Despite my talent totally nonexistent talent in writing, my desire to share the steps that led me, lead me every day on the path of this trip, was the strongest!
So for this FIRST post I go on the presentation of an inspiring film and a book ultra, both swallowed in less than 36 hours:
SERKO A film by Joël Farges, GRAND PRIX "The Gold of Arman's horses" at the 13th Epona Festival
According to a book by Jean Louis Gouraud.
"A True Story, In 1889, riding a small gray horse named Serko, Dimitri left his garrison in the Asian confines of the Russian Empire on the banks of the Amur River.After extraordinary adventures, both arrived in Saint Petersburg, the Tsar's court, having covered more than 9000 kilometers in less than 200 days, this young rider has achieved the most fantastic equestrian achievement of all time. "
A great moment of complete identification !! a must see! ... in addition it has an happy end and I REALLY like happy ends!
Then Jean Louis Gouraud, who wrote the book of the Film also write this one (and lots of other) he tells about his trip France-Russia with his two horses, and full of other things:
Here is the synopsis of the publishing house that will always be better than my prose:
"On May 1, 1990, Jean-Louis Gouraud left the Paris region with two horses, and carries with him very little luggage, but a lot of papers: permits, visas, veterinary certificates, sanitary, customs. In fact, many frontiers: crossing the two Germany, Poland and finally entering the USSR He is the first Westerner allowed to enter the Soviet Union, thanks to the agreement of Mikhail Gorbachev Jean-Louis Gouraud arrives in Moscow on July 14 after traveling 3333 kilometers in 75 days.The many notes taken by Jean-Louis Gouraud during his trips back and forth go far beyond the anecdote.This is not about the simple story of an equestrian feat, but the equestrian portrait of an empire where, as everyone knows, in every man a Cossack sleeps: History, literature, breeding, religion: nothing escapes the curiosity of the globetrotter r, which feeds his reflection on a journey through time and space. "
So, of course, I also learned some very important lessons. Here is the basic extraction in three points:
1- The challenge among others, Jean Louis answered was to be a D-Day and a precise time at the USSR Frontier, now Belarusian, to enter the territory and be assisted.
Clearly he was expected to foot "firm".
Its progression of 45K / day of average was thus essential to respect this appointment.
- I note therefore the constraint of the validity of the entry visa to Russia (obscuring for the moment the "paper details" relating to the mare), if it becomes valid at the time of entry into the territory Russian, how to be certain of the date of the passage unless actually to impose a rhythm and hold it. For me my goal is to arrive whatever the time that it will take even if the shortest and fastest the better.
He has traveled the distance to the Turkmen, ie with two horses mounted alternately which allows to actually keep a rather high pace, which will be neither my case nor my basic goal.
2- The story of the trip after the border of the USSR, and therefore of present-day Belarus, raises three problematic aspects:
-The road is straight, made of low side relatively polluted trash already in 90, so what is it today, and is there now another possible road.
-An assistance is absolutely essential, given the few villages and / or reception facilities, Jean Louis had an assistant by car to curb the food and the bivouac when that had to be necessary.
-the last one hundred KM before Moscow, on this road in any case, are absolutely impossible on horseback, too much traffic and more low sides, so transport truck or van mandatory on this route. unless you get around it.
3- I must find the lines (lost in the middle of the book) that impressed me the most in the pure organization of his trip, it is the contents of his bags and fonts. I would make the transcription on another day, but in essence: customs papers = a bag / spare single toilet = a bag / grooming material = a cast iron / pharmacy man-horse and spare net = a cast ... I see a lot of longrunners with pack horses, sometimes one per person and I am not really for this solution, but there it forces respect, believe me! not even a compass .......
-My starting position was the same with I admit a little more "comfort" woman requires, but my weight is generally lower than hers can allow me to consider taking a little more, if only the navigation equipment!
but going into ultra light mode has more advantages than taking your home with you, that's what I personally always practiced without ever being disappointed or bored.
The constraint of this option, the points of falls must be well managed, and according to my reading of his book, it was his case, with the help of many riders and indigenous organizations.
4- The choice of the period of departure is preponderant, apparently to cross Belarus in summer is a nightmare due to biting insects, to have myself lived in Sologne time and again, there is no question of managing this situation .
So the arrival in this region must be done in autumn.
Voila for today, all that deserves a conclusion but ...... another day
Sophie
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