Hitting The Trail

A late start on Saturday May 9th as an early interview with CBC radio was followed up by an item for CTV.  But eventually we got away on a hot morning along the Trans Canada Trail.
   A welcome break at the Quitters Café in Stittesville, where owner and rock star Kathleen Edwards treated me to an iced coffee, and ham and brie croissant (delicious and highly recommended)..  Parking for cars, bikes, dogs out back....

...and even horses as it turned out!

...a passing cyclist told me he had seen a bear near our rest stop - was this a warning? ...

The spirit of Christmas endures on the trail....

Cocoon....

Ann had sorted out a place to stay at Ashton, and I was met and guided in by Ottawa Valley hunt club official Bob to Lady's overnight quarters chez Cindy Lauzer while I was scooped up and taken home by the energetic Grits (her nickname!) McMullen for spaghetti, sorbet, shower and bed.  Thanks all!

We are ticked off by the police.

Lady and I arrived back at the International Equestrian Centre on May 1st, staying a night at Pine Haven Quarter horses near Plantagenet courtesy of the hard working France Venier and daughters.
Still having difficulties insuring the truck or hiring a car so decided to sell the car, give up the idea of looking for a second horse and plod on with Lady.   So after a day sorting sorting out my baggage, on May 6th Lady and I set off again to tackle Ottawa.
We reached the Ottawa side of Orleans, where we stayed at a fruit farm. Here is owner Paul with Lady just before we set off for downtown Ottawa the following morning May 7th...

Paul let me sleep in the camper van in the background.

A beautiful ride along a gravel path by the mirror-like Ottawa river....

Coming into Rockcliffe Park, a photographer suddenly appeared from a parked car and started snapping away.  The paparazzi on my heels?  No, Jesse Winter, a journalist from the Ottawa Citizen who had just happened to see me.
Lady and I made it successfully into central Ottawa and at Parliament Hill I prevailed upon a cyclist who approached me to take a photo of us on the grass in front of Parliament buildings.

  He seemed a trifle hurried but it was only when I noticed a large figure looming over me that I realised why. No horses were allowed on the hallowed lawn and a member of the security police had arrived to give me a ticking off.

The cyclist turned out to be journalist Michel, and he had filed a report within hours.
http://www.gulf-times.com/Mobile/US-Latin%20America/182/details/438303/Woman-rides-through-Ottawa-in-last-leg-of-world-journey-by-horseting
  Jesse also turned up later and treated me to a cold beer and poutine at a pub restaurant down the river, resulting in the following piece with online interview.
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/video-horse-rider-benefits-charity
Caught in the act - riding your bike was prohibited in this tunnel, but no-one seemed to take much notice!..

Riding along the Trans Canada Trail leading out on the other side..

I saw a figure with a camera - my hostess with the mostest Ann Matthews who guided me in the last few kilometres to the Wesley Clover Equestrian Centre where Lady had a heroine's welcome ....

In the meantime Ann whisked me off to her house to thoroughly spoil me, and chauffeured me around the next day to buy and collect forgotten .items of equipment - travel towel and fly mask being top of the list!
Ann outside the Marshes clubhouse where we went for a meal with the family - good to see the Welsh flag flying!

Many thanks to the Wesley Clover Equestrian Centre who hosted Lady for two nights and also had new shoes fitted.

Au Revoir Quebec!

Tuesday 28th April  Riding south from St Adele I stopped at midday to graze Lady near Lac Hughes, and got talking to Ron Caron, an ex psychologist who gave it all up to start a small company Olive Authentique producing hand made artisan soaps and skin care products from refined coconut oil.  Here he is beside the soap cutting machine he made using guitar strings ...

and he very kindly gave me a couple of free product samples!

Another quiet road with the sort of speed limit I like to see!

Nearing Lac Louisa and wondering where I would find hay for Lady for the next three nights when Lara Croft came out to meet me. The upshot was that Natasha (her real name) sorted out accommodation for Lady and me where she keeps her own horse Jasper with the irrepressible Colleen and husband John.  Lady had a clean loose box with ample hay and carrots while I was sat down with a glass of beer and treated like royalty, to the extent that I found myself paying court to a procession of visitors including a salamander..

Natasha and boyfriend Mathew in the barbecue area, beside the big stone oven built by the multi-talented Natasha - she is also an artist with a book due to be published this September.

Colleen can you make sure someone sends me some of the photos of the Quebec hillbillies!

 Wednesday April 29th and Colleen produced a real Canadian breakfast of coffee with pancakes and maple syrup, bacon and easy over eggs, while I was interviewed for The Review by journalist Tara.

A little contingent of Natasha, Colleen, Melanie and Mary plus horses accompanied me for a couple of kilometres down the road before parting company.  

It was not far before Lady and I were within sight of the Ottawa river and the distant hills of Ontario on the other side.

I am sure it was $200 last week?  Inflation hits the litter penalties business.... 

 Members of the Clark family who settled here from Scotland in 1832.  Brian Clark, shown below between brother Wayne on the right, and nephew on the left, is the sixth generation to farm here.

I got talking to him when Lady was taking a lunch grazing break at the entrance to his 1000acre farm where he grows soya beans and corn, milks twenty five Holsteins and harvests maple juice from around 2,800 trees.

Gravel roads need regular maintenance, and a road grader was busy at work digging up the top layer to remove potholes and then relevelling the surface

 Tara had arranged for me to stay with the Welden family in Grenfell, near the bridge over the Ottawa river.  Andrew keeps miniature donkeys, and together with wife Kim, runs a local flea market, selling fruit and vegetables, antiques and even horses!    Andrew, Kim and son Herbie with collie Ruby the next morning Thursday April 30th.

 Daughters Rebecca and Emily had already caught the school bus.  After feeding me generously the evening before, Kim sent me off with a packed lunch!
Crossing the bridge over the Ottawa river from Quebec to Hawkesbury in Ontario

Mega thanks to all those who hosted me in Quebec so magnificently, and apologies to the victims of my insufferable attempts at French after over 40 years.

Making a Spectacle of myself.

Setting out across the fields on Thursday April 23rd..

Ahead lie the Laurentides hills and when the camera pans round you can see the little town of Ste Melanie.
Drop litter in the Laurentides and you get hit on the head for ....

 



A lovely day's ride through forested hills and whirling snowflakes, past frozen lakes...

to be warmly welcomed by Eric, Carol and Annick of Les Ecuries Diamond near Rawdon

Poutine is a Quebec speciality of chips (French fries) with cheese curds and a gravy sauce.  When Carol discovered I had not yet sampled its delights, she made sure we collected some for supper....

 It sounds grim but is actually delicious! 
Annick, Eric and Carol (L to R) see me off on  Friday April 24th.  Lady was stabled in the barn behind.

 It was a long but pleasant trek through the hills to next place I could expect to find some hay for Lady..

 I had identified an equestrian concern near Esterel, but had not had confirmation that I could put Lady up for the night, so asked nearby if there was anywhere I could buy some hay and ended up stopping for coffee and cakes..

 It transpired that Jeanette and Serge worked at the Haras Laurentien where I was headed, and that I was expected.   Hard working proprietor Samuelle Durocq-Henri gave me a great welcome and a luxurious bedroom, and invited me to stay on another day to see one of the 'operas equestres'  they put on once a month. Here is Samuelle practising for the following evening on her black Canadian mare ....

I was easily tempted, and it gave both me and Lady an opportunity to chill out for a day.  The 'spectacle equestre'  turned out to be tremendous fun, with clowns, jugglers, dancers, singers and a cast of horses including the Canadian, four Friesians, a Morgan, an elderly Arabian and a pinto gypsy vanner stallion who played the lead - the drum horse Voltaire who had fallen for the charms of black mare Operette.  The performance was enlivened by human and equestrian tricks and displays to music, and the show was followed by a lively cast party during which Samuelle tried out a couple of new tricks...

I played a small part in the spectacle when Samuelle introduced me after the show - what the audience made of the strange figure in baggy travelling attire that was presented to them I shudder to think.

The following morning Sunday April 26th I had a mounted escort down to the village.  Samuelle is on the Friesian third from left, husband and behind-the-scenes fixer Geoffroy Garnier second from right, and between them is Adele who speaks fluent English and was able to act as an intermediary when my French failed me..

 

 Ominous crossbowman warning sign in the woods, bringing with it shades of 'Deliverance' ...

But I eventually arrived safely at ...

 ....the well run Centre Equestre Val Morin, where I was thoroughly spoiled by Suzanne and the rest of the delightful Casavant family.  After a visit from a journalist representing the local edition of Information du Nord, Husband Denys saw me off on the sunny but chilly morning of Monday April 27th with a toe warmer of rum and maple syrup! 

 

Wet Wet Wet

Monday April 20th
Having left Canada with the geese in the autumn, it is quite poignant to see them returning at the same time - in couples and trios or large wavering V formations making their way to the northern wilderness to raise the next generation.  They land at intervals to rest and feed in the stubble of the cornfields, the bands of snow geese distant splashes of white while the darker Canada geese are sometimes almost indistinguishable from the grey background.......

Father Christmas must have got stuck in the snow here since Christmas, perhaps not surprisingly as he appears to have harnessed up a cow as a concession to local Quebecois dairy farmers...

After a week of brilliant sunshine I suppose it was only to be expected that the clouds would gather once I got on the back of a horse, and so it proved. Steady rain set in by midday and by late afternoon my feet were soaked and hands freezing, but my spirits lifted when I saw a couple of horses by a house at the side of the road.  Natalie Gilbert who answered the door luckily appeared unfazed by the soggy apparition that faced her. Yes the horse could stay in the corral but no she did not have room in the house for me.  The reason became apparent when she divulged that she had nine children. But I could use the mobile home and supper was thrown in.
A depressing outlook...

The woman who did not actually live in a shoe, with five of her nine children...

Another wet day's riding the following day Tuesday April 21st....

...but I had equipped myself with a couple of plastic bags to wear inside my soaked boots, and had the promise of a warm welcome ahead.   Welsh pony and cob owner Deva Dickson had arranged for Lady and me to stay with her delightful friend Sonya near St Elizabethe, and it was bliss to relax in a hot shower and dry out my wet clothes, followed by a convivial bilingual evening with Deva, friend France and Sonya (L to R) .... 

 My camera and cell phone had given up the ghost in the rain, but happily my camera recovered in time to take the above photo.  My cell phone was not so lucky, but Sonia kindly drove me in to Joliette the next morning Wednesday April 22nd to replace it.  

Deva and her smart black Welsh pony cob type (Section C) stallion Boogie Petit Prince by the imported stallion Synod Lord Percival.  He is used for driving, and she intends to geld him after he has covered a couple of mares....

Deva originally started driving Welsh Mountain ponies (Section A) but is now going into Welsh cobs (Section D) as they have more strength for pulling.  I was interested to see the lovely little cob mare (shown below and rather incongruously called Betlar Tootsie Pop) which she had recently purchased, as it is descended  from Talley Wendy, a mare born and raised on a neighbouring farm to me in Wales.....

 Then it was a showery afternoon's ride to my next stop at St Melanie, with a coffee and hay break en route chez Myriam Bougie, yet another Welsh pony and cob fan - her father Michel imported Synod Lord Percival and bred Deva's stallion.

 I saw these for the first time in the maple woods

..small metal containers for collecting maple juice when only a small number of trees are being tapped.  The containers are emptied every night during the maple syrup season, which is in spring when the temperatures are below freezing at night and above during the day.

There is no grass up here in Quebec as yet, so every night I have to find accommodation with hay for Lady.  Here is my night's host Karine Gougeon (on the right) at Ecurie Kalin with the biggest Haflinger in the world (seriously horsey folks, it was about 15.2hh and apparently had papers!) 

A Slow Start

Sunday April 19th
Arrived safely in Canada on April 9th and made my way without incident to Ottawa where Sian collected me from the bus station.  I had originally hoped to set out from Trois Rivieres at the weekend but as usual there have been the usual frustrations which held me up for a week, the main one being that I have not been able to sort out insurance for the truck yet. This has made it very difficult to make preparations as I have been reliant on long suffering souls such as Sian and neighbour Sonny Ebstein to give me lifts here and there. However I opened a bank account with Royal Bank of Canada (easy) and reactivated my cell phone account (ridiculously problematic) and also managed to look at a couple of possible second horses, one being a lovely Cremello quarter horse mare. Quiet, amenable and a responsive ride, she seemed a strong contender, but had a nasty cough which turned out to be COPD (a lung disease) so it was back to the drawing board.
The weather has been glorious since I arrived, and I woke up every morning to the sun pouring through the window and the honking of geese flying north to their summer quarters.
Lady has wintered very well and is looking distinctly tubby though I am sure her hay belly will trim down once we are on the road - Sebastien took a spin on her in the indoor school but it did not seem to have much effect...

Today Jacques Charlesbois trailered Lady and me back to the bridge over the St Lawrence river where we finished in 2014 - but this time the north side. Sebastian and Lucas also came along for the ride....

I had not been on the road for long when to my surprise someone hailed me in English - had my fame gone before me?  But it was only Bernard Gilles of the Ferme Du Joual Vair who happened to be driving past with his partner Cecile. They had hosted me for my last day's riding on the other side of the bridge and we had a pleasant reunion!
After a couple of hours riding along the river.....

....Lady was given a corral at the Berthaume Canadian horse stud, courtesy of Michel, shown here with two of his harness geldings.

I bedded down in the barn behind and was treated to a welcome 'home delivery' of a very tasty hamburger brought out by Michel, who also sent me off with packed lunch the next morning!

These Children Need Your Help

A video to remind you of one of the main aims of the ride - raising money to help disadvantaged children in parts of the developing world through the charity CHALLENGEAID.  People sometimes ask me what has been the biggest challenge I have faced while doing my ride, but I can confidently say that absolutely nothing compares with the challenges these children face on a day by day basis.

ChallengeAid particularly supports children in the appalling slums of Nairobi in Kenya, including Kibera the second largest slum in Africa, and Korogocho, a newer but infinitely more lawless, dangerous and thus deprived slum.
A main drive is the 'Schools of Hope' programme, which provides a safe environment and opportunity for pupils to study in the evening. This is particularly important in communities where many families are child-led due to HIV or other factors.  Children in such families may not be able to attend school at regular hours, and would otherwise fail to receive the education they need to help them escape the stifling poverty they live in.
Apart from these obvious factors, why should you support ChallengeAid rather than other similar charities?
Firstly all administration costs (such as for this video) are covered by separate sponsorship, so any money donated goes directly to the projects supported.
Secondly there is a focus on designing the projects to be ultimately self-sustainable, so financial input is tapered over a few years to leave working self supported projects.  Participants are encouraged to help themselves, unlike many knee-jerk projects one encounters.

You can donate online via my JUSTGIVING page.  I am reliably informed by Justgiving that it is possible to donate in dollars from Canada!