Days 16 to 30.

Monday 29th May - Day 30

Still at Cliftoncote!

We are still at Cliftoncote but we are going to leave tomorrow!

Feeding Westy

I took Westy for a ride this morning and he seems pretty much sound and eager to off so its "over the top" of the Cheviots tomorrow. We managed to get caught in a heavy cold shower on the ride but Westy never mind.

Checking out Westy

Nick and daughter Honor have arrived but poor Nick got caught in the same shower on "Mobile Hill" on a conference call for work! Hardly ideal. It's a Bank Holiday too.

The Lorry

Will spend the rest of the day re packing the lorry for our impending departure. I am sure Angela and Paul will be relieved when we have gone but we had a great evening with them last night at The Border in Kirk Yetholm.

So fingers crossed for everything going OK tomorrow.

Saturday and Sunday 27th - 28th May Days 28/29

Cliftoncote

Yesterday was the big day when Michael Cross the farrier came to put a shoe on Westy's abscessed foot (and new shoes) on his other feet.

Westy and chicken

All went fine though disappointingly he is still not sound this morning so that rules out starting again tomorrow. Either he is just sore from where the drain hole in the sole of his hoof is now exposing the flesh inside the foot or there is still some "poison" in his foot. Hopefully it is the former as that should heal quickly.

Had a visitation this morning from Logan Mair, one of my partners at Ashurst, with wife Rachel and kids Olivia, Venitia and Alex. They were on their way to Edinburgh for a few days so top marks for finding us tucked away in the Bowmont Valley. Sounds like we have been having much better weather than down South!

Nick Avery, another Ashurst partner and daughter Honor are, as we speak on their way up here today to drive the lorry assuming we actually manage to get going again soon!

Still weather still sunny but windy so not all bad.

Hopefully we will be on our way soon.

Thursday 25th/Friday 26th May - Days 26/27

Cliftoncote

Thursday, I borrowed the Rocket and headed into Kelso where I sat in the car park and (finally!) connected to the internet and checked my Email. Hurrah! Also caught up on phone calls. If anyone had been watching me it must have looked very suspicious. Also phoned Borders Radio who agreed to do something about us the following day.

Then renewed the road tax on the lorry which irritatingly runs out at the end of May (note to self, tax disc still in bag not in lorry). Then had a coffee and large slice of chocolate cake before sorting out a few bits.

I bumped into Saskia (daughter of ex brother in law Iain and Elaine) and shortly after Iain himself buzzing around in his gleaming Caterham 7 with the roof off! An unusual sight in the centre of Kelso I suspect.

Then back to Cliftoncote.

Westy and chicken

I checked Westy's foot which I think looks OK except you can see a little flesh through the hole in the sole of the foot. I phoned my blacksmith Tim for reassurance (thanks Tim).

Then moved the lorry across the yard so I could plug into the mains to recharge the batteries that run the 'fridge, lights and TV in the lorry. Only snag was, having plugged everything in, no power was coming through! I eliminated all obvious possibilities and enlisted help from Daniel but still no joy. All very irritating as it worked perfectly two days ago!

Paul rang a friend, Drew, who is good at electrics and he agreed to come the following morning.

This morning Drew assessed all possible causes and eventually we discovered a small connector box under the seat of the living area with a trip switch that had tripped. Problem solved but it did make me think I should really have had a better knowledge of the lorry before setting off instead of having to rely on the goodwill of people like Drew.

Its a damp grey cold afternoon now so will go for a walk up the hill to warm up.

Tuesday 23rd/Wednesday 24th May - Days 24/25

Cliftoncote

A sunny clear day but with a very cold wind today. Westy was distinctly perkier and after re poulticing his foot and wrapping it in grey "gaffer" tape he hobbled out to a grassy sheltered paddock where he spent a quiet day grazing among the chickens.

Westy - Cliftoncote

I on the other hand spent the day on the farm learning about sheep and very interesting it was too. I spent the morning with Paul Alastair and Austin " marking" the lambs. This involved a lot of picking up of the wriggly little chaps and holding them while slightly unpleasant but necessary things were done to them. I was then invited to join the family for lunch, a real treat, (home made leek and potato pie and freshly baked rock buns!) before spending the afternoon driving around another part of the farm a short distance away with Angela, checking stock. Sadly we found a couple of casualties, but as Angela pointed out, with over 2000 sheep, a few casualties were inevitable.

Cheviots

I then had the pleasure of driving the "Rocket" home. The Rocket is the Farm car and will be my transport into Kelso tomorrow.

Back at Cliftoncote, a quick walk for Trigger before putting Westy to bed and then cooking supper in the lorry looking at the beautiful clear evening view down the valley to the Cheviots.

Cliftoncote Farm

Let's hope Westy's feet continue to improve so we can get on with the journey south but actually its not too much of a hardship spending a few days in this beautiful place with such generous and welcoming people as Angela Paul and family.

If Westy continues to improve the plan is to start again on Monday and head over the Cheviots to Alwinton. After that we will head south through Northumberland and North Yorkshire to the Pennine Bridleway. I don't have many contacts for accommodation in this section of the Ride so if you know anyone who may be able to help please let me know. A more detailed description of the Route is on the website.

Monday 22nd May - Day 23

Yetholm - no miles!

Am sending this update via my Blackberry sitting on top of a hill as it is the only place on the farm where there is a mobile signal.

Yetholm

After a traumatic couple of days with Westy I think we now know what the problems are and can begin to plan.

When I came to feed Westy on Monday morning I noticed that an abscess had appeared on the cononet band just above the hoof which had been most sore. This was generally good news as it accounted for the soreness in his foot and I set about poulticing it. That evening however it became apparent that the other foot had become much worse and this morning he could hardly put any weight on it at all.

Fortunately a blacksmith was coming to the farm in the afternoon and he quickly diagnosed another abscess in his foot. In his words how ******* unlucky is that. Anyhow he found the abscess and opened it so that it can drain through the sole of his foot. If it had been left it would probably, in a couple of painful days for Westy, have emerged at the coronet band like the other foot.

Westy's Abcess

So now I will poultice his foot every few hours and with a bit of luck we will be on the road again at the weekend.

Must go now as fingers getting too cold to use the Blackberry!

Sunday 21st May - Day 22

Yetholm

The weather was glorious first thing and we turned Westy out in a lovely paddock all to himself. He was definitely less sore than yesterday so hopefully on the mend.

It was then time for Robin to leave and the wonderful Angela offered to drive Robin to Berwick on Tweed to catch a train and save me having to take him in then lorry. I am very grateful.

I also met up with my "ex" sister in law Elaine who I had not seen for about 15 years so that was special. Elaine and husband Iain (plus Hayley, Saskia and Hannah) lives in Kelso just up the road and I used to spend a lot of time there so it was really good to catch up.

So not much will be happening tomorrow and possibly the next day but will send more when there is something to report.

Saturday 20th - Day 21

Ashkirk to Yethom

Well we set off on Saturday under grey but more or less dry skies. I had been a little concerned about Westy the afternoon before as he had seemed to be getting quite sore on his front feet. I had hoped that a gentle Saturday and a day off on Sunday might sort the problem but no. It became apparent not long after we set off that his front feet were very sore.

Fortunately Robin passed me on the road in the lorry and we made a plan. Robin was to go on the the farm where we were staying that night and unload some stuff rom the lorry so we could get a horse in and then come back and pick me up. In the meantime I would carry on and lead Westy. We met up again in Ancrum and West walked happily into the lorry.

We arrived at Angela Freeland Cook's wonderful farm in the Bowmont Valley just south of Yetholm and tucked Westy up in a stable with a deep straw bed and views of the valley. I had a good look at his feet and found he was quite sore and bruised where he had been knocking himself as discovered a few days earlier. I suspect the problem is a combination of this and the fact that most of the week we had been on roads.

We had stopped to do a little shopping in Jedburgh and it was odd to be in a shop for the first time in almost four weeks! It was Robin's last night before heading home so we had a local fillet steak and a bottle of wine, cooked by Robin in the lorry!

Friday 19th May - Day 20

Peebles to Ashkirk 42km 26 miles

Although the distance was actually shorter today than the last few days Westy and I did not notice as there were quite a lot of hills. Westy climbed them all but I generally returned the compliment by getting off and walking down the other side.

It was a drizzly grey day but not to bad. We were joined in the morning by Laurie McGowand and the very handsome Tom. Tom strode up the hills on fresh legs but Westy kept up manfully. The scenery from the tops of the Borders Hills was beautiful and the trails well marked so no getting lost today with a local guide as well. At the end of the day Robin saved about 2 miles for tired legs by finding a short cut from the road we approached Ashkirk to the farm where we are staying.

Laurie and Tom

Otherwise happy to say no real events though we are both looking forward to a day off on Sunday. We have done a lot of miles this week and in planning next week I will try and cut down the mileage particularly as have no real idea where we will find accommodation after Monday next week so no specific places to aim for.

Minch Moor (1)

Minch Moor (2)

Minch Moor (3)

Nor sure if we will have phone coverage where we are staying over the weekend near Kirk Yetholm but we will see.

Thursday 18th May - Day 19

West Calder to Peebles 52km 32 miles

Well today was a bad navigation day. It started badly when a road which looked OK on the map turned out to be a private road so I had to retrace my steps and go a longer way. Then it was a long haul along the A70 which had remarkably little traffic on it thank heavens. Finally we turned off and I hoped that would be the last section of main road for a while.

We then headed for Harperrig Reservoir along the vehicle track rather than the footpath (which apparently is pretty boggy). The problem was that it was then difficult to pick up the path further on. I went through the back yards of a couple of houses and across a field that looked about right. Then checked the GPS which sent me further right to the track but there was a fence in the way. Anyway West and I scrambled through the field to what looked like a gate but after a lot of swearing and pushing and shoving the gate would not open so no choice but to retrace steps to the houses. As we approached for a different direction I saw the markers for the path and we were off!

Harperrig from Cauldstane Slap

The path up to Cauldstane Slap was pretty bad and Westy was not impressed after his recent urban experiences. In fact we had had the full Westy hysteric repertoire during the day, starting with 5 minutes to get past the llama when leaving the yard at West Calder which he had hardly noticed last night.

Cauldstane Slap to Baddinsgill

Finally we reached the coll with fine views and a watershed between central and southern Scotland. It was great to get out in the open countryside after the civilisation of the previous day.

On the way down to West Linton I met up with Robin and we had lunch with Elaine Marshall at her beautiful Badinsgill House by the reservoir of the same name. Elaine knows Robin's nephew Rory and Rory put us in touch when we met up at the weekend.

It was then onward through West Linton and the A701 to try and find the track across the hills to Peebles. I had been given a detailed map of how to find it but I think there had been some development since and there was no path where one was supposed to be! I nosed around for a good while but no way through so I was force back onto the A701. In contrast with the A70 this was a very busy road the big trucks and of course we were at a narrow section on a corner. A couple of huge vehicles swept past close and fast and even Westy understandably twitched a little. Still we found the track and set off up it into the hills via about 10 gates. It was worth the search though as it was a beautiful track across sheep hills and then into forestry.

The weather was very windy and showery and we had the full force across the open hills by the time we came down the lane to our farmhouse B & B at Lyne the rain was more persistent and we were both pleased to be "home".

Romano Bridge to Peebles (1)

Romano Bridge to Peebles (2)

Still West has some "luxury" en suit accommodation with an inside and an outside section to his huge stable and I am now off to my en suite accommodation for a bath!

Wednesday 17th May - Day 18

Kirkintilloch to West Calder 52Km 32 Miles

Today was a long tiring day working our way through the built up areas between Glasgow and Edinburgh. shortly after leaving the leafy lane that Kirstie's yard was in we hit a main road that was a feeder road onto the motorway in the 8.30am rush hour! Slight diversion called for but we were still on urban roads in rush hour. Not much fun but Westy, my highly strung thoroughbred behaved more like a police horse through it all. We did everything urban today, roundabouts, traffic lights, road works, business parks, housing estates, open caste mines, main roads and narrow twisty roads!, air brakes, squalling tyres, aggressive dogs, a funeral cortege, and vehicles of every conceivable type!

Glasgow suburbs

It was a long way and the constant traffic made it a very tiring one for me as well as Westy.

Still we survived though went a bit wrong at the end. I was looking for the last road turning up to our final destination and could not find it so phoned Robin. I was dismounted but did spot Westy standing on the reins. Just as I noticed, West yanked his head up and decimated the bridle! I managed to cobble the remains into a head collar beside the road and led him the last mile or so to Ann Taylor's welcoming yard.

Was untacking Westy and noticed he had been knocking each front hoof into the other so that there was a groove at the top of the hoof just where it joins the leg. This would obviously need some sort of protecting if we were to continue. The obvious answer was overreach boots, the one thing I did not have!

I remembered the name of a local saddlery (Grange Saddlery in West Calder) someone had mentioned to me so we quickly phoned to see if they were still open. Not only were they open but they offered to bring some boots out to the yard to save us uprooting the lorry (set up for the night by Robin) to go to the shop, so huge thanks to them!! We will see how they work tomorrow.

Tomorrow we head south again headed for Peebles but with hills instead of the urban environment. Phew!

Dumping at Aidrie

Tuesday 16th May - Day 17

46Km 29 miles

The day started with more rain but still no wind. West had spent a comfortable night in a large pen in a barn. We said goodbye to William Goldie and set off for first stop - Drymen. I had been going for 10 mins when I met someone riding, I think the first I had met on the whole trip so far! She asked if I was the "long distance rider". News travels fast! At Drymen we stopped to say hello for a few minutes with Robin's friend Frank and Shirley who run the pottery and tea room there. Westie munched grass on the village square and I had lemon cake and coffee!!

We then continued along the faithful sustrans route 7 we had been following since Killin but shortly abandoned it for the West Highland Way. This was a great track under foot. It is an old railway line BUT it does have a lot of gates, which though openable from the horse were awkward and it was easier to get off, especially as the gates generally came in twos! Eventually the WHW veered off the old rail line but we continued along it. It was a bit muddy in places but very pretty beside a river. The only really tricky point was where we had followed a path avoiding the boggy centre of the track onto the top of the cutting side. It was narrow with low branches but fine until we encountered a fallen tree. The options were to jump it with low branches and steep drop back to the track on the right hand side or slide down the bank into the boggy track. West did a neat jump, avoided the drop and I avoided the low branches. Good boy!

At Strathblane we met up with Kirstie (and the 18.2hh "Leggy") who owns Sauchenhall Riding Stables where we are staying tonight. It was great to have company all afternoon and even better to have a local guide through Kirkintilloch where we made liberal use of the town parks for the route!

Unused railway at Strathblane

Kirsty and Leggie

West is now tucked up in a cozy stable and Robin and I are going out for supper with Robin's friend Malcolm. Potentially boring day tomorrow heading east toward Edinburgh to line ourselves up for the Borders routes south and on to the Cheviots and England!

Monday 15th May - Day 16

Balquidder to Gartmore 46Km 29 miles

Well Westie seems to have brought the rain with him from the south. It was raining when we got up this morning and it is still raining!

Balquhidder - Callender

Still the ride, which was along the shores of two Lochs Lubnaig and Venachar and then over the hills of the Queen Elizabeth Forest to Aberfoyle was beautiful none the less. The "trip wire" gate which had been identified as an issue was open. Robin and George and Annette had walked down to see it on Sunday and had asked to owner to open it for me. I gather she has horses so no problem!

Loch Venachar

Westie snorted his way along the first few Km. Unlike Monty he is not at all phased by sheep but was having a very good look at most other things around him. Large stones and rocks were a particular concern as was the sound of waves lapping against the shore of the Lochs! Neither was he too sure about the bagpipes playing outside the Scottish Wool Centre in Aberfoyle. Still he seems in great form which is just as well really!

We are now staying at the home of William and Katie Goldie in Gartmore and Westie is tucked up in the barn drying out. We are only a couple of hundred yards off our route so a great place to stay all round.

I am definitely feeling quite tired after the ride today. I think Westie as a smaller more active horse is more tiring to ride. I must say changing from Monty to Westie is like switching from a top of the range four wheel drive Range Rover into a little sports car! How lucky I an to have two such great horses for this ride!

Tomorrow we head for Glasgow!