MizElz
Well-Known Member
Well, we got back from our very soggy camping trip on the Gower yesterday. Had a fab time, but got very wet - the campsite was so wet that the owners have cancelled all bookings for the next week! My little Ka did a masterful job of getting places that no poor little two wheel drive car should be asked to go; we chose to camp right at the top of the hill under an oak tree, to get as much shelter as possible. This was fine, until the grass got so churned up and muddy that people were forbidden to drive up the field! However, after one night of walking all the way up the hill every time we needed to go to the car or toilet block, we noticed that some people had flouted the rules and driven their 4x4 up the hill....so my little car followed! Dont know how I got her up there, it was a bit slip-slidey, but we managed somehow!
Anyway, on the Monday, we went to Parc-le-breos trekking centre. As I've said in my previous posts, my OH has not ridden since he was a little boy, so was very novicey! They allocated him a lovely chestnut plod, who went by the wonderfully apt name of Roger
I was given a dark chestnut mare, who ironically was called Georgie (my name also!). I was a bit shocked at first - she looked quite an old girl, with lots of grey around her face and a fairly dipped back, yet when I asked how old she was, I discovered she was only 14!
Which either makes Ellie outstanding for a thirteen year old, or this little mare prematurely aged....the only other thing I was a bit upset about was that she had a nasty saddle sore, and the saddlecloths used were still wringing wet from the ride the day before. But I guess in that situation, there isnt much you can do, is there?
Anyway we had a lovely hack in light drizzle - there were thirteen of us, although I was the only one who could ride properly. I commented to one of the 'shepherding' guys that my horse was so sweet, she seemed like she would go all day, and he said, 'Ah Georgie's great, she'll do anything - it's stopping her that's the problem!' Luckily, the weather was far too dire for us to do anything other than trot, so I never got the chance to find out how bad her brakes were
Our route took us up past our campsite, and as we rode past the entrance, the heavens opened. Our waterproofs, which had done a sterling job of keeping off the light but persistent rain so far, finally gave up the ghost, and we were soaked through within seconds. One of the ladies who had also come riding with her boyfriend kept giggling - she said everytime she sat to the trot, she felt like she'd wet herself! We stopped at the Heritage Centre for lunch, and the ponies were let loose in a paddock - reins were taken over their head and tied to the left stirrup, and the right stirrup was run up. Rather different to what I am used to!
I couldnt believe that any restaurant would let us enter in the state we were in, but they were obviously used to it - no one minded us putting puddles all over the floor and chairs! After a well-received burger and chips, we all traipsed back out, except two people who seemed to have disappeared into te gift shop, and the ride leader asked us whether we wanted to head back to the trekking centre, or continue for another hour. We were unanimous in our decision - most of us thought it as unfair on the horses as to ourselves to carry on - until the last two members of the group, a mother and her daughter who had never ridden before, yet who had matching new Dublin boots, GPA hats and Kyra waistcoats, came back. The mother spoke up, just as the rest of us were getting back on our ponies, 'What if some of us wish to continue?' Either the ride leader didnt hear, or chose to ignore, because the woman then shouted out again, before mumbling, 'Fine, ignore me then.' We headed on back - I then took over the role of pony-bum-nudging, as several of the riders had got to the point where they were so wet and tired they didnt have the strength to stop their horses from randomly stopping to graze! My girl was angelic, as was Roger, who clearly is used to being the backmarker of the group! And OH suffered no ill effects whatsoever - I did instruct him to wear his tightest pair of boxers
We were so wet, that my jodhpurs were wetter when they went into the washing machine than they were when they came out, and my Ariats are soaked through. The only downside to the whole day was that my phone was drowned in my pocket
I spent all last night trying to dry it with a hair dryer, and OH valiantly held it against the car heater on our way back to the campsite, but all to no avail. So I had to go out and buy a new one this morning
Anyway, here are some of the piccies - I will try and upload any non-horsey ones later in the PG
Georgie Horse (after having been plied with Polos!):
Views on the ride:
OH on Roger!
And finally, our view from our tent:
Anyway, on the Monday, we went to Parc-le-breos trekking centre. As I've said in my previous posts, my OH has not ridden since he was a little boy, so was very novicey! They allocated him a lovely chestnut plod, who went by the wonderfully apt name of Roger
Anyway we had a lovely hack in light drizzle - there were thirteen of us, although I was the only one who could ride properly. I commented to one of the 'shepherding' guys that my horse was so sweet, she seemed like she would go all day, and he said, 'Ah Georgie's great, she'll do anything - it's stopping her that's the problem!' Luckily, the weather was far too dire for us to do anything other than trot, so I never got the chance to find out how bad her brakes were
Our route took us up past our campsite, and as we rode past the entrance, the heavens opened. Our waterproofs, which had done a sterling job of keeping off the light but persistent rain so far, finally gave up the ghost, and we were soaked through within seconds. One of the ladies who had also come riding with her boyfriend kept giggling - she said everytime she sat to the trot, she felt like she'd wet herself! We stopped at the Heritage Centre for lunch, and the ponies were let loose in a paddock - reins were taken over their head and tied to the left stirrup, and the right stirrup was run up. Rather different to what I am used to!
We were so wet, that my jodhpurs were wetter when they went into the washing machine than they were when they came out, and my Ariats are soaked through. The only downside to the whole day was that my phone was drowned in my pocket
Anyway, here are some of the piccies - I will try and upload any non-horsey ones later in the PG
Georgie Horse (after having been plied with Polos!):
Views on the ride:
OH on Roger!
And finally, our view from our tent:
