|
Jessica Bigler - Switzerland to Russia and back!
|
Indefatigable
Long Rider Jessica Bigler has set off on her next ride! In spite of her
troubles with Britain's troublesome bridle paths in 2007, she is setting of for much wider fields. Click on map to enlarge it. |
Jessica, Gitan
[the horse who so bravely carried Jessica in 2007],
Lindsay the pack-horse and her dog Yok are getting ready to travel across
Eastern Europe, Turkey, Russia and back to Switzerland through the new EU
countries such as Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
"I realise it is a BIG thing that we are planning but after my first experience with Gitan last year, I know I am made for that!" Jessica wrote. "I am now working a lot, learning to shoe the horses, learning veterinary and human first-aid!
Jessica has now left and sent the following message to The Guild:
June 2009
Here are some news of my team! I know a lot of the
German people I've met speak English, so they will be happy to hear from me
through your website!
Since the beginning, things haven't been easy, mostly due to my mare who has
been very naughty the first weeks! I was even thinking of selling her and find
a new horse. But, I gave her another chance, I guess she understood that
because since the last accident, she has been very good and now, I can say
that I have a very good team to continue the trip!
After l'Alsace, we had to find a way to cross the RHEIN, we followed for about
one day the RHEIN canal and then found a "barrage" to cross it, and so we were
in Germany! The canal was forbidden for riders, so I walked! it was the
easiest and the most secure way for my team to cross the Rhein, without too
many cars and traffic! Again we followed the canal, for several days...easy
ride, flat, always straight ahead, water when we want!
Then came the time to say goodbye to the Rhein and to say hello to the Black
Forest! We will remember this part! We had the most hottest days until now.
Beautiful landscapes, but hard, as you just go up and down all the time.
Fortunately for my horses, a friend of mine was here and he carried all my
stuff in his car, so we could enjoy riding for a few days. See the pictures
attached. (Click on either of the pictures below to
enlarge.)
I have decided to follow the DANUBE for a while, it goes to Romania...but we
will only follow it a few days or so.
We are approaching the Czech republic and should be there in approx. 2 weeks,
if everything goes well. So far, Germany has been difficult in the beginning,
as the people were very distant and cold with me, and I guess with all
strangers! But, the further east I go, the warmer they are. Now people are so
welcoming and they all invite me to eat and sleep, and want me to stay with
them. But....I want to be in Turkey at the beginning of winter, where we can
take a break.
Being alone with 2 horses and a dog is not easy! Some days everything goes
wrong, and then you think you must be crazy to do such a trip, alone! But
then, I forget it and I start a new day, knowing that travelling with horses
is great, as long as you know what you do and as long as your animals come
first!
PS: I would like to share a bit of my journey with another long rider, if
someone through your site would be interested in joining me for a while,
please let me know!
For information about Jessica's previous Long Ride, please click here.
Please click here to go to Jessica's website.
Back to Current Expeditions Top of page Home