Claire has good mobile reception but couldn’t get wifi today.. so here’s the update:

All 3 of us have had well earned rest today.  Lots of sleep, extra food and gentle walks. Friends called in yesterday evening and brought rugs for the horses to keep their muscles warm for 2 nights while they recover from the last 5 days. Restocked food and all set for another 4 days in the hills.  Met some other horsey folks at our rest stop today, one guy who likes to travel like I do with his 2 horses.  Must ask himhow he packs, as his kit looked much more minimal than mine! Have a friend joining me for a tricky bit tomorrow so it will be nice to have company (thanks Fiona) and easier to have only one horse to manage.  Might not get  a chance to check in for a while but you never know – had more reception so far than I ever thought possible!

Lovely morning with a stunning ride through the mountains down to the forest along the River Dee.  Don’t know what got into Yogi Bear but he suddenly went into turbo power setting and poor Swift had to trot to keep up.  Means we made it to Mar Lodge in excellent time and had the chance to set up camp before the rain started, but my plan of giving him an easy day went out of the window!  He is actually really tired, but just won’t stop….. we are so alike lol!  Hope he enjoys his rest time now.  I am meeting a friend for a gentle mountain bike ride tomorrow followed by curry while the horses chill and munch.

Ed comment: curry = local town = hip-flask refill 🙂   I’ve managed to find out how to approve all the kind comments, so hopefully they will now appear, and For Claire’s location update here’s the satellite track  https://share.delorme.com/ClaireAlldritt

Driven out of my tent this morning by the heat of the sun…. Awesome!  Horses were enjoying it a little too much – swift was actually snoring and it took me a while to get them up to get ready.  Had a lazy start to the day and a lovely ride up Glen Muick.  Sun shining through the trees but we were in the cooler shade, stunning views.  I think I smiled all the way up the glen and enjoyed it so much that I had a nip of whisky to celebrate with lunch (it is my holiday after all!).  A tough bit of track to start the hill and we devised a new method of going due to Yogi’s speed walk on the ups.  Basically I long-reined him wiith the two lead ropes and attached Swift to my belt behind me which worked a treat! I got pulled up the hill, Yogi got to be infront which he loves and I didn’t get bashed out of the way by either horse…. Result!  That method is logged!  Arrived at a bothy for the night under the shadow of Lochnagar, plenty of breeze to keep the midgies away for the horses.  Bit lonely though… no-one else here!

Hard day today, two big hills! The first wasn’t as hard as I thought but the track to the second was… Challenging!

Yogi is an awesome boy in that he really attacks his hills but that becomes a draw back when the track is too rough to ride him… Glad I did my reccy’s at top speed to get fit, I needed that fitness today and about a gallon of water!

Met some bog so Yogi had his stress head on which made managing both horses really hard work. Swift as always was super steady and reliable which helped.

Horses in long grass for the night and are very happy about that, they deserve it after today.

Easier day tomorrow & over night in a bothy. Then on to Mar Lodge where I might be able to post again.

Loads of lovely photos from today in the sunshine… A little bit sunburnt too!

Ok so maybe I exaggerate, but it felt like it!

Found the rhythm by the end of the day -first day completely on our own, but there were a few casualties along the way!

Sore finger (mine obviously), snapped rein (Silly bear), ripped saddle bag… Yup those nice new ones I ordered from the states for this trip (goofy Swift).

All now repaired apart from finger but it’s not too bad. Many gates to get through and some too narrow for pack horses!

Arrived at fabulous B&B for the night can’t tell you how wonderful it is here, if you ever get chance to stay here grab it with both hands :o) www.houseofmark.co.uk

Horses sleepy & cuddly but quite tired so tomorrow I will mostly be walking. Big day tomorrow… Big hills to do, may not have reception for a few days but will check in by satellite (thank you hit air uk!).

Nervous about tomorrow, but determined and horses listening to me well so should be fine.

Sorry no pics but only took some on my camera today and can’t transfer to phone. Lovely photos to share later though :o)

https://explore.delorme.com/textmessage/viewmsg?mo=8cffa31461af457bbeda8aeb48675ac710922369

This is on the clever satellite device Claire is using – so you can view it in photo or map format.

Woke up to heavy rain and high winds, luckily by the time I was ready to set off it had settled and was only drizzle.

A good day on the roads (if you can have that -I usually avoid them as much as possible) -horses behaved and the Bear just about coped with all the tractors (his other pet hate -remember he hates bogs too).

Massively grateful to husband and my friend Leaf Sutherland for joining me on this section, to see me through day one safely.  It was actually fun rather than stressful.

To top it all… how lucky did I get at the end of the day?!  The wonderful people who had offered the horses a field for the night, then offered me a room, a meal, breakfast, internet access and beer!!!  I might never leave here!!!

If you have never heard of this place and happen to live in Scotland… you NEED to check it out -a beautiful place, incredibly friendly and extremely accommodating!  Here they are:  http://theburn.goodenough.ac.uk  Normally an academic retreat, but it seems they will take anyone in lol!

I have to say a MASSIVE thanks also to Hit Air http://www.hitairuk.co.uk/ who have sponsored my satellite device which will get me help if I need it even if I have no mobile reception.  Also I can send a “I’m ok” message to hubby and parents each day.  It also tracks my progress and maybe hubby will work out how to share that on here?  I wear a Hit Air vest all the time now after falling off Swift and I broke a bone in my back.  I hardly notice I am wearing it -perfect for this kind of remote trek.  That extra bit of protection and peace of mind but comfortable :o)  Sorry for the plug, but I really do thinks it’s a fantastic bit of kit!

Looking forward to tomorrow and feeling very positive.  I will get a great night’s sleep here and be ready for another day on the trail.

Camping in the starting blocks… Nerves kicking in, those mountains I’ve got to cross seem a long ways away, the coast on the other side is on a different planet lol!

Horses travelled well and have settled for the night… Wish I could do the same.

Thank goodness for a faithful husband and a good friend to see me on my way tomorrow.

Night everyone… Please get some sleep for me ;o)

OK -just about all packed in the vehicles.  Only 1.5hrs later leaving to drive to the start than planned… that’s really not bad :o)

Looking forward to setting off on the horses tomorrow.

Funds raised for PFK at the moment stand at £728.96   WOO HOO thank you everyone! :o)

I have another £75 pledged (thanks Eileen & Julie D) which would take the total to £803.96… now… isn’t that awfully close to the £1000 mark?  Go on… make me smile when I get home by raising another £200 while I am riding…

Oh and Dan says…

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