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Lindy Spencer-Bernard and Liz Pannett are making the 1,800 kilometre pilgrimage from Broc, near Tours to Compostella. Lindy is riding her 14.1 hand Connemara Neiche bred for her as a driving pony by a great friend Priscilla de Moustier and her daughter Victoria. "He is going splendidly, a bit nappy at times but well able for it although only five years old." Liz, an artist, is on Lindy's 15.2 Gallan ½ Arab/Fjiorde 11 year old gelding and is sketching when she gets the chance and taking lots of photographs.
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PROGRESS REPORT: After a delayed start, following a blessing at Broc church and a return home, as one of the ponies had a rope burn, they re-started at the Loire over the Montsoreau bridge on Sunday 26th March. They are riding through "bursts of spring flowers and birdsong". Charlie, Lindy's husband is driving the box and meets them mid-ride and for lunch which he organises. Lindy writes: "We have large scale maps so it is just deciding where to stop for lunch and for the night. We ask farmers or anyone who looks as though they will put us up. We are totally independent: electric fencing on a battery for the horses, we carry water and hard food for them plus all our clobber. Charlie B&B's every night and we sleep in the horsebox, which rattles along by day. We try to do 20 kilometres each day until the wound is better. Both ponies have lost all their fat and are muscling up well."
The days, or rather nights, have then been passed at (spellings may be somewhat awry as I think Lindy is writing the letter while riding...!)
1. 26/27 March Château de Brèzè; 2. 27/28 Montreuil-Bellay at an old farm on monastery remains. From here the Romanesque architecture begins, tiles and shallow roof lines. Sheep farming. Lots of Brits and roman bridges; 3. 28/29 St Radigoude (Thouars) in a restaurant garden by the river with wonderful views of the Ducal palace and church as we left; 4. 29/30 St Généroux, a magnificent village with XI & XVIII century church; 5. 30/31 Chatillon s/Thouet - a farm knee-deep in mud and with a cheerful farmer, all in the rain. Wonderful scenery all along the ride from the Loire and along the valley of the Thouet. Spring literally exploding before us. The rivers are in flood with all the rain; 6. 31/1 April. A pretty keep and XVII century château in the village with 9 hectares of park; 7. 1/2 Pardoux - a field by the road above the river valley with good grass. 8. 2/3 Champdernivers St Dennis with a M.Mounier, a retired trapeze artist who worked with Bechard in Theatre Zapataton Circus all over the world. Again wonderful country and villages.
STILL TO COME: Lindy and Charlie's daughters will join in at stages, Elizabeth between Bath and Sarah Cambridge University terms and Jane, their handicapped daughter will be taking part too. Lindy and Liz expect to take 2½ months.
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