Day 52: Knowing When to Stop - 35km

(10km Walking, 25km by Trailer)

Saint-Cuthbert to Richard and Eve in Saint-Paul de Joliette

Another morning of what feels like an endless cycle. The only reason we weren't taking the planned day off is that Richard was coming to pick up our things, and we felt like we were in a bit of a schedule of going to certain houses. Sylvie, Josie, and Rodger all made us a lovely breakfast w it homemade rhubarb jam, and we set out around 8:20. (This seems to becoming our regular departure time).

We were following this great map Rodger had made for us, all cut and pieced together form google maps so we could see the full trail. We were only ten minutes in when I hopped on Lux. He didn't want to move. I could feel how exhausted and grumpy he was. I tried to get him trotting in the grass near the edge of the road. Sometimes that helps pick his energy up. Within a minute it felt like he fell in a hole! He went down and tripped a few times trying to regain his balance. I immediately hopped off and checked him. He was fine. I walked back in forth in the grass to find the hole he must have fell in, even Jewel said it looked like he fell. There was nothing, but the slant of the ditch which he must have slipped on.

I love that everything in this photo is a little crooked, exactly how I felt.

What my mom said the other day rang in my ears "when you're too exhausted, that's when accidents happen." We were so overdue for a break. Why didn't we just ask them to stay. I told Joseph, "I don't care where we are tonight, we need to take a break." "For what reason?" He said. It made me so mad. As if I need to justify why we need a break. The other day he asked me "When are we going to start covering more distances?" I just had to take a breath and stay silent. We've been doing 11 days in a row, through the pouring rain, the thunder, the lightning, while he gets to sit in Timmie's editing videos. It made me so mad. I don't want to have to feel the need to justify our need for a break to him. "Lux is exhausted, I can tell how tired he is and so am I." I said to him and continued walking.

Joseph, Jewel and I all had a big talk about two weeks ago, and our relationship and understanding of the trip has been much more harmonious since. But there are still times when we are on a different page. We need Joseph on this trip. I could not do what he does, his video editing is incredible, his filming, and I'm glad he's in Tim Hortons working on them while we ride. But he also misses 80% of what Jewel and I go through during the day. So there is frustration both ways when it comes to the distance we travel.

Anywho, we continued on our way. We were 10km in when this truck pulls up behind us. He tells us to stop, I didn't recognize Richard at first. He got out and came up to us "Tu veus un petit conge aujourd'hui?" At first I didn't understand. Then I saw the horse trailer behind him. Oh! Break! I looked at Jewel who's eyes were wide when I translated it for her. "YES!" She was saying. I was hesitant. "But isn't it cheating?" I said. "No, are you kidding, I don't even care at this point, the horses are so exhausted, and when are people ever going to offer a trailer like this again?" She was right. Thinking of the horses, the 25km we had left, the heat... this was actually exactly what we needed. "We can at least try and see if Lux will get in. It took about an hour to get him in the trailer and we were off.

Eve and Richard's place is amazing. Mostly because they are amazing. They have a pool, a deck, a beautiful barn. They have this hanging hammock-like bed we all took a nap on. We hosed down the horses and got them all settled in the perfect paddock. Eve brought beer for Joseph, wine for Jewel, and OJ for the sober one, me. She even made us a Quinoa salad, fresh cut pineapple. Later she made amazing home made pasta, and then they took us out for ice cream.

Ice-Cream makes everything better. Especially Oh Henry Gelatto.

And Ferrera Roche Ice Cream

And even better company. Swapping horse stories. Eve has amazing stories. She's been on horse pack trips through Hawaii, Cambodia, and travelled a ton. She is so sweet and compassionate and an incredible rider.