Sunday, 12 August 2012
12/08/12 Longfield E.C to Denshaw
This morning I went round to Cognac's stable to find him alert and ready to play! He really seems to have adapted to his new routine now. I got him some breakfast and got him tacked up and off we went. As I walked him in hand up the road I couldn't help but think what people must think of us when they see us- people always seem surprised that I walk a fair bit beside him! I tend to walk a mile or two in the morning so we can both warm up and also after lunch, so my lunch can go down and if on a quiet road I tend to get off and walk the last mile or so as well.
Today was a very hilly day! We stopped for grass on top of a very high hill and although the view was fab, it was very windy so we didn't stop for long. As we came back down off the hill into Summit, I took long rider Elizabeth Hill's (www.ridearoundbritain.blogspot.co.uk) advice that the next section of the Pennine bridleway was very steep both up and back down and choose to ride through town instead to save Cognac's engergy. We stopped just outside town at a visitor centre by a resorvoir and I gave Cognac his lunchtime feed and let him chomp on some grass for an hour. On the way back onto the Pennine Bridleway I couldn't help stopping at an ice- cream van on Cognac! Made me chuckle anyway!
We got to Dumfries farm just in time for the change in weather and we have been made to feel very comfortable. Cognac had a nice big feed and a rack of haylage before going out in a grassy field for the night. My tent is pitched on the front lawn and I have had a lovely dinner and a hot shower and am currently watching the Olympics closing ceremony! Strange to think I was in Moffat in Scotland for the opening ceremony two weeks ago! And in two more week I hope to be arriving on the doorstep of William Reddaway (www.ridearoundengland.org)in Cheltenham! If all goes well.
Today was a very hilly day! We stopped for grass on top of a very high hill and although the view was fab, it was very windy so we didn't stop for long. As we came back down off the hill into Summit, I took long rider Elizabeth Hill's (www.ridearoundbritain.blogspot.co.uk) advice that the next section of the Pennine bridleway was very steep both up and back down and choose to ride through town instead to save Cognac's engergy. We stopped just outside town at a visitor centre by a resorvoir and I gave Cognac his lunchtime feed and let him chomp on some grass for an hour. On the way back onto the Pennine Bridleway I couldn't help stopping at an ice- cream van on Cognac! Made me chuckle anyway!
We got to Dumfries farm just in time for the change in weather and we have been made to feel very comfortable. Cognac had a nice big feed and a rack of haylage before going out in a grassy field for the night. My tent is pitched on the front lawn and I have had a lovely dinner and a hot shower and am currently watching the Olympics closing ceremony! Strange to think I was in Moffat in Scotland for the opening ceremony two weeks ago! And in two more week I hope to be arriving on the doorstep of William Reddaway (www.ridearoundengland.org)in Cheltenham! If all goes well.
Saturday, 11 August 2012
11/08/12 Thursden to Todmorden.
I got up in the morning and packed away my tent and organised my saddlebags, putting my equipment in a pile ready for when I came to tack Cognac up. Sophie came and picked me up from the yard and took me back to her house for a nice hot shower and a lovely breakfast- cereal, toast, sausages, eggs and croissants! It was great to meet all her family- her husband Ed and children Fin, Bridget and Pip. Ed phoned Cosima Towneley to tell her what I was doing and she said that she had a BHS booklet with the contact details for all the bridleway officers and that they would be the people to get hold of when passing through their regions, do we arranged to meet at my lunch stop so that she could give me that and we could have a chat.
The girls from the yard rode put with me and put me back onto the Pennine Bridleway. It was a steep climb to start the day but with beautiful views from up top down on the way I had come from and I could see where we had stayed the night.
At lunch I met with Cosima and she suggested I look up the trans Pennine route instead of following the Pennine Bridleway all the way to its end at Hartington station.
Steep down and ups all day! Todmorden is at the joining of three valleys so very scenic, but hilly!
Made it to Longfield before the girls go home at 5pm, Cognac is in the worlds biggest stable munching on haylage and I have a bed in a static caravan.
Interestingly Nora and Juniblest stayed here just last week on their New Forest to Newcastle ride- same stable and same caravan! ( Nora's blog is: www.ponytrip.blogspot.co.uk
The girls from the yard rode put with me and put me back onto the Pennine Bridleway. It was a steep climb to start the day but with beautiful views from up top down on the way I had come from and I could see where we had stayed the night.
At lunch I met with Cosima and she suggested I look up the trans Pennine route instead of following the Pennine Bridleway all the way to its end at Hartington station.
Steep down and ups all day! Todmorden is at the joining of three valleys so very scenic, but hilly!
Made it to Longfield before the girls go home at 5pm, Cognac is in the worlds biggest stable munching on haylage and I have a bed in a static caravan.
Interestingly Nora and Juniblest stayed here just last week on their New Forest to Newcastle ride- same stable and same caravan! ( Nora's blog is: www.ponytrip.blogspot.co.uk
Friday, 10 August 2012
10/08/12- day 43
I'm going to really confuse matters now. I've got behind with the blog because I've struggled to get both Internet access and to have electricity to keep my phone charged. I've been trying to fill in the gap, however I am now going to update the blog every day- I promise so will have to fill in the missing days when I get chance- sorry!
Last night we stayed in the orchard at Emma's Dairy, Gazegill Organic farm, in Rimington, Clitheroe. Thank-you to Emma and Ian for having us to stay!
Jez had driven up to see me for a couple of days and left to drive back home yesterday afternoon, ready for work this morning. Waking up without him there was hard and I felt quite alone. I wanted to get a good start on the day so cooked myself a little porridge ( made with water) and tried to pack my equipment away quickly, wasn't as easy as normal after everything had ended up out of place after Jez's visit. I noticed I have managed to lose a few things ( they may be in Jez's car) my beanie hat, Cognac's back brushing boots and the strings that tie round my tent to make it easier to put in its bag.
As the weather had been so hot the last few days we have done without my hat and U think Cognac's back legs enjoyed not having hot sweaty boots on as well as they swell a little with the boots on, but have been five today. I started putting them on him when I noticed he had caught the inside of each pastern with the inside of his shoe, but don't usually put boots on him at home unless we were jumping.
Made slow progress this morning as there were some steep up and down hills, it was very hot all day and there were tonnes of gates to negotiate. We are still following the Pennine Bridleway , there are some beautiful views along it and some nice tracks to ride on, but at some points its more logical for us to go on the road for a short section to avoid a detour on the bridleway up a hill or 'round the houses'.
We stopped at the Black Lane Ends pub at 2pm to refuel. I had a coke and some crisps and refilled my water bottle. Cognac had grass, water and a bowl of calm and condition.
We made better progress in the afternoon, followed a lovely part of the bridleway that passes through a ford and the runs parallel to the river for a few miles- I noticed a very grassy picnic area to our left that would have made a good stop if we weren't running out of time.
I stopped to talk to a couple who lived locally and were out for a walk who very generously donated £23.50 to the BHF. We walked most of the rest of the route as it was just so hot and Cognac was sweating just walking. We reached Herd House farm riding stables at 7pm, Cognac has gone out in a large field down the road and I am camped in the riding arena where we found a foam cushion for me to sleep on in my tent. Catherine Billington, who owns the yard and lives on site, very kindly took me in doors for meatballs and rice and let me used her laptop and helped me with a bit if route planning and some contacts and Sophie gas very kindly taken my dirty clothes home with her to wash for me- she had also offered me breakfast and a bath in the morning. Every day it amazes me how wonderfully helpful and kind complete strangers can be!
Jez
Last night we stayed in the orchard at Emma's Dairy, Gazegill Organic farm, in Rimington, Clitheroe. Thank-you to Emma and Ian for having us to stay!
Jez had driven up to see me for a couple of days and left to drive back home yesterday afternoon, ready for work this morning. Waking up without him there was hard and I felt quite alone. I wanted to get a good start on the day so cooked myself a little porridge ( made with water) and tried to pack my equipment away quickly, wasn't as easy as normal after everything had ended up out of place after Jez's visit. I noticed I have managed to lose a few things ( they may be in Jez's car) my beanie hat, Cognac's back brushing boots and the strings that tie round my tent to make it easier to put in its bag.
As the weather had been so hot the last few days we have done without my hat and U think Cognac's back legs enjoyed not having hot sweaty boots on as well as they swell a little with the boots on, but have been five today. I started putting them on him when I noticed he had caught the inside of each pastern with the inside of his shoe, but don't usually put boots on him at home unless we were jumping.
Made slow progress this morning as there were some steep up and down hills, it was very hot all day and there were tonnes of gates to negotiate. We are still following the Pennine Bridleway , there are some beautiful views along it and some nice tracks to ride on, but at some points its more logical for us to go on the road for a short section to avoid a detour on the bridleway up a hill or 'round the houses'.
We stopped at the Black Lane Ends pub at 2pm to refuel. I had a coke and some crisps and refilled my water bottle. Cognac had grass, water and a bowl of calm and condition.
We made better progress in the afternoon, followed a lovely part of the bridleway that passes through a ford and the runs parallel to the river for a few miles- I noticed a very grassy picnic area to our left that would have made a good stop if we weren't running out of time.
I stopped to talk to a couple who lived locally and were out for a walk who very generously donated £23.50 to the BHF. We walked most of the rest of the route as it was just so hot and Cognac was sweating just walking. We reached Herd House farm riding stables at 7pm, Cognac has gone out in a large field down the road and I am camped in the riding arena where we found a foam cushion for me to sleep on in my tent. Catherine Billington, who owns the yard and lives on site, very kindly took me in doors for meatballs and rice and let me used her laptop and helped me with a bit if route planning and some contacts and Sophie gas very kindly taken my dirty clothes home with her to wash for me- she had also offered me breakfast and a bath in the morning. Every day it amazes me how wonderfully helpful and kind complete strangers can be!
Jez
Monday, 6 August 2012
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
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