Wrap up of Departure and day 1-3!!
Wow, I am actually on the road and doing this thing! The departure on Monday was incredible, thank you to all who attended. Leaving Crescent Head and Leaving ‘home’ and friends and family behind makes me realise the enormity of the task at hand. But, taking one day at a time and putting our best foot (hoof) forwards will make it possible. I must make a small public apology to My INCREDIBLE support crew of Mum (Maura) and Joe for being a little tense for the lead up to departure and days following, this trip will not be ‘all beer and skittles’ and learning how to handle tense, difficult, high stress situations with a smile on my face will be priceless.
May 1st we had the Fundraiser at Crescent Head Tavern was a huge success! Thank you to our donors, buyers, auctioneer Laurie Argue from Kempsey Stock and Land, Joe for Presenting Items and all who attended! $7500 were raised from the Fundraiser and the Departure Monday morning.
May 2nd marked Hannah’s 23rd birthday. Everyday without Hannah leaves a empty space that use to be filled but Birthdays are always tough, standing in the wet yards with my horses at 5.30am finding a quite place to be in the moment and be ‘with’ Han grounded me for the day. Getting to Crescent Head and unloading made everything REAL!! The horses coped exceptionally well and walked across the very narrow footbridge. After a beautiful Blessing from Father Chris ‘The Travellers Prayer’ 23 white doves were released. I thought I was holding myself together reasonably well until that point, but that brought me undone! The newspaper even felt it necessary to state the I was ‘visibly emotional’. The ride out of Cresso on Lofty was terrific passing the Crescent Head School. Riding Meg through town with a police escort was pretty cool, even got to run a red light on horse! Titan finished the day off and got me to Willawarrin just on Dark!
May 3rd was the ride from Willawarrin to Smiths Flat. Lofty began my day and motored along, and Meg took me from Bellbrook after talking to the School to our Destination! Staying with Pete and Maryanne, A Hot shower to end my day was terrific!!
May 4th saw me ride from Smiths Flat to Jeogla, Titan did the first leg of 25k’s and just motored along. Lofty did the long drag up the big hill. and still had enough energy to fidget and wiggle at the other end, I though I was being kind giving him a break and all he did was annoy me!! Lucky I love him! Meg finished my day off getting me safe and sound to Jeogla.
I am stoked with how things are panning out and looking forward to arriving in Armidale tonight!!
Happy Trails! Xx Es
May 11th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
So proud of you all at Crescent Head watching Esther calm the horses in the creek with each surging wave. Everyone could see that she was well in charge and that those horses would follow her anywhere! And as for ‘visually emotional’ – honey – that’s very acceptable! I agree it was a beautiful sight to see those lovely doves emerge from their cage and drift skyward together.
Fancy running a red light on a horse in Kempsey! Gotta watch this girl.
I am very impressed with Lofty’s effort to do Big Hill (as our kids called it). We have done that trip many times in a few different vehicles and I can remember how many times I have had to drop back a gear or two. We did it once in our old 1976 blue landrover – did it in the rain with the 4WD hubs well and truely locked in!
I’ll bet you enjoyed the views. They are breathtaking and you had the added treat of hearing the bird life all the way. We always stopped north of 5 Day Creek/ Comara hill to let the boys stand on the road’s edge to hear the bell birds chime and tinkle their calls through the bush. The journey between 5 Day and Lower Creek was always the slowest (and most enjoyable)
Funnily enough Fred is on the other computer right now scanning his old slides and saving them as jpgs. We have just been enjoying those same views we took in the early 70’s!
Cheers to all
stay safe and keep strong
Lesleigh