Made it out on the errant and wilful Tilly again, first time in 3 days. The overreach injury on her heel is dry and looks to be healing well. I hope the mucking out exercise is making up for the lack of riding.

It was hard finding somewhere dry to take her, so we went up and down the cycle path quite a bit, as all the fields are completely saturated and boggy in all kinds of places.

Got some more Gaucho information today – definitely camping for at least half of the trip; and need to take own food – that’s something that definitely hadn’t registered before. Will have to reconsider what I’m taking how heavy it is etc. again now. Hence I’m writing this whilst eating half a sachet of packet of porridge with hot water poured on it. It doesn’t taste of much. Watery oats. Think the sugar in this packet must be in the half I’m not eating. I suppose you’d call this gruel. Ironic as it is a little gruelling. So aside from being a hot-ish liquid with floaty bits to chew, it isn’t something that is a particularly rewarding breakfast, although after a night of camping and if the other option was nothing then, I suppose it will be okay.

Add to list*: find better breakfast option, post camping and test it out with the jet-fuel burner stove.

The list of kit I need is still not ticked off;

• Warm (life-savingly warm) jacket
• Waterproof, lightweight, pull-on trousers
• TEST: neon beanie (will it keep my head warm?) (will it fit under my riding hat)
• More meals for camping days
• 2lt water bladder
• Waterproof jacket, with long enough sleeves!
• 3 or 5 point breast plate (for horse)
• Better breast harness (aka sports bra) (for rider)
• Ziplock bags
• Emergency firestarter box?
• Test gloves for leading (Add to list – Ride and Lead with Casper in new gloves this week)

*Make a list