Day 6: Drenched - (19.5km)

Ninevah field to Christine’s North Brookfield

Waking to the dewdrops on the tent, dampness around the sleeping bag, I knew it would be a tough start. The rain would come and go, and we managed to pack camp and set out by 9:45am! Which was our record time! (Surprising cause things were damp). Jewel had left her boots, and both her rain coats out in the rain, the rest of stuff we’d covered in a tarp. Boy was she about to learn her lesson. We were going to be back on the old rail road made trail the entire 20km to Christine’s house. And Joseph, biking ahead the day before, elected to take the road to avoid all the flooding and puddles. And it was a good thing he did! Jewel and I were in for endless huge puddles, more like mini ponds, and rain. Joseph arrived less than an hour after we left by bike, it took Jewel and I 5 hours. We got caught in the rain. And Ora, with the start of tiny saddle sores, has been walking Ora. So her and I took turns on Lux, but were mostly walking. Jewel’s Oilskin, which had been left in the rain but was still dry enough on the inside to wear, fell in a puddle when they were squeezing by a tree. So 30 minutes later when it really started to rain, Jewel had nothing. She didn’t seem to mind, but I cut a garbage bag and made her put in on and cut out some arm holes too. We crossed a flooded path (the only time Jewel rode Ora that day) and arrived at Christine’s soaking wet and freezing at 3:30. Poor Christine got to meet grumpy and cold sisters, but was kind to offer us a shower and a dryer. Which really did change everything. She even made us a hot dinner and offered we sleep inside. We were so grateful to have a dry warm bed and I slept right through! The dampness is the worst, its hard to stay dry and keep warm. So we will definitely take any bed we can get!

Jewel had to walk Ora the entire day to prevent saddle sores getting any worse! (They are now much better) and so I would walk to let her have some riding time. We crossed about 5 old railway bridges like the ones you see above. The boots definitely help, that and our horses being smarty-pants. The rain only got worse after this picture, I had to cut a garbage bag out for Jewel to wear.