Returning home on Irish wings

Saturday morning (Oct 6th) at Zabie Oko: my alarm clock went off at 5 AM. After a quick breakfast together with my fellow Swiss riders we all boarded a taxi for a close to 4 hour long airport transfer, this time to Warsaw. My Swiss friends had kindly agreed to make a detour and drop me off at Modlin Airport (used by low cost airlines) before continuing an additional 45 km to reach Frederic Chopin Airport, the city's main airport. A big thank you: Susanne, Noemi, Claudia and Paul! I hope that you were able to enjoy a bit of extra Warsaw sightseeing on your way to your airport.

In good time before departure I could check in my luggage with Ryanair. A week before the trail ride I had already printed out my boarding card in order to avoid paying an extra fee at the airport check in. I haven't flown Ryanair in many years and as a former cabin attendant (8 years with FlyNordic and Norwegian), it was interesting to compare the Irish service concept with that of Wizzair and with the airlines I have worked for in the past. These day's you often hear and read negative comments about Ryanair and how they treat their crew and passengers. Yesterday, on my flight to Stockholm Skavsta Airport, I was positively impressed by Ryanair's service at check in, on board and most importantly from my point of view, the attitude of the cabin crew. After 70 minutes in the air -  with a cup of hot chocolate - I touched down safely on Swedish ground.

No pain, no gain...

... or one lesson learned the (saddle) hard way during my recent trail ride.

Next after good rain gear, the number two most important piece of equipment to bring or borrow for my next long ride will be a seat saver.

The saddle type used on my horse Ethos and also on other horses on this ride was of the old Polish army model  - very good for horses but hard for riders. A seat saver's job is to cushion the rider, but it can also provide warmth on chilly days. A seat saver is usually made of lamb skin or gel and is placed on top of the saddle seat in order to protect the end part of the rider.

The impact on my rear end on this last ride was quite impressive and painful, especially when trotting. Consequently every canter and galopp, when I could use a field seat position, was a great relief.

Word of thanks - Lithuanian Trail 2018

Dear all,

Andreas, Christiane, Claudia, Jurgen, Margot, Noemi, Paul, Susanne, Ursula
and of course
Tadeusz, our great leader on horse back and from the car seat:

Now that our adventure week together has come to an end, I would like to thank you all for a great time, both in the saddle (35 hours) and on the ground in both countries.

On behalf of the Swedish delegation
I wish you all many happy trails in the future      - with or without a seat saver.

Cheers until next time!
       Staffan

Homeward bound

Yesterday morning (Oct 5th), our last riding day, started as usual by collecting our horses in the overnight field. Our four legged friends know by now that we are pointing their noses towards their home. They all wait patiently at the gate for us riders to finish breakfast.

After saying goodbye to our kind hostess Magdalena (graphic designer and horse lover/rider at Dwor Szwalk manor) we started on our last leg of the trail ride. It actually became two (2) legs since it was decided to continue nonstop directly to the home of Tadeusz. Four hours now suddenly became six in the saddle.

On our return ride we kept a fast pace, at times very fast. Long gallops and a lot of trotting in order to cover the day's total of 50 km. On this ride my preference was galopping - I will explain the reason why in a follow up blog.

After a brief technical stop at our starting point in Zabie Oko, we continued on today's second leg to the village of Sulimy, home of horses and Tadeusz. During this last part of the ride we took a long lake walk to cool off our horse's feet. Arriving safely at Sulimy, two taxis brought us back to Zabie Oko for our farewell dinner, exchange of home addresses and goodbyes.

Horse Rock-and-Roll

At our pick-nick spot at lunch time today (Oct 4th) my faithful adventure partner Ethos (very young at twenty) decided to show me a classical horse rock-and-roll. He did it very well - only the music was missing. His reward for the show: an apple!

New ride guide homebound

Today (Oct 5th) we are heading West on our return ride to base. Two day's ago, a horse ridden by a German gentleman, had a small leg injury after hitting a stone. In order to play it safe far away from home it was decided that he (the horse) should run free with the group on the way back to avoid further injuries. Tadeusz horse was given to the German rider and Tadeusz himself will drive his car and stop at strategic crossroads and point us in the right direction. Claudia, a young Swiss rider, was given the honor to act as our ride guide, pick the right trail, speed and good places for technical stops. She did very well and after seven hours in the saddle we reached today's destination, the manor house in Szwalk.

Riding along the Russian border

After an excellent birthday dinner, a cold nights sleep and an substantial breakfast it was time to say goodbye to our generous and multi-talented Lithuanian host Viktor (hotel owner, veterinarian, bakery shop owner, photographer, hunter etc.) Today's ride (Oct 3rd) started in the water - to cool our horses feets - and on the shore of Lake Vistytis. This lake is divided between Russia an Lithuania and we could see the floating border markers. Once ashore our trail ran next to the barbwired, camera controlled and heavily guarded fence in the border zone. Very different compared to the open border between Poland and Lithuania!

As we came close to the Polish border it started to rain cats and dogs. All group members are experienced riders and well prepared, come rain or shine. It was therefore decided that we should ride nonstop to our small hotel in Stanczyki.

After five hours in the saddle (excluding two technical number 1 stops) we arrived to a warm welcome of cold cuts and pastries washed down with coffee or tea and fig vodka).

Prosecco breakfast and border crossing

Today (Oct 2nd) our trail guide Tadeusz turned 63 and it was a good reason for us to celebrate him the whole day, starting with a glass of bubbly for breakfast.  After 3 hours of riding, of which the last 30 minutes followed the border of Russia, we made a brief stop at a stone monument marking the place where the three countries meet: Poland, Russia and Lithuania. In order for us to avoid getting free Russian language lessons in Siberia during the next 10  years we told our horses not to cross the border which they unknowingly obeyed.

Just before crossing over the border to Lithuania we stopped in Trojstyk for a two hour long birthday lunch break in a farm house located 50 meters from the border. The food served was really top of the line Polish country cooking and it was  followed by various types of homemade firewater. In a very good spirit we mounted our horses and crossed the border between Poland and Lithuania. After 2 hours in the saddle we are now continuing to celebrate Tadeusz at hotel "Viktorija" in Ciziskiai, a small country resort (open this time of the year only for us) next to a beautiful lake and facing Russia on the opposite shore.

Swan lake in Masuria, Poland

After eight long hours in the saddle we arrived at our small hotel in Stanczyki, a small village located 10 km south of the border to Kaliningrad which belongs to Russia.

Today's weather was perfect for trotting and do long gallops on gravel roads in forests and across fields with cows saluting us as we passed by. Four hours into the ride we stopped at a small lake for a picknic lunch. Perfect for our horses to cool off their feet, have a drink and a bit of fresh grass. A swan family was very curious about our lakeside activities.