Step 2. Get some horses - from Kin Kin, Helidon, Gympie, Mary’s Creek and even RDA. We have travelled far and wide in search of the right horses and have received very generous offers of leasing. What makes a good trail horse...well actually all the attributes that make a good RDA horse, so we have had good experience in choosing....thanks to our RDA training.
Step 3. Get some pack saddles - well, it would have been easier to find hen’s teeth. But once again, people have been generous and Kerry Aitkin found some from her friends and these are being faithfully restored. Conversations with experienced trekkers in Victoria, NSW and Queensland (including local blokes) have been invaluable. Dave picked up another set in Plainlands near Laidley, nice big bags for all our gear, but some breeching needs to be fixed up. And then Joe found a saddle he’d loaned 16 years ago...well it was time for it to be returned!! Could be 100 years old I’m told. Well, we’ll fix it up and get some bags made and it’ll make one last trip before heading to the museum.
Step 4. Get lots of lightweight gear - like the sleeping bag that rolls up really small and the tent that weighs just 1.5kg, the tiny hexamine stove and dixie tins for cooking, dual purpose everything to save weight and space....and we mustn’t forget the magic stool...you thought we were joking, but yes, for $20 we have a fold up stool - just the right height for sitting around the campfire, and just the right height to help the weary old bones to climb aboard the horse, and then hoist it up and pop it into the saddle bag where it fits perfectly!!
And so on through steps 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 etc etc etc
So, where are we up to...horses are all shod, teeth checked, veterinary check, tetanus and strangles injections, and micro chipping done, horses are working well together, have learnt to accept cruppers (ie a leather strap which goes from saddle around tail and back to saddle...can be a bit disconcerting at first...but keeps saddle in place on steep hills). Some extra experience carrying the packs is needed. Truck to North Queensland is booked and feed and vitamins increased to ready them all for the trip.....mmmm....it is taking a bit longer, but we’d rather be well prepared.
Advice for anyone else undertaking similar....talk to heaps of people, and don’t underestimate the preparations.
PS....Should have left work and dedicated my time to preparations three months ago.
Will miss you all....where did we ever find the time.....
Happy trails, Coralie & Anni
