supporting The Tymes Trust is Registered Charity No.1080985 Tymes Trust Head Office: 9 Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 4DH

DIARY ODYSSEY LOG - Week 3 Updated 25th April 2002 Ride Log Index   |   Photo Gallery   |   Full Itinerary   |   Events   Week Three:   Dorstone - Penkridge (south Staffordshire)   Dorstone to Penybont Monday 3rd September We were forced to postpone this and the following day's rides owing to our support vehicle's burnt-out clutch. However these sections of the route were covered in January 2002. Rest day Tuesday 4th September Julie Bailey: After yesterday's disaster with the clutch on the motor home burning out we had to find a way of repairing the vehicle as quickly and cheaply as possible. The plea for help on the local radio stations were not as sucessful as we had hoped so we had to look elsewhere. One garage had quoted £365 to repair the vehicle and although we had a kind offer from Peugeot of £25 towards the costs this still left an awful lot of money to come out of the charity's funds to pay for the repairs. Shropshire supporter Sarah Bailey had a marvellous idea to ask the Army's REME unit if they would provide the labour if we provided the parts to fix the vehicle, and it was up to me to try to persuade them. I telephoned just about every Army and TA barracks in the area and eventually found a kind soldier who gave me the telephone number for the Army's REME Headquarters. The chap there explained that due to a new telephone system it is very difficult for civilians to contact Army units directly and advised that our very best hope lay with the LAD at Hereford who had a REME workshop on site. Our only hope lay in jumping in Gill's tatty white Bedford van and driving over there to beg and plead for their assistance. So there we were parked outside a military installation looking for all the world like terrorists or escaped lunatics. The first hurdle was getting past the Security Guard on the gate, if we couldn't get past him we didn't stand a chance. I put on my best little girl lost look and explained the predicament we were in and that we had come to beg for assistance. Luckily he was a very nice man indeed and let us through to reception. The next hurdle was explaining it all again to the Policewoman on the reception desk and again she did us proud by explaining the situation to the right man in the workshops. While I was waiting for our hero to arrive five soldiers walked past carrying guns. "Oh, I suddenly feel very nervous" I said to the Policewoman, pointing to the soldiers, "Don't worry about them, they'll never hit you from there" she replied. Then our hero arrived (in the form of a very handsome soldier) and I explained the situation again and bless his heart he agreed to fix it for free and negotiated with the garage to get the parts needed at a reduced cost. We limped the motorhome over to the barracks with me nervously following in the Bedford van ( I normally only drive my little mini!). We handed the keys over to our hero and I thought if you are going to be cheeky then why not go the whole hog and I asked him to sell some of our raffle tickets as well, much to Gill's horror, but he agreed to that to. As my Mum used to say "There's no harm in asking". Thanks to Army Troops Hereford, the Odyssey is up and running again. Not everyone is troubled by a burnt-out clutch ©2001 Julie Bailey By horsebox to Llandegly (near Llandrindod Wells) then around Radnor Forest to Knucklas (near Knighton) Wednesday 5th September On the road again by evening, thanks to the Army. We have lost two days' riding - these must be made up after the Ride ends - and go straight to the destination for the day, Keith and Darrell Archer's lovely yard on the edge of Radnor Forest. This section will completed at the end of the Ride Jack Mitton Way around Long Mynd to Church Stretton (Shropshire) Thursday 6th September Gill: Caroline, who has gone back home while we sort out our technical hitch with the campervan, is driving back from London this morning. By 11 there is still no sign of her, so I must ride the first leg. Kaan, after the soothing influence of Herbie on Sunday, is now much more like his old self with other horses. We set off ahead of Darrell, but she is soon able to catch us up, ride abreast and then go ahead without Kaan getting ideas. This is glorious countryside; all about us open moorland with tantalising tracks running over the hill and out of sight. But for F&M we could be on those hills, instead of ant-tracks and tarmac. We soon catch up Supermouse, who is earning her sponsor money the hard way, trudging endlessly uphill on her own feet. Thank goodness for four working legs under me! This is A.E. Houseman country. "By valleys of springs of rivers, by Ony and Teme and Clun." We cross the second and meet the third at the village of the same name, where Caroline, despite her long drive, climbs straight into the saddle. I flake out gratefully in the caravan while Dave drives on to our next rendezvous at Clunton. Photographs ©2001 Julie Bailey "Clunton, Clunbury, Clungunford and Clun Are the quietest places under the sun" But the first has an excellent pub - much better than tea and sandwiches in the van. M.E. rider Julie Bailey enjoying the Shropshire landscape Caroline I manage to lose myself almost immediately. We get over that 'cos this time I have a GPS and mobile phone. Dave and the team are determined that I shan't lose myself again. I have to say that I don't actually need to use the GPS but that's more luck than good management. When you ride across these bridlepaths, you realise what a terrible state they're in due to lack of use from F&M, which has been an absolute disaster to the countryside - it has affected so many people, not only the small local industries, the teashops, the crafts, visitors etc., but it has also affected the bridlepaths which have overgrown. I'm riding through a wood that's probably one of the most magnificent woods I've seen, full of beautiful firs - I even spot a couple of American redwoods, pretty big. It was quite the most spectacular place, and I manage to get a really good canter through there - Kaan just eats up the miles. So down to the little village where I'm being met at the pub by the team, and very glad I am to see them - especially when they pour a glass of shandy down my neck. We end up at Judy Collier's beautiful cottage at Strefford. Kaan gets excited at there being horses around. We have a wonderful spaghetti bolognese at Judy's house - she is more than generous. She's done a lot of endurance riding so is hugely interested to know what we are doing in the 2001 Odyssey. Judy outside her cottage Wenlock Edge, Much Wenlock to South of Telford Friday 7th September Caroline: Kaan made a disgraceful scene when he arrived last night and found two horses very close to his stable. The succession of strange stables, strange horses and strange riders is unnerving for him - and the too-recent stud season has put his mind on things other than his manners. We send him off well ahead of his companion today, but he still gets very excited when he sees Zak coming up behind him. We ride up into a wood. The path is steep, we canter slowly up. It really takes the wind out of Kaan. Mind you if I had been running up the hill I would have been pretty puffed I can tell you. The wood is magnificent. Vast trees beeches, oak and the biggest ash tree I have ever seen with a girth like an oak. We are met by the support party of Judy's daughter, Emily and a friend who open all the gates for us along the route. The ride is georgeous. Such countryside, sheep fields, corn and sloping rolling hills, woodland and the shrill cry of pheasants. The daily chore - spraying against foot-and-mouth disease We swap over at the old railway line from Much Wenlock to Iron Bridge. We have already ridden down some of it and it was very overgrown indeed because of the foot and mouth outbreak. We duck and dive under branches and get through at quite a good average of about 5 to 7 miles an hour. Our companions are to leave and we are met by Elaine Newton riding her cob. She runs a riding establishment near Bosley, and we are to stay the night there. Once again the enthusiasm with which the team is received is terrific. I've been asked to go to BBC in Birmingham's Pebble Mill to talk on Ed Doulan's The Late Show so Jan takes me in while all the rest go off to Bournville to listen to a lecture on ME by Dr Franklin. Upon our return at midnight there's no sign of the team so Jan kindly takes me home and offers me a bed for the night. Sally Jones, first woman TV sports presenter and former Real Tennis World Champion: I'm really looking forward to the ride along Wenlock Edge. I don't know the area very well but it's absolutely stunning. We've just started our ride, and are looking across the Welsh borders and the hills down the slope of Wenlock Edge. I'm actually riding Zak, the Appaloossa, who's a most spectacular horse - brilliant colouring - and although I had Kaan billed as a bit of a naughty chap, he's been behaving beautifully so far. I'm also surprised at quite how breedy-looking he is - he looks so fine. He also looks as though butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, so I hope this impression isn't proved wrong later on. I just can't believe the beauty of the vistas we're going through. We're going along the old railway track from Longville-in-the-Dale to Much Wenlock, with hazel borders on either side, and wonderful rolling farmland opening out beyond the trees to my left. It's a most exhilarating feeling being out. We're about four horse-lengths behind Kaan. Apparently he's not supposed to see the bottom of a horse in front because he gets a little bit excited - but that's men for you! What got me into this ride originally was one of the other riders, an M.E. sufferer Gill Suttle, who is the owner of Kaan - I was friendly with her at Oxford when we were both in the first women's modern pentathlon team, which was a great thrill. I think that the amount of work that's gone on, by the Tymes Trust, by people with M.E. and by everyone who's helped put this ride together, is quite extraordinary. We've had the most amazing day's ride right along the top of Wenlock Edge, and I'm now on Kaan, who's been extremely good, in spite of having been billed as a bit of bonney chap and rather keen on the ladies, and we're now down in Much Wenlock. It's quite stunning, with ancient buildings all around us. There are several dozen people from the local M.E. group and Tymes Trust. Caroline and Sally in Much Wenlock I haven't ridden for quite a while and I'm going to be quite stiff tomorrow, but it was well worth it. I do hope that a lot of money is made for the Tymes Trust. It's certainly been a wonderful day for me. In Much Wenlock, Peter Ruberry of Shropshire and Wrekin M.E. Support Group, presents the Odyssey with a cheque for £50 which Sally kindly accepts on our behalf. Evening Dr Alan Franklin has kindly come all the way from Essex to support the Odyssey with a talk to the Central and South Birmingham M.E. Support Group. Dr Franklin gave an interesting and stimulating well supported by between forty and fifty people. It was particulalry satisfying to see a large numer of new faces - people who until now had been coping alone, often with little or no support. It is a privilege to have a speaker with the specialist knowledge and vast experience of Dr Franklin, and we are most grateful to him. Wolverhampton Races Saturday 8th September Caroline: Today is a slow start with a parade at Wolverhampton races. This is accomplished with machine-like precision. I take Kaan out onto the course and canter him down to the enthusiastic cheers of our supporters. Turning at the end of the straight, I let him fly back. He moves like silk and is a joy to ride. I'm really sorry to part with him and the team and wish them all the best for the continuation of the ride. Sabrina Way to near Penkridge Sunday 9th September Gill: Kaan has spent a couple of nights in Elaine Newton's new yard at Broseley with a couple of donkeys wandering in and out of the barn and talking to him over the stable door. I don't know what they said, but this morning he is happy and relaxed, much more his old self, as we ride out with Elaine and her four-year-old Dean (she also has a horse called Morgan and one of the donkeys is Stanley) and Maurice on his tireless piebald cob, Sir Arthur. We come over the hill and down on to the road right past Thomas Telford's Iron Bridge. Crossing the tourist's car park we pick up the old railway track by the Severn. A flight of a dozen wooden steps heads back up to the road; Kaan takes a long, measuring look then happily scrambles up them to where BHS Bridleways officer Jan Pritchard waits to see us through the traffic. We are lucky today, for Jan and Sue, an endurance rider who set up the 'Horsewatch' scheme nearly a decade ago, are crewing for us as if we were in a long-distance race. At every corner Sue offers sugar beet water for the horses and squash for the riders, while Jan provides generous supplies of carrots and choccy bics. Maurice is a County Court officer who works with children, helping them to tell their own story in cases such as custody disputes. I ask him if he has come across any cases between ME children and social services. He hasn't and listens with horror as I list some incidents of children wrongly labelled with psychiatric disorders, forcibly removed from home, placed in locked psychiatric wards, their parents accused of Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy. He is clearly a kind and sensitive man, and I have no doubt whose side he would be on in such circumstances. It's good to know that there are people like him about, standing up for disabled kids. < Week Two    Week Four >