We now have our string of four horses. Spirit, Ned, Charlie & Psycho Stevie – pictures coming soon!

We collected two of the horses (two were delivered), so we bought a set of travel boots for the horses and Noel loves them “hey, they will keep my knees warm!” Noel’s knobbly knees are always cold. This maybe a new invention idea for someone!

Here’s a picture (below) of the entrance to our new digs – just 600 acres to play in! Unfortunately due to the meeting of the torrential rain and the beautiful creek running through the property we have been flooded out. We left the property at 5am and sat overlooking one of the causeways for ten minutes as it was flooding, scared me silly, but was not deep. The next causeway was 3 ft deep and scary – thank god for the ole Troopy Truck that took us down to the footbridge (we had left the Pajero the other side of the causeway in preparation). We’ll get some pictures today and post them Friday.

We picked up Psycho Stevie yesterday and couldn’t get back home! He is in a  friends’ yard, Noel and I are at Col’s place (Noel’s brother).

Fortunately, the creek usually recedes quickly . . . but it’s started raining again!

Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth! What a handsome boy!

This Saturday we collect Spirit from Albury. Well, we arrive Saturday and bring him home Sunday as it is about a 6 hour drive!

We are very excited and hope he isn’t (too excited!) – Julie, his current mum is being very brave. She’s only giving him up due to an injury – and I think this weekend will be hard for her.

We are collecting horse gear daily (well, buying!), it’s a bit different from boat gear, but astonishingly the same in funny ways – you just need a lot of STUFF!

A drink?, some Get-Up & Go?! , nope, a horse!

Spirit is a handsome 15.2 Bay, 8 going on 9.

In his younger days he was very valuable and won thousands as a trotter. He looks very cheeky, you can see the mischief he is thinking about in his eyes. His tail is up – just for a photo!

“He will really test you out when you start working with him,” Julie, his current owner, warns.

My mum saw the photos and says “He looks like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, ha ha – be careful!

So, we are very excited to say that in a few weeks Spirit will be joining our family.

I think I’ll need a different sort of spirit after some ‘getting to know you’ time with Spirit – maybe the liquid type!

We’ve just agreed to adopt Psyscho Stevie from The Standardbred Pleasure & Performance Horse Association of NSW. http://www.standardbred.org.au/

This organisation does a fantastic job. They are a non-profit organisation, founded in 1993 and staffed exclusively by volunteers from their own homes throughout the state who give of their time and resources to provide Standardbreds with a life after racing. There is no Government support and all monies earned are raised entirely by fundraising activities, donations, membership and application fees.

Physco Stevie was introduced to us as a 15.2 Bay gelding which pig roots (bucks a bit sometimes) – but is apparently very kind – and hasn’t dumped anyone  . . . yet! . . .!

We hope Psycho joins us soon!

Pictures to follow soon.

I am looking at all the gear we have, tent, self-inflating mattresses (‘mattresses’ is a bit flashy – more like ‘inflated flannels’) and camp chairs that are cunningly disguised as tiny stools and I’m wondering when we’ll find our steeds. We plan to be ready to go by September!

The chilly wind glides over the fresh snow on the mountains down to our little home and makes me shiver, Noel tries – again – to convince me there is central heating in the tent.

Meanwhile I stand at the sink, with lovely running hot water. I’ll miss the hot water and say “I won’t even have a sink.” To which Noel says with a grin, “don’t worry dear, you won’t have a roof, a floor or a cushion either!”

Hmmmmmm. What are we doing and why? Take at look at http://www.bicentennialnationaltrail.com.au/

. . . and why? Well, why not?

We are about to buy four horses . . . . and head off into the sunset with a tent and a one-burner stove!