Reinless trek an epic journey
The Reinless to Rawlinna team arrived at their destination last week, damp, dusty and sore.
But a 450km horseback journey, which by all accounts should have been hampered by storms of "Biblical proportions", ended on a high.
After 10 days of travel, including eight full days riding, Suzie Williams and Robin Lonsdale, together with Gill Johnston and the rest of their trusty support crew and horses, were welcomed by a magical sunset and a glass of champagne at Rawlinna.
Ms Lonsdale said riding reinless had been far from the most challenging aspect of the trip.
"Interestingly, the things we were most worried about, which was wild dogs and wild camels, we had absolutely no problems with," she said.
The weather nearly put an end to the fundraising assignment, but the quick-thinking team found shelter and shacked up until the worst had passed.
On another evening the team, woken by the sound of wild horses, rose to find their own animals had bolted from camp.
Thankfully, the horses were eventually found 5km away.
Ms Lonsdale said she was still coming to terms with the fact the adventure was over.
"I actually didn't want to finish and when I did finish I wanted to ride back home," she said.
"But I'm not just talking about the trip itself.
"The journey started 18 months ago when we started training.
"It was an absolutely amazing experience, just watching the bush change, seeing the colours change after the rain. At one stage I was riding along all by myself on the Nullarbor in a thunderstorm."
Ms Williams described the trek as a once-in-a-lifetime journey, noting a special parcel had arrived in the mail yesterday for each of the riders.
From equestrian group Bitless Inc, the mail contained a Good Horsemanship Award and a letter congratulating the riders on an "impressive and inspiring journey".
The group is still hoping to make a sizeable donation to three charities - the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Melanoma Institute and beyondblue - with a total goal of $100,000.
Those wishing to make a donation can find details on the Reinless to Rawlinna Facebook page.
