Latest news from Expedition Equus

We interviewed Becky Sampson just before she set off on her journey from London to Tokyo by horse (on her trusted steed Bertie). We have been following her journey ever since, and here is her latest report from rural France…

Dear All,

Sorry it has been so long since the last newsletter!

Bertie and I have continued our way through France, and hope to be crossing our first land border soon - though whether this will be near in to Germany Switzerland or Belgium is yet to be decided. The problem of terrain in Western Germany is the main thing, as it is very hilly - and ironically, the furthest South near Switzerland looks the flattest part! I was considering going in to Switzerland and then in to Germany from there, but getting a horse in to Switzerland is apparently very costly…we shall see. I take each day as it comes so who knows what may happen!

Bertie had a few days off while I spent some time in Reims seeing all the sights, and I arrived just in time for a music festival which was fantastic. On every street corner, in doorways, shops, restaurants and bars was a new genre of music, a different band, dancers, singers, classic, rock, pop, reggae, jazz, acoustic, Spanish, French (of course!) - every type of music under the sun. It was incredible! Rap merged with rock merged with traditional African beats - quite an eclectic mix! My last day in Reims, however, was not so good as it involved me going to hospital - not fun - and I shall never be eating fruits de la mer again!!

Bertie and I have been averaging 20-25km a day, which is good but tiring, so I make sure we both have plenty of time off so we don’t exhaust ourselves. Still, he is looking very well and seems to be enjoying his new lifestyle, and also has a shiny new pair (yes, pair - just the fronts) of shoes, courtesy of a lovely farrier who took us in during a tremendous thunderstorm for shelter and hot chocolate. Bertie had, up until then (1 week ago) been barefoot, using Swiss hoof boots for the roads, however I managed to loose one and have not yet been able to get a replacement, so until then traditional iron will have to suffice. The hoof boots were marvellous though, and I am annoyed at myself for having lost one, but such is life. The expedition seems to be a continuous “loosing battle” - ie I keep loosing things, but am also showered with gifts - most recently, the tools for hoof trimming which will come in very useful. (These were not from the farrier, but from the owner of a Tabac in a small town called Fagnon - random!)

Food is also surprisingly available, being handed out to me, with special trips to shops from passers by who hand me everything from pastries to chocolate to water to sandwiches. One thing for sure is that I will never go hungry in France - nor Bertie, for that matter, who is enjoying a diet of lush grass, baguettes and plenty of grain when we can get it. I feel so honoured and privellidged to be welcomed in to people’s homes and made part of the family, fed home cooked meals and given a decent bed for the night, which happens more often than not. I have to remind myself that people pay good money for such treatment, and here I am, turning up on doorsteps and being invited in to join for an evening or two.

The transition in scenery from each district in France is gradual, with more slight hills now than there were in Pas de Calais, and I have noticed certain other, more cultural, differences - for instance, in the West, on entering every village, no matter how big or tiny, there is a Religious statue, which is a rare sight now I am further in. Also, whereas before I never saw a shop or tabac in a village - or certainly not an open one - now, once a day, we come across one, which is lovely as tabacs are the centre of village life and is the perfect opportunity to chat to the locals. My French is improving but is by no means brilliant, but I can comprehend much of what is being said and make myself understood. I wonder if Bertie has the same linguistic problems in horse speak. I watched him the other day command respect from a couple of horses, and saw for the first time the “join up” process - in which, Bertie stood in a field (pature), while the other horses ran circles around him. When Bertie decided he was going to be friends, he softened his posture, the horses came up to him and then followed him wherever he went - thats my boy! Hopefully, though, they won’t continue with us all the way to Tokyo…I’ll let you know if they do in the next update! Until then, all the best!

Becky and Bertie

ps, do take a look at the website, which has new photos in the gallery and a further update and pictures on the France page - click on the French flag on the home page to see this.

Expedition Equus

London to Tokyo by horse
In aid of SOS Children

www.expeditionequus.com

info@expeditionequus.com

Tags: Holidays & travel, Inspirational Women, Self improvement & wellbeing