It's commonly said that expectations are seldom fulfilled. Coming to meet our horses here in Nova Scotia, envisioning what these few weeks might look like, I was hoping for a mossy-forest filled idyll where I could rest my mind and get prepared in a safe and welcoming place. Those hopes have been far exceeded these past two weeks: every day has been filled with a peaceful routine of tending to the horses, getting to know them, and slowly bringing them back into work. Lance and Sarah have opened their beautiful property to us, and it has been so lovely to be introduced to such a beautiful part of the world by two such kind and generous souls.

So far we have ticked off several significant events: Driving through the city on the RHS of the road. Getting accustomed to feeling overwhelmed in Walmart. Getting used to -5 degrees, only for the temperature to rocket back up to 15 a day later! First vet inspection and vaccinations for the horses. First sessions of groundwork and saddling for all horses. Riding Jack and Tennessee. Heading out, all five of us, for our first trail ride. Fitting saddles and gathering together all our gear... And Ella milked a cow for the first time, the kind and gentle Princess Penelope the Guernsey!

It has been a true delight to get to know our horses and uncover their personalities. We have the beautiful extroverted showgirl Tennessee who is a perfect first pony who may have a small pony-tude streak but is an absolute heart-melter and has the sweetest disposition. There is the quirky Mojo with his giraffe-like upright neck, whose wide soft eyes seem to exclaim "WHAT?!" at each unexpected turn of events, but who is so soft and responsive even when shocked by the challenges the world may throw at him. And then there is our dear Jacky boy, whose story can only be guessed at: unflappable, never missing a beat, knowing more Western riding tricks than I will ever learn, but who leans away from a quick-raised hand and blows sharp breaths when you come at him too quickly... They get on amazingly well, sharing feed buckets, and their very different personalities seem to fill each other's gaps.

There are still several things to sort out before we can head off on the road in earnest. The Spring has been exceptionally late and cold this year, so we are still waiting for the weather to improve to allow some grass to grow for our equine friends. Lovely Mojo is a sensitive soul and will need a bit more work before he can happily accept the panniers on the pack saddle. We know our lovely Jacky boy may need a bit of extra TLC to thrive. And we need to get our Coggins test completed, for when we cross into the US further down the line.

At this stage, we are hoping for a mid April departure. Spring may continue to drag her heels, but all things considered, I am feeling hopefully optimistic about our horses, their dispositions, and our capacity for this journey.

Thanks for being the best possible soft landing, Nova Scotia!