and the weather threatened rain all the time. Now, as the team unwind and the horses chomp away, blue skies and fast moving clouds have broken through thanks to a strong wind. (At least the washing on the line should dry quickly, unlike sometimes when the team have to make do with damp clothes for days on end).
14th/15th August at Feins at the Centre Equestre Alliance Nature courtesy of Christelle Roullier and her husband. TOUS NOS REMERCIEMENTS A VOUS !
We awake and spend the first part of the morning getting ready to leave in torrential rain.
Fortunately, the rain stops but it feels very close. We all have our first shower here at Alliance Nature since we were at the campsite Val de Saving near Caro on night of 6th ... No comment on what we must smell like to the outside world, but the horses and dogs don't seem to mind. Jakki ,who has her shower later than the rest of the team, causes general hilarity by climbing up a steep ladder into a dusty attic from the tack room - with all the stuff for her shower held in one hand and the rungs in the other - having mistaken instructions as to which stairs to climb up... She says she did wonder about Health & Safety when she was up there... Some of the team elect to sleep in the dormitory which is next to where the shower is and which, Jakki eventually found.
13th/14th August Lieu dit la Haute Vendee, Quebriac at the lovely Myriam Guillemoto's home
TOUS NOS REMERCIEMENTS A VOUS, MYRIAM ! Myriam also is part of AACIV (Association a Cheval Ile et Vilaine) and knows Gerard and others we have just stayed with and will be staying with. We arrive early as the distance today is short and it pours down ! Here comes the rain again. Apparently by Thursday, it will become sunny again. We were almost getting used to it.
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| Some of the Camargues enjoying the grass at Myriam's |
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| Dodging the downpours |
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| The big uns taken from the "office" |
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| Candid Camera takes Beth ministering to the Camargues in the rain ! |
12th/13th August lieu dit La Boulaye at Les Iffs in a nice field courtesy of Monsieur et Madame Thierry Fort, former cross country eventers in France.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, THIERRY.
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We ask the farmer's son for water on our way to Les Iffs and the cows come to visit
Our horses are used to anything and everything justabout ! |
Here, it is very hot on arrival, and though we are in a field, there is a facility to shower the horses so they get their welcome shower down. It is only a short distance that has been covered today, some of the team have a nap, including the Writer. The next day's distance is short too which is great for the horses.
11th/12th August Le Pront at Mignac Sous Becherel with the great Gerard Rousselin.
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| Allthough we took the photo the night before at Nicole's, the lovely Gerard is the chap with the cap on |
ENORMES REMERCIEMENTS TO YOU, GERARD
Gerard whom we meet the night before puts us up on his gladed and grassy (again wonderful for the horses) land. He is actually a bio-farmer growing eco vegetables but he has Arab horses who are in the field next to ours and a dog, Réglisse, (liquorice) who has an uncanny resemblance to Jakki's dog, Nana, and who is also a half labrit (Pyreneean sheepdog) and the rest your guess is as good as the owners', so much so that all the team and Gerard too get the dogs confused at first glance. Gerard helps us with contacts and route planning and is very friendly and welcoming too. It is such a relief when we can shower the horses in this warmer weather. It is something we try to do every evening we have driven/ridden, but not all our stopovers have been conducive to do this, so when it's easy and the shower is there, well, great for the noble horses.
10th/11th August La Landelle near Montauban de Bretagne with the lovely Nicole Daniel.
ENORMES REMERCIEMENTS TO YOU, NICOLE
What a lovely lady Nicole is! What a lovely evening we have! What lovely grass the horses all have. What lovely people we meet, what lovely WEATHER IT IS TOO.
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| Our lovely hostess, Nicole Daniel with Fred and Maryse Mallet, our Fany to the left of Nicole |
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Jakki with Claire Sottiaux from SNCF
Below, Maryse Mallet on left and our Kevin on right - we had stayed with Maryse in 2008 |
We had the introduction to Nicole through Claire Sottiaux of the SNCF and the lovely Claire was the very one who liked our dossier so much that she put it forward and that's why the SNCF and Eurostar are one of our biggest sponsors. Nicole also happens to be part of the Riders in the Ile et Vilaine department of Brittany who work on opening up the routes for EquiBreizh. She is friends with Xavier and Maryse Mallet with whom we had stayed in 2008, nearby. Nicole invites Xavier and Maryse, Claire Sottiaux comes to visit, the local Mayor, Serge Jalu whom Jakki had met in 2008 is there and his partner, Simone, turns out to be someone Jakki knows from the Lorient area. Gerard Rousselin, with whom we are spending the following night comes over too and on a beautiful evening which is the Evening of the Stars - and bespeckled the sky is that night. Fred cooks a wonderful pot au feu and it is shared with Nicole, Xavier and Maryse with the added luxuries of fresh salad from a neighbour's - Isabelle, garden, cheese and ice cream to round off with with home made coulis of what we think is elderflower. This network of friends is helping us with places to stay as we have a gap in our itinerary. In fact, thanks to them, the nights of at least the 11th, 12th, 13th are firmed up.
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| Xavier Mallet in pale yellow on right - his son who works in London had received an invitation to our fundraising night on 8th November of last year at the Institut Francais in London. Jakki only finds that out there and then |
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| The Mayor of Montauban de Bretagne, Serge Jalu with Simone on far bottom right |
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| A happy and replete SLL Brit team |
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| The Likely Lads |
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| Fany and Nicole |
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| Background Barry - only teasing, we love you really but is "Anyone for tennis"? |
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| Gleeful Gwen and Happy Fany |
8th, 9th and 10th August, St Peran, lieu dit 'Villeneuve' near forest of Broceliande
Another place we had stayed at in 2008 chez Véronique and Michel Fromenton. For those of you who don't know this, the Bretons appropriate themselves the Arthurian legend and beautiful Paimpont through which we rode and drove has Lancelot, Arthur, Guinevere and Merlin streets, forests and whatever named after them.
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| Could someone tell us? Are these Highland cattle in Broceliande?? |
7th/8th August from Le Val Saving to the Centre Equestre de Broceliane at Trehorenteuc
We had stayed at this Centre Equestre run by Aurelia Weingarten in 2008. Brilliant sunshine accompanies us and several stops for water are made for the horses (and dousings of the carriage horses).
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| Camargues waiting to leave Aurelia's Centre Equestre |
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| Garnishing the draughts ! Garnir is harnessing in French |
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| Printemps back in his stride on the right with Princesse on the left on their way to Trehorenteuc |
6th/7th Malestroit to Le Val Saving at the
Domaine de Kervallon- a pretty campsite inbetween
Monterrien and Caro
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Group photo before leaving Le Val Saving proudly displaying our LONG RIDERS FLAG
ONLY 2 OTHERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN IN THE WORLD, WE ARE TOLD SO A TRUE HONOUR |
Printemps much less sweaty today and seems to have settled well into work again. He is a sweet natured horse, as are they all. We love them to bits large and small ones.
A short drive/ride but pretty hilly inbetween showers and again, very windy. A lady journalist from Ouest France came to interview us. Apparently, the article will cover the whole of the Morbihan. We are also awaiting the links for our website for the Bouvron article, the Elven reception (Ouest France and the Télégramme) and the Vannes reception (same two papers).
Dr (Chris) Bradbury and Nurse (Peter) Kinder continue to apply the appropriate medication to the horses that need it, morning and evening - runny eyes, sores and kicks. Matron Jakki supervises.
5th to 6th August Elven to Malestroit or in Breton, Malastred
We stay by the Gite Municipal in this pretty breton town where we had stayed in 2008.
Merci a vous, Claude, Monsieur le Regisseur ! We are right by the écluse (lock) and have the view, as do the horses of the river Oust and the Nantes to Brest Canal and boats going up and down in the lock. Lots of wind and rain. Sunny spells. Team camp on green and dinner taken by the roadside is a sauerkraut ! Some of the team had never eaten this before. Printemps seems very happy to be back on the job. He was quite sweaty, but it may have been he was pushing himself a bit after his rest. He and Princesse settle back into their routine together.
31st July, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th August
Back to Elven from Vannes and rest for the horses until we make tracks for CAEN
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| Dr Bradbury (alias Chris) and Nurse Kinder (alias Peter) proving that Boys will be Boys - or will they?... |
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| RELAXATION ! |
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| Campsite at Elven |
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| Printemps in all his splendour |
A lot of rain ! Vladimir, the farrier comes back and shoes Printemps, Princesse, Seduisante and Raboliot - he'll do Rita in a few days' time.
Beth and Luke decide to go to St Nazaire by bus and train to visit Pieric whom Luke and Jakki had met in 2008 and with whom Luke had stayed after the 2008 project. Pieric (Pierre Furic) is currently with the circus at St Nazaire with his Falabellas.
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| Pieric off to rehearsals in the Big Tent with his Falabellas |
Maryvonne, who works at the Centre Pompidou at Kerdreineg where we donated Quito in 2008, lives opposite our campsite and came to visit us. Jakki finally got a shower in her home across the field from the horses.
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| Maryvonne who works at Kerdreineg at the Claude Pompidou Centre in Jakki's "office" or the"nerve centre" |
Marie-Noëlle donates lots of home made jam to the team. Christian and Brigitte Amiel come to visit, as does Yannick le Marrec and Stephane and Severine - all part of our indispensable group of Breton volunteers. Thank you to all of you. Some of the French members of the team go home for a night or see members of their family.
Each evening while we are here at Douvres, DD comes with his grandaughter, Maeva; on Thursday evening, she has been promised a ride on one of the Camargues and Luke obliges with his usual helpfulness. The little horse behaves beautifully and all's well that ends well.
19th/20th/21st until 22nd August: to Pontaubault and a rural campsite, we're now in NORMANDY.
Maeva in the middle with her parents. They grow all their own vegetables, and have their own ducks, geese, rabbits, goats, chickens, sheep. A very sweet and ecologically minded family.
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