A wee reminder.

A wee reminder... Please look further down the list of posts and check out our wish list and itinerary. We still need odds and sods and we would also like people to come and join us for a day or two, either on bikes or horses (see: 'Calling all nutters'). What would be even better is if you know the area and could guide us through it! The nerves are kicking in now, we could really do with your support :-)

Itinerary reminder

A quick reminder for anyone who wants to join us on bikes, horses or whatever... or just to come and gawp.
Sun 15th July, Overton Hill to Ogbourne St George (departing around 2pm)
Mon 16th July, Ogbourne St George to Sparsholt Down (early start)
Tues 17th July. Sparsholt Down to Streatley (early start)
Weds 18th July. Streatley to Watlington (early start)
Thurs 19th July. Watlington to Wendover
Fri 20th July. Wendover to Aldbury (the bridleway ends here, so we intend to carry on to Ivinghoe Beacon on foot, but in costume!)

Preview

On my way West and to Ireland last week I stopped off in Streatley and Goring to have a look at what awaits us. Having read the description of Goring as a 'Market town' we were a little concerned that it might be a bit of a teeming metropolis. Fortunately this is not the case, although it's not short of traffic as you can see from the pics below. Actually it's quite picturesque, I just hope the boys think so too and don't attempt a reprise of Beechers Brook as we cross the bridge. This is where the Ridgeway stops being a bridleway and becomes a footpath. We will need to go onto Swans Way and then the Icknield way. I hunted for signs for Swans Way, but found only the Ridgeway and the Thames Path. I asked a few people, including the lock keeper.... nobody seemed to know. Confused? We will be!













































WHICH WAY NOW?????











Bless the little dears, munching their way through a field of daisies. They have no idea at all what's ahead of them.

Three's a crowd...

A (brief) window of opportunity with the weather, so we went for a shortish hack. Normally the boys go hacking as a pair. I can't imagine why people don't seem to want to join us.... Today was an exception, three whole people wanted to come too. We thought it would be a useful experience for them, although we did wonder if Paddy might think he was out hunting. It's ages since Ryscheyed has been out in company, so he was also a bit of an unknown quantity. In the event both of them behaved immaculately (more than could be said for some of the others). As we had a novice rider with us we took it gently, and amazingly nothing went wrong. A complete absence of spooking, bucking, bolting. Paddy lost a shoe (at the furthest point from home of course), but he didn't want to let it slow him down.... not when he could be showing off in front of a mare. Luckily the farrier was due any minute (see below).
If there's anyone out there who would like to join us for a section of the Ridgeway, you are more than welcome.
Our dates are as follows:
Sun 15th July, Overton Hill to Ogbourne St George (departing around 2pm)
Mon 16th July, Ogbourne St George to Sparsholt Down (early start)
Tues 17th July. Sparsholt Down to (early start)
Weds 18th July. Streatley to Watlington (early start)
Thurs 19th July. Watlington to Wendover
Fri 20th July. Wendover to Aldbury (the bridleway ends here, so we intend to carry on to Ivinghoe Beacon on foot, but in costume!)