Day 22: Time is Like a Roll of Toilet Paper

Ingram's (Dumfries) to Dickison's (Riceville)

...The more you use it, the faster it goes. I can't believe we did 36km yesterday. It went surprisingly fast. In fact, 30km no longer seems so daunting. Maybe it's like when you're on vacation, the first two days seem so long, then suddenly the trips over and your on the flight back home. The first two weeks went by so slow, it seemed like a million things happened each day. But now, the days wiz by. Nine hours of walking has become normal, and "15.8km to go" no longer makes me groan. I guess it's safe to say we've adjusted to the nomadic life. We have to be careful not to get to comfortable though, each house is a new house and just because this life style is becoming the norm for us, doesn't mean it is for our hosts. Just like we have to remember that when meeting all new people, it's there first time and they deserve all our attention.

We left right on the dot at 9am, we were faster because Val was going to drive our things ahead of us. Which was such a life saver because Jewel still can't put a saddle on Ora, and as we learned the hard way yesterday, the packs just slide off. So I also only rode with just my side bags for food and first aid. Judy had shown us the route before, so we knew it was 20km before our lunch. We stopped at the beautiful suspension bridge by the water. Everyone had told us about this bridge, everyone uncertain if the horses would go across. We had checked it out the night before, and it did swing quiet a bit with our weight under it.

We took the horses in the water to cool off. It helped our swollen feet as much as their warm hooves. We ate the salad Judy packed and rolled on our massage balls. We packed up quickly and were just about to cross the bridge when Andy and Heather came across.

They were our hosts for that night and they came out to see how we were doing. We talked briefly, but I was a bit stressed to get over the bridge. It was only about a meter wide and very long, I was worried that if Lux treated it anything like the trailer we'd be there a while, and having people watch just made me more stressed. I remember Philip Wagner from Red Pine telling me it's best to load a horse with no one watching because it puts pressure on the horse too. That, and I feel pressure on me when people are watching, so I think it's best to be alone for both myself and my horse, as we feed off each others energy. So I asked if they would mind giving us some space.

We tried Lux first, he wouldn't go so Ora went, with a little tap on her bum she was on and walking, bridge swaying.

I had to try two more times, on the third, I went on with full belief we were walking over the bridge, with a firm hand and encouraging voice I walked him right on. I was so happy. I felt like we had both come a long way since we left Nova Scotia a month ago. Jewel said I looked more confident too, and I felt it. All the advice and things I've learned from all the farmers and horse people along the way has really helped me. That, and just getting to know Lux more.

We trotted and even cantered the last 16km to Andy and Annie's house. There was a big welcoming party and we also met Shauna and Chris and all their cute horses and critters. The horses settled into the round pen, and got a nice cozy stall for the night.

They ALWAYS roll, but we've never captured them doing it together. No matter how many times I see them roll, it still makes me laugh. Lux grunts and they scratch and they just look so happy when they do it! Must be like us getting a hot shower at the end of a sweaty day.

The forecast called for rain and so we got the camper for the night. Annie, Shauna and Heather had a huge dinner prepared, and so far the Dickisons are keeping us laughing.

CBC interview tomorrow! We're all a little nervous.