Burghley House, from the XC course, don’t get distracted while running XC
For those of you that haven’t experienced a trans-global flight before, it is hard to describe. Take that really horrible short flight when you had a big guy next to you and you felt like your personal space was invaded the whole time.
Turn that into 24 hours, instead of a couple of hours. Then remember that really bad hangover you had when you stayed out too long and drank too much. You know the hangover that hangs about much longer than you feel you deserve. That is what jet lag is. It doesn’t go away quickly, the only cure is getting into your new timezone quickly and suck it up baby.
It is beautiful
Today is the start of my second day in the UK, I walked Burghley XC yesterday and will get to that in a moment. My flight was uneventful and my traveling companion Polly (long story) had more space than me. Heathrow which can at times make the TSA look like they are kind, gentle, and customer focused people progressed without incident.
That is Polly in the middle
I stopped in to see some of my relatives on the way up. I wasn’t much company as I only had one thing on my mind. Walking XC at Burghley. This is not my first four star by any means, I have walked Badminton, Adelaide, some of Rolex and I was there for Hong Kong.
I have NEVER EVER seen anything like Burghley, the terrain is relentless, there is absolutely no let up at all. The let up fences are almost all nearly maximum dimensions and if you get a little gun-shy early in the course, you may as well pull up and try again another day because there are no freebies.
One of the let-up fences
By the time Saturday comes around I will know the terrain better, may even be able to find my way back from the different parts of the course but it won’t be easy. Perhaps by Saturday I may even say it isn’t that big, I doubt it.
The really nice thing about the course is that it is free flowing and straight forward, there are no ‘tricks’. Today I will walk the course twice more, many riders will arrive including most of the US, Canuck, Aussie and Kiwi combinations.
The galloping lanes look fantastic
Lots more to come Eventing Nation. Have a great day.
Yours in Eventing,
ESJ
