Scottish thanks

[rides2far@juno.com (Angela C. McGhee)]

Hi, 

Having just arrived back in Scotland, I just wanted to write and thank
all you wonderful people who were so kind and hospitable to me when I
attended the Big South Fork Ride.  My first and biggest "thank you" must
go to my very good friend Angie McGhee who invited me over to stay, she
and her lovely family gave me the holiday of a lifetime (I found that
Hollywood doesn't lie, they really did sit on their front porch swing and
listen to banjo music, I'm still not convinced the crickets weren't just
a tourist sound effect though) and an equally huge "thank you" to Dave
Bennett who lent me his wonderful Arab, Ben Amil, to ride in the 50 ER
(thanks also for the ride on the Harley, Dave, I've just about got all
the squashed bugs off my shades).

 I've never had so much fun at a ride - really!!  I learned a lot.
 For instance how a cry of "BEES!!!!" can make a horse go from 0 to 80mph
in a nanosecond, how to sponge "on the run" (luckily Angie didn't see the
first attempt, when the sodden sponge wedged itself under Ben's tail and
a sudden  increase in speed was blamed on a fresh horse.....), how to
fight to the death the incredibly large bug which has claimed your
sleeping bag for it's own, how to drink Susan Kasemayer's "Tennessee
Panther P*ss"  (Susan, it was *GOOD*, but I wonder if you could give me
some inkling as to when I might expect my sight to return?) and how to
hang an Arab up to dry on a washing/picket line :¬)  
One thing disappointed me........having seen a video that Angie sent me
earlier in the year, I was somewhat dismayed to see you, Nina, in
"non-flowery" riderwear, but your campfire comments soon made up for it,
or was that the drink your Mother gave me?  

Jerry, yours was the biggest by far.....and so *red* and impressive. 
I've never seen one that big in Britain....just as well, we couldn't
afford the fuel <eg>.  

Karen Clark and Thomas Isaacs did an excellent job of organizing, the
trail was extremely well marked and thanks for the bucketful of T-shirts
to bring home (I was concerned that my wearing it everyday in order to
milk this story for what it's worth might wear the T-shirt out, so Karen
very kindly gave me "back-up wear").  

Cathy Adair.....I couldn't believe you drove all that way to meet me, but
that didn't impress me half as much as the Tevis T-shirt!!!!  Thanks
again for that :¬)  Angie?  When you go, remember to get two! 

Tina Hicks and her Mum Rosemary were extremely kind and helpful at
the VC2, that was the one I arrived at doing my impression of a
char-grilled Scot!!!!!!  I seem to remember a great deal of horse-holding
and sponging (not necessarily Ben!). 

 Betsy Gilman and Joe Harris were also at the vet check and gave me some
excellent cooling down tips, I found the scientific description quite
hard to understand at the outset, "shove your head in the bucket" is not
a term we use widely in Scotland.

I also met Katee "Endurance is FUN" Walker, June "Whoa Now" Parsons and
Kathy "Nice Trailer" Moyers, all extremely friendly and a joy to be
around.  If I have missed anyone out I am very sorry, the whole weekend
passed far too quickly, please feel free to e-mail me and prod my memory
and then I'll write what I remember about you (phew! that should stop
'em!!).  I was very sad to hear of Donna Jackson's accident and I wish
her a speedy recovery.

Angie took me to Pigeon Mountain on Thursday, the last day of my holiday,
and I felt extremely honored to be able to ride Kaboot.  He is wonderful!
 We played in the woods for hours, then I swapped horses with her and
rode her "new boy" Revenger.  We toyed with the idea of me buying him,
then popping over once or twice a year to compete.....then we wondered
how we would get the feed bills and
shoeing costs past my husband!!!  Anyone got any bright ideas?

I'm looking forward to getting my photo's developed (any conceivable
blackmail material will be made available to the person concerned....at a
price).  In three weeks time I will be attending my second (in the UK)
50ER at the Red Dragon Ride in Wales, I will certainly remember all the
good advice and important tips I got from all of you.  Most importantly,
how to enjoy my chosen sport......................you are all wonderful,
thank you.


Dawn Saunders and M'Ailleagan (No, I'm sorry, I have *no* idea what a
Yellow Jacket is....and no matter how loud you yell it, I'm *not* going
fast)

PS Could someone please e-mail a large and scary picture of a Yellow
Jacket for my stable wall?

PPS  Angie?  Can I come again?  I promise to be good and not do my really
bad impression of you....although it is getting lots of laughs over here
<g> :¬)

Dawn Saunders
dawn.saunders@btinternet.com

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