31st August to 1 SEPTEMBER from Balleroy to Ellon
Nos énormes remerciements a vous, Monsieur le Maire, pour votre accueil et a vous, Madame Havard pour votre grand champ pour nos chevaux et les tentes et votre prise d'electricite!!
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 !
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| And thank you, Joel Jumel local reporter from Ouest France for this ! |
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 |
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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| 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.
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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