"'The ant’s a centaur in his dragon world.
Pull down thy vanity, it is not man
Made courage, or made order, or made grace,
Pull down thy vanity, I say pull down.
Learn of the green world what can be thy place
In scaled invention or true artistry,
Pull down thy vanity.'
-Ezra Pound, LXXXI Canto"
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Three Amazing Offers
1) Anyone out there want to take over my Utah life for two months in 2010? Requires caring for two dogs, one cat, two horses, and living in an astoundingly beautiful, though remote place. Let me know! Gold-star references required!!
2) Anyone out there want to go with me? I'm looking for folks who want to spend a week or two with me in England or Scotland. We can split a rental car and you can spend the day touring while I ride. Meet me for dinner, an overnight and see me off in the morning. The rest of the day is yours.
3) Anyone out there in the UK want to ride with me? Meet me along the way and ride along! Your own horse required!
1) Anyone out there want to take over my Utah life for two months in 2010? Requires caring for two dogs, one cat, two horses, and living in an astoundingly beautiful, though remote place. Let me know! Gold-star references required!!
2) Anyone out there want to go with me? I'm looking for folks who want to spend a week or two with me in England or Scotland. We can split a rental car and you can spend the day touring while I ride. Meet me for dinner, an overnight and see me off in the morning. The rest of the day is yours.
3) Anyone out there in the UK want to ride with me? Meet me along the way and ride along! Your own horse required!
Back At It
August has come (and gone), and it was August, I promised myself, when I would re-start my End to End planning after my summer's recuperation from the May "reconnaissance" trip. And so I have. Beginning again, and excited about it! I learned much from the first try, and intend to get farther this time!
I came home in May to find Bo and Minnie (my aging dogs) medically compromised. As of this writing, they are still with me, though it seems Minnie doesn't have long for this world. Bo spent a week or two suffering from the Cruciatus Curse (Vestibular Syndrome), but recovered and is now her (very) old self. Friends helped me celebrate her 14th birthday August 1.
I spent a month mid-summer flat on my back after injuring the SI joint in my lower back mounting my horse from the ground. Something I would have done daily on the UK ride. I was glad, if this had to happen, it happened at home. After four doctors and ten times as many pills, I've recovered from that too, and am working to strengthen my back and engineer mounting-assist technology for the next trip.
Friends Fae Ellsworth and Lynne Cobb nursed my damaged spirit on my UK return and through "our" assorted maladies, declaring 2009 "The Summer of Fun." So while my back kept me immobile, I read all seven Harry Potter novels and watched all six movies. I am now an official HP fan and am quite up-to-date on all the details. (The books are waaayyyy better than the movies, although the movies are very fun. I have a crush on Ron Weasley).
Vivian Cropper asked that I write an update for the Z-Arts! newsletter, and I thought I would include it here for those of you not members. I also wanted to let you know I'll probably begin blogging about trip preparations again soon.
End 2 End 1
I used to joke that the Scots historically and repeatedly threw themselves across The Borders like a Chihuahua nipping at a Great Dane’s heels, so consistent were they at attaching or repelling the English. And so it was with me. I arrived in the U.K for my four-month End to End horseback ride April 30, and returned to the U.S. May 21 repulsed but not defeated, like a true Englishman, by Scotland’s May temperament.
Many have asked what happened that I didn’t complete the trip; what follows is a brief answer, though for a full accounting, you’ll have to read the book! The full story is a tale of Internet relationships gone horribly wrong and amazingly right; of encounters with Dememtors and failed Defense Against the Dark Arts skills (a bit of shorthand for Harry Potter fans); and years of preparation short circuited. My one-sentence sum-up: Right horse, right gear, wrong plan.
Right Horse
I spent the last three years not only reading an entire bookcase of U.K. research, but also scouring the web for an appropriate horse at a reasonable price. In that time, I saw exactly two horses that caught my eye and fit my needs. The first was on the Isle of Shetland—a stunning, golden, ten-year-old Lithuanian Heavy Draft Horse. Although most horses are advertized for months before selling, she sold before I could compose an inquiring email. The second—mind you I looked at literally thousands of horses—was a ten-year-old Dales-Cross “pony,” black except for a small white crescent moon on her forehead. Her name was Midnight, and she is now mine.
I had specific needs in finding exactly the right horse: old enough not to be silly (eight years or older—a hard thing to find as most folks don’t want to sell a horse in which they have put years of work—most horses on the web are yearlings); strong enough to be a “weight-carrier,” (to move me and all my gear 1,000 miles or more); and, of course, beautiful. I can’t express the thrill I felt when I saw Midnight’s photo. Not only was she beautiful, but she was carrying, at a nice trot, a rider who weighed just about the sum of me and my gear. In the next image, she was carrying a four-year-old girl at a full canter. Weight-carrier; not silly; beautiful. Now, if I could only convince her owner to sell her to me.
Almost all horse web ads end with the phrase, “To a five-star home only.” I was going to be riding a very long way carrying a lot of weight, facing who-knows-what obstacles, potential mishaps and injuries, and having to sell on my gallant steed after ride’s end, most likely to a stranger, unless I could raise the unlikely sum of $14,000 to bring her to Utah. In other words, I was definitely not a five-star home. But, I contacted Oliver and Naomi Clarke of Saltcoats, Scotland, anyway, and unbelievably, they were not only willing to sell her to me, they put off other potential buyers, were fascinated by my ride and wanted to meet me along my route. Finer people I haven’t met anywhere. Scottish friend Vyv Wood-Gee visited Midnight, rode her, bought her, and took her home. All this transpired in two days one week before I was scheduled to leave for England. I had planned extra weeks to search for a ! horse on arrival, and was blown away to have Midnight waiting for me!
Midnight proved the perfect companion. We rode every day, miles on pavement and off, with other horses and alone. No problem. Cars, motorcycles, lorries. No problem. Big hay tractor. Problem. Had quite the rodeo when the biggest hay tractor I’ve ever seen approached us from behind. Who could blame the valiant Midnight? This was probably the first thing bigger than herself she’d ever encountered!
Right Gear
The right equipment loomed as my next challenge. What exactly did I need? What would I encounter? Where would I stay? I needed horse tack, certainly: saddle, saddle pad, bridle, halter, lead rope at minimum. Saddle bags. Tent. Rain gear. Pad. Clothes. Stove. Rain gear. Sleeping bag. Food. Water. Rain gear. Long undies. Emergency stuff. Medical kit for horse and human; and sturdy, waterproof horse-comfortable saddlepacks in which to carry it all! How to keep the horse restrained at night? Hobbles? Picket pin? Electric corral? The end answer was all of the above depending on circumstance. My gear list was four pages long. Midnight and I were in daily training for our end-to-end-20-mile-per-day pace when the third element caught us by surprise.
Wrong Plan
If I were writing this from Scotland, my teeth would still be chattering. My initial plan, to ride from southern England to northern Scotland had been reversed in conversation with English riders. Go north to south, they said, get the “hard part” over while your horse is fresh. Made sense. Two problems arose once on the ground: first, their hard part was my easy part, i.e., Scotland’s mountainous remoteness; I’d rather ride backwoods anything than England’s narrow, car-filled roads. Secondly, my genetic-English and Michigan-bred cold-bloodedness has been long diluted by Southwest sun, and I froze my considerable butt off in Scotland’s spring, its driving, horizontal, daily rain. Luckily, my gear held up (though I wore all of it all the time), but my plan didn’t.
After all my research and planning, my route proved untenable. Not only was my direction seemingly backward for this time of year, but one trail on which I had planned to move hundreds of miles was impassable to horses (no mention of this on the web). Scotland’s arcane land laws, required permissions, restricted access, and unmapped routes got the better of us. I was down to either doing the trip by road (in which case, why not drive?), or facing the very real possibility of getting Midnight or myself terribly lost or badly hurt. After talking with other long-distance riders, I decided the safest, though saddest, course of action was to find Midnight a good home on lease, return to Utah, regroup, and re-plot my course for next year.
End 2 End 2
So. Next year it is. I will employ the considerable information I gathered onsite in planning and riding the trip in 2010. Midnight is well cared for in a great home, I have the time and contacts to plan a better route, and my unfortunate experiences (I haven’t told all!) will made for a broader, more interesting book.
I am truly grateful to everyone who supported Midnight and me and our quest for our small grail. If all goes well, watch for us next year beginning June or July!
Happy Trails!
Greer
August has come (and gone), and it was August, I promised myself, when I would re-start my End to End planning after my summer's recuperation from the May "reconnaissance" trip. And so I have. Beginning again, and excited about it! I learned much from the first try, and intend to get farther this time!
I came home in May to find Bo and Minnie (my aging dogs) medically compromised. As of this writing, they are still with me, though it seems Minnie doesn't have long for this world. Bo spent a week or two suffering from the Cruciatus Curse (Vestibular Syndrome), but recovered and is now her (very) old self. Friends helped me celebrate her 14th birthday August 1.
I spent a month mid-summer flat on my back after injuring the SI joint in my lower back mounting my horse from the ground. Something I would have done daily on the UK ride. I was glad, if this had to happen, it happened at home. After four doctors and ten times as many pills, I've recovered from that too, and am working to strengthen my back and engineer mounting-assist technology for the next trip.
Friends Fae Ellsworth and Lynne Cobb nursed my damaged spirit on my UK return and through "our" assorted maladies, declaring 2009 "The Summer of Fun." So while my back kept me immobile, I read all seven Harry Potter novels and watched all six movies. I am now an official HP fan and am quite up-to-date on all the details. (The books are waaayyyy better than the movies, although the movies are very fun. I have a crush on Ron Weasley).
Vivian Cropper asked that I write an update for the Z-Arts! newsletter, and I thought I would include it here for those of you not members. I also wanted to let you know I'll probably begin blogging about trip preparations again soon.
End 2 End 1
I used to joke that the Scots historically and repeatedly threw themselves across The Borders like a Chihuahua nipping at a Great Dane’s heels, so consistent were they at attaching or repelling the English. And so it was with me. I arrived in the U.K for my four-month End to End horseback ride April 30, and returned to the U.S. May 21 repulsed but not defeated, like a true Englishman, by Scotland’s May temperament.
Many have asked what happened that I didn’t complete the trip; what follows is a brief answer, though for a full accounting, you’ll have to read the book! The full story is a tale of Internet relationships gone horribly wrong and amazingly right; of encounters with Dememtors and failed Defense Against the Dark Arts skills (a bit of shorthand for Harry Potter fans); and years of preparation short circuited. My one-sentence sum-up: Right horse, right gear, wrong plan.
Right Horse
I spent the last three years not only reading an entire bookcase of U.K. research, but also scouring the web for an appropriate horse at a reasonable price. In that time, I saw exactly two horses that caught my eye and fit my needs. The first was on the Isle of Shetland—a stunning, golden, ten-year-old Lithuanian Heavy Draft Horse. Although most horses are advertized for months before selling, she sold before I could compose an inquiring email. The second—mind you I looked at literally thousands of horses—was a ten-year-old Dales-Cross “pony,” black except for a small white crescent moon on her forehead. Her name was Midnight, and she is now mine.
I had specific needs in finding exactly the right horse: old enough not to be silly (eight years or older—a hard thing to find as most folks don’t want to sell a horse in which they have put years of work—most horses on the web are yearlings); strong enough to be a “weight-carrier,” (to move me and all my gear 1,000 miles or more); and, of course, beautiful. I can’t express the thrill I felt when I saw Midnight’s photo. Not only was she beautiful, but she was carrying, at a nice trot, a rider who weighed just about the sum of me and my gear. In the next image, she was carrying a four-year-old girl at a full canter. Weight-carrier; not silly; beautiful. Now, if I could only convince her owner to sell her to me.
Almost all horse web ads end with the phrase, “To a five-star home only.” I was going to be riding a very long way carrying a lot of weight, facing who-knows-what obstacles, potential mishaps and injuries, and having to sell on my gallant steed after ride’s end, most likely to a stranger, unless I could raise the unlikely sum of $14,000 to bring her to Utah. In other words, I was definitely not a five-star home. But, I contacted Oliver and Naomi Clarke of Saltcoats, Scotland, anyway, and unbelievably, they were not only willing to sell her to me, they put off other potential buyers, were fascinated by my ride and wanted to meet me along my route. Finer people I haven’t met anywhere. Scottish friend Vyv Wood-Gee visited Midnight, rode her, bought her, and took her home. All this transpired in two days one week before I was scheduled to leave for England. I had planned extra weeks to search for a ! horse on arrival, and was blown away to have Midnight waiting for me!
Midnight proved the perfect companion. We rode every day, miles on pavement and off, with other horses and alone. No problem. Cars, motorcycles, lorries. No problem. Big hay tractor. Problem. Had quite the rodeo when the biggest hay tractor I’ve ever seen approached us from behind. Who could blame the valiant Midnight? This was probably the first thing bigger than herself she’d ever encountered!
Right Gear
The right equipment loomed as my next challenge. What exactly did I need? What would I encounter? Where would I stay? I needed horse tack, certainly: saddle, saddle pad, bridle, halter, lead rope at minimum. Saddle bags. Tent. Rain gear. Pad. Clothes. Stove. Rain gear. Sleeping bag. Food. Water. Rain gear. Long undies. Emergency stuff. Medical kit for horse and human; and sturdy, waterproof horse-comfortable saddlepacks in which to carry it all! How to keep the horse restrained at night? Hobbles? Picket pin? Electric corral? The end answer was all of the above depending on circumstance. My gear list was four pages long. Midnight and I were in daily training for our end-to-end-20-mile-per-day pace when the third element caught us by surprise.
Wrong Plan
If I were writing this from Scotland, my teeth would still be chattering. My initial plan, to ride from southern England to northern Scotland had been reversed in conversation with English riders. Go north to south, they said, get the “hard part” over while your horse is fresh. Made sense. Two problems arose once on the ground: first, their hard part was my easy part, i.e., Scotland’s mountainous remoteness; I’d rather ride backwoods anything than England’s narrow, car-filled roads. Secondly, my genetic-English and Michigan-bred cold-bloodedness has been long diluted by Southwest sun, and I froze my considerable butt off in Scotland’s spring, its driving, horizontal, daily rain. Luckily, my gear held up (though I wore all of it all the time), but my plan didn’t.
After all my research and planning, my route proved untenable. Not only was my direction seemingly backward for this time of year, but one trail on which I had planned to move hundreds of miles was impassable to horses (no mention of this on the web). Scotland’s arcane land laws, required permissions, restricted access, and unmapped routes got the better of us. I was down to either doing the trip by road (in which case, why not drive?), or facing the very real possibility of getting Midnight or myself terribly lost or badly hurt. After talking with other long-distance riders, I decided the safest, though saddest, course of action was to find Midnight a good home on lease, return to Utah, regroup, and re-plot my course for next year.
End 2 End 2
So. Next year it is. I will employ the considerable information I gathered onsite in planning and riding the trip in 2010. Midnight is well cared for in a great home, I have the time and contacts to plan a better route, and my unfortunate experiences (I haven’t told all!) will made for a broader, more interesting book.
I am truly grateful to everyone who supported Midnight and me and our quest for our small grail. If all goes well, watch for us next year beginning June or July!
Happy Trails!
Greer
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A Tale of Whoa
After encountering insurmountable difficulties and being caught in an uncomfortable situation, I decided, after a long and agonizing ten days in Scotland, not to do the End to End Ride this year. I returned to Utah May 16, and am still in shock, as I imagine you are. I realized I was not prepared to complete the ride safely for the lovely Midnight or myself. I had all the right gear and the perfect horse, but I did not feel I could put together a safe and careful route in the time I had, and so decided to postpone the ride until next year.
I've been planning this trip so long it was very difficult to give up when I was so close. I will keep Midnight in anticipation of next year's re-attempt, and hope to lease her to someone in England this year.
Sharon Hatfield tells me the Marines have never retreated--they've only advanced in the opposite direction. So that's what I'm doing: advancing by learning from what's happened.
I wanted to let you know of my decision because you have been so amazingly generous to me. I appreciate your support, help, and encourangement through what for me has been an extremely difficult decision and period. Sincerely, Greer
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Cold, very wet and cold--did I already say that? Sun is out a bit today, but WINDY! Geesch! Who's idea was Scotland in May!!??
Anyway, staying with my new friend Vyv Wood-Gee who is a force of nature in herself, and an abolsute wonder. I do believe we were spilled from the same pod. We do similar work, so are both sitting here writing on our computers while the weather blows outside. We have meant to go riding the last two days, but just couldn't stand the weather. That's bad when a Scot can't stand the weather! Having a great time, and when I finally finish the *&^% Zion book I'm still working on, will throw myself a party. Should be training my new, beautiful horse, but the weather's not really behind it, so good time to be working inside.
Have been trying to atone for being a bother to Vyv by bottle feeding an orphaned lamb, entertaining her new malamute puppy (seriously cute), and only getting on the internet when she's out tending some other animal (as now). Loving every minute of being here, although constantly having to say, "What?" or "Wot?" as they say here, as I don't know what certain words mean and other times I just miss the pronounciation.
Vyv and I will ride a few days together next week on a ride down into England and back. Can't wait, though if I don't get out and ride Midnight (also, we discovered, called Moon Shadow on her horse passport) she won't be ready (nor will my butt). Will post photos on the blog soon--just need to work a bit first. The official long-distance ride begins in June after Mid-moon-night-shadow and I toughen up abit.
Just went for my first walk/trot on Midnight. An absolute pleasure! She really walks out, has a lovely trot, and is quite sensible on the road. She and Vyv's Fell Pony mare got into a kicking match today wherein each put serious hoofprints on each other's butts. Midnight got a good cut on her flank, but luckily it only ripped out hair and tore the skin in two small places. Imagine she'll be stiff tomorrow.
Vyv's as yet unnamed puppy chewed through my computer's electric cord so will have to replace it post haste as the battery doesn't last long. Ah, the traumas of traveling. More soon. xo G
Anyway, staying with my new friend Vyv Wood-Gee who is a force of nature in herself, and an abolsute wonder. I do believe we were spilled from the same pod. We do similar work, so are both sitting here writing on our computers while the weather blows outside. We have meant to go riding the last two days, but just couldn't stand the weather. That's bad when a Scot can't stand the weather! Having a great time, and when I finally finish the *&^% Zion book I'm still working on, will throw myself a party. Should be training my new, beautiful horse, but the weather's not really behind it, so good time to be working inside.
Have been trying to atone for being a bother to Vyv by bottle feeding an orphaned lamb, entertaining her new malamute puppy (seriously cute), and only getting on the internet when she's out tending some other animal (as now). Loving every minute of being here, although constantly having to say, "What?" or "Wot?" as they say here, as I don't know what certain words mean and other times I just miss the pronounciation.
Vyv and I will ride a few days together next week on a ride down into England and back. Can't wait, though if I don't get out and ride Midnight (also, we discovered, called Moon Shadow on her horse passport) she won't be ready (nor will my butt). Will post photos on the blog soon--just need to work a bit first. The official long-distance ride begins in June after Mid-moon-night-shadow and I toughen up abit.
Just went for my first walk/trot on Midnight. An absolute pleasure! She really walks out, has a lovely trot, and is quite sensible on the road. She and Vyv's Fell Pony mare got into a kicking match today wherein each put serious hoofprints on each other's butts. Midnight got a good cut on her flank, but luckily it only ripped out hair and tore the skin in two small places. Imagine she'll be stiff tomorrow.
Vyv's as yet unnamed puppy chewed through my computer's electric cord so will have to replace it post haste as the battery doesn't last long. Ah, the traumas of traveling. More soon. xo G
Monday, May 4, 2009
Hlw Agn (Welsh for Hello Again)
Hi! Or Hy (if you must use a vowel),
Once again have internet (for the rest of the day at least!). Had a fun day today watching the Green Man battle the Ice Queen (thank god the Green Man won as it was freezing at the time) at the Green Man Festival in Clun, Shropshire. Photos at 10. No, actually photos will be on Picasa. Click under the LINK column to the left on Photos.
Now back in the warm B&B drinking tea and using the internet to catch up. They've only had internet one week here so are quite excited, as am I.
I am wondering when the British lost the coffee gene. I actually have a theory on this: it is so cold and damp here so often that one wants to drink something hot most of the time, so, rather than get totally blitzed on coffee, or totally fat on "hot drinking chocolate," they drink tea (which I can drink all day to no real affect--as I am right now).
Went to dinner last night at The Boar's Head in Bishop's Castle with a lovely couple from Lincolnshire (they had a car--so forced myself to ask for a ride). Quite fun! Carvery(s) are the big thing here now, so they say, so have been eating roast something every night. Gammon? Had roast gammon, whatever the hell that is, roast pork, roast lamb. Yummy. I imagine it's because no one has time to cook at home any more, and all the grannies are dying off. Had lunch at the Methodist Church served by old ladies who made the cakes from scratch (for the holiday). It really made me smile. They were quite flustered by the "rush" of three people at once. I'll bet they know how to cook a roast.
Anyway, Clun quite lovely in the Clun Valley next to the River Clun (not an abundance of names here--Clunton just down the road). But this close to Wales, a simple, pronounceable name is welcome. The train from Gatwick passed through Wales on the way here; all signs were in Welsh as were the train announcements (later translated to English as if to rub it in). One really doesn't need vowels unless one was taught to read using them. When you hear the name pronounced, it makes sense, but reading you just scratch your head.
Overcast, drizzling, windy and cold today. The Ice Queen's death throes (let's hope). Before long I'll be complaining of the heat. Has been warm and sunny till today. People tell me they are due a warm summer so are hoping this one will be it.
Staying at a B&B (Clun Farmhouse) that accepts horses, AND the owner's then 70-year-old father rode End to End in 1990. TOO amazing. Talk about coincidence!! There's a plaque on the wall commemorating the event: he rode 1300 miles in 39 days and never even threw a shoe (that's 35 miles a day if you're counting), on a horse named was Sue Ellen. He wrote a short book about the ride, so copied that and read it yesterday (between falling uncontrollably asleep!). I thought I was over the jetlag, but whenever I come to a stop, I fall asleep. Quite embarrassing.
Off to Lockerbie by train tomorrow. Nearest place to "hire" a car is halfway there, so will be training. Going to meet pal Vyv and horse-pal Midnight. Dreamed of Marion (my cat) last night--I realized I hadn't seen her for a couple days and, panicking, ran around the house frantically yelling her name. Awoke very tired. I think I might be able to stay awake the entire day today--a first.
More soon!
Once again have internet (for the rest of the day at least!). Had a fun day today watching the Green Man battle the Ice Queen (thank god the Green Man won as it was freezing at the time) at the Green Man Festival in Clun, Shropshire. Photos at 10. No, actually photos will be on Picasa. Click under the LINK column to the left on Photos.
Now back in the warm B&B drinking tea and using the internet to catch up. They've only had internet one week here so are quite excited, as am I.
I am wondering when the British lost the coffee gene. I actually have a theory on this: it is so cold and damp here so often that one wants to drink something hot most of the time, so, rather than get totally blitzed on coffee, or totally fat on "hot drinking chocolate," they drink tea (which I can drink all day to no real affect--as I am right now).
Went to dinner last night at The Boar's Head in Bishop's Castle with a lovely couple from Lincolnshire (they had a car--so forced myself to ask for a ride). Quite fun! Carvery(s) are the big thing here now, so they say, so have been eating roast something every night. Gammon? Had roast gammon, whatever the hell that is, roast pork, roast lamb. Yummy. I imagine it's because no one has time to cook at home any more, and all the grannies are dying off. Had lunch at the Methodist Church served by old ladies who made the cakes from scratch (for the holiday). It really made me smile. They were quite flustered by the "rush" of three people at once. I'll bet they know how to cook a roast.
Anyway, Clun quite lovely in the Clun Valley next to the River Clun (not an abundance of names here--Clunton just down the road). But this close to Wales, a simple, pronounceable name is welcome. The train from Gatwick passed through Wales on the way here; all signs were in Welsh as were the train announcements (later translated to English as if to rub it in). One really doesn't need vowels unless one was taught to read using them. When you hear the name pronounced, it makes sense, but reading you just scratch your head.
Overcast, drizzling, windy and cold today. The Ice Queen's death throes (let's hope). Before long I'll be complaining of the heat. Has been warm and sunny till today. People tell me they are due a warm summer so are hoping this one will be it.
Staying at a B&B (Clun Farmhouse) that accepts horses, AND the owner's then 70-year-old father rode End to End in 1990. TOO amazing. Talk about coincidence!! There's a plaque on the wall commemorating the event: he rode 1300 miles in 39 days and never even threw a shoe (that's 35 miles a day if you're counting), on a horse named was Sue Ellen. He wrote a short book about the ride, so copied that and read it yesterday (between falling uncontrollably asleep!). I thought I was over the jetlag, but whenever I come to a stop, I fall asleep. Quite embarrassing.
Off to Lockerbie by train tomorrow. Nearest place to "hire" a car is halfway there, so will be training. Going to meet pal Vyv and horse-pal Midnight. Dreamed of Marion (my cat) last night--I realized I hadn't seen her for a couple days and, panicking, ran around the house frantically yelling her name. Awoke very tired. I think I might be able to stay awake the entire day today--a first.
More soon!
Made It
Here I sit in my Gatwick Hotel, which is all and all, quite nice. Out in the country a bit and not under the flight path though one can see the airport from here. Landed over an hour early; quite a tail wind coming over evidently. Landed at, what for me was, 12 midnight, so didn't sleep much on the way over, although I fell into a sound sleep out of SLC! Got to the hotel by 9 a.m. UK and promptly passed out. Awoke to a mild panic--WHAT in the hell am I doing!? Away from all my wonderful friends and lovely home for 4 months!? I must have been insane!
Went for a walk along a public footpath through the hedgerows with the rabbits, geese, ducks and blooming spring wildflowers and felt much better. The first person to greet me was the lovely bay gelding in the pasture next to the hotel. (For Walk Photos, go to Links to your left, and click on Photos).
Came back to the worst splitting headache I've had in years--too much cramped sitting, I think; inadequate neck management (Wish I'd taken Fae up on that massage). Drank shandy and watched my first rugby game in the faux pub downstairs, had a bite to eat.
Watched The Time Machine (H.G. Wells) on tv which I've never gotten around to reading--it was interestinly good, and slept all night. Awoke at 5:30 (that's a first) feeling refreshed. Need a shower bad.
Meet today with Lia at Hacking Horses just down the road to talk about having her sell Midnight at ride's end. I already don't want to sell her, but feel I need to make the necessary arrangements. I have a feeling someone along the route may want to keep Midnight, but I told her last owner that I planned to work with Lia, whom he knew of and was comfortable with (as am I) so will begin as I said I would.
I know this will sound silly, well maybe not to this group, but what brought on the panic was twofold: one: thinking that Bo would think I've left her--we've never been apart in 14 years for more than a month at the most, so those of you there please go by and give her a pat and tell her I'll be back!! And two, having had such a fantastic sendoff! Lynne, Bill and Kathleen for dinner; Barby; the benefit with Fae and Michelle; talking with Liz; a wonderful day with Teresa and Hal--I felt like royalty!! (which of course we know I am--but still...) But, I convinced myself all will be well because I have Midnight and the amazing Vyv and fantastic Kate yet to meet! And more people I don't even know about yet.
I do have amazing friends and I hope you know that about yourselves--you are all fantastic people! I could not do this without you--If I didn't know you were there I'd just curl up in a little ball and blow away. So thank you once again. A journey far from home begins with the support of friends.
Love to you all,
Your wayward friend,
Greer
Went for a walk along a public footpath through the hedgerows with the rabbits, geese, ducks and blooming spring wildflowers and felt much better. The first person to greet me was the lovely bay gelding in the pasture next to the hotel. (For Walk Photos, go to Links to your left, and click on Photos).
Came back to the worst splitting headache I've had in years--too much cramped sitting, I think; inadequate neck management (Wish I'd taken Fae up on that massage). Drank shandy and watched my first rugby game in the faux pub downstairs, had a bite to eat.
Watched The Time Machine (H.G. Wells) on tv which I've never gotten around to reading--it was interestinly good, and slept all night. Awoke at 5:30 (that's a first) feeling refreshed. Need a shower bad.
Meet today with Lia at Hacking Horses just down the road to talk about having her sell Midnight at ride's end. I already don't want to sell her, but feel I need to make the necessary arrangements. I have a feeling someone along the route may want to keep Midnight, but I told her last owner that I planned to work with Lia, whom he knew of and was comfortable with (as am I) so will begin as I said I would.
I know this will sound silly, well maybe not to this group, but what brought on the panic was twofold: one: thinking that Bo would think I've left her--we've never been apart in 14 years for more than a month at the most, so those of you there please go by and give her a pat and tell her I'll be back!! And two, having had such a fantastic sendoff! Lynne, Bill and Kathleen for dinner; Barby; the benefit with Fae and Michelle; talking with Liz; a wonderful day with Teresa and Hal--I felt like royalty!! (which of course we know I am--but still...) But, I convinced myself all will be well because I have Midnight and the amazing Vyv and fantastic Kate yet to meet! And more people I don't even know about yet.
I do have amazing friends and I hope you know that about yourselves--you are all fantastic people! I could not do this without you--If I didn't know you were there I'd just curl up in a little ball and blow away. So thank you once again. A journey far from home begins with the support of friends.
Love to you all,
Your wayward friend,
Greer
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