25th June 2010: Into Boort and beyond!
I woke at 4am listening to the rain falling thinking about the day ahead , not wishing the rain away as I knew how much it’s needed, simply acknowledging that it adds a degree of discomfort to both the horses and my day feeling ‘soggy and cold’ whilst riding, mud sticking to everything, sliding around each time I’m on the ground…..but crops and pastures need it so who’s complaining?
I stayed with the Walsh Family at Boort, Di and her daughter Heide had ridden out to meet me on Thursday and Di had organised some fundraising for ride4acure and in total Boort raised just over $300 in donations which is awesome. The horses were at Coopers on the edge of Boort about 6kms out of town and I went with Di to her place for the night for a dinner and we had a hoot of a night, great meal, lots of laughs and much story telling.
Friday morning Di’s daughters Heidi and Mia (who are also Charlton Pony Club members) rode with me into Boort through the main street
(we were met by Mia’s friend Ellie on her pony on the edge of town) and on past the primary school where in the rain we waved to the kids in class, then onto the Boort Secondary College where the students and some teachers, braved the wet with umbrella’s to come down and meet the horses and say G’day. 
After we finished at the school Amanda who had also ridden with me for the last leg to Coopers on Thursday night had prepared a lovely morning tea in a shed at the show grounds which was delicious and warm! A great big thank you to the Boort community for making me so welcome and for the generous donations to the Hannah Rose Melanoma Research Fund.
