Campingninja Blog

It's raining quite a lot today, which is the over optimistic and understated way of saying that there's a torrential downpour going on. I've been psyching myself up ready to make a dash over to the campsite shop to buy some milk to go on the weetabix for breakfast (funny how there's not a cow in sight when you really need one).

OK, now go!

I have the full support of the rest of the team as I try and leg it as fast as I can across the grass, with Eric, Suzie and Elwood shouting 'run Camping Ninja, run!' from the dry of the tent, which despite my running for the last 3 minutes, still doesn't seem very far behind me.

Should I turn around and head back empty handed to the comfort of our canvas home? No, I can't let them down. Or stand to look at their cross faces when they realise there's not going to be any milk for breakfast and the harsh reality of dry weetabix sets in.

Guess I'll carry on running then.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! (Love the way everything is always much less traumatic when you shout that as you run!).

'So let's get this straight. You want me to put the hat on my head and climb up and sit on top of the horse? … For me to climb on up and sit right there on top of the horse? Wearing that hat? … Sitting on the horse?'. The situation wasn't looking so good for me as I stood on the ground with my neck fully stretched, looking up at the tallest, biggest horse I had ever seen.

'You're not scared of a horse are you Camping Ninja?' Elwood laughed.

'Uh uh', I shook my head, with my jaw clamped together and tightly compressed gritted teeth, unable to admit that really I was petrified, as being afraid of a horse really goes against most ninja rules.

'Come on Camping Ninja what are you waiting for? Get on the horse!' Eric told me.

'OK just give me a minute, I just want to get my head around it for a second' I replied trying to bide my time.

'Giddy up Camping Ninja get on' called Suzie.

'You know actually I was looking for something more in the petite range. Do you have anything a little less tall?' I asked. 'I don't think that one is going to fit me'.

And in a plume of dust and the smell of what I, without meaning any disrespect to the four legged lady, would call 'Eau de Horse', came the tinny sound of four hooves stopping in the yard as out of the stable labelled Rapunzel, indeed stepped a horse named Rapunzel. What a name!

Trying to be friendly I greeted her with a 'neigh'. Not sure if she totally appreciated my efforts to be down with the equestrian lingo as she exhaled a shower of hot horse breath out of her nose at me! Nobody had told me I would need an umbrella for horse riding!

'So you want me to get up on top of the horse called Rapunzel? You want me to ride Rapunzel?!' I double checked. 'Oh'.

The sun shone down on her windswept mane. If it's true that eyes are the window to the soul then from that moment on my nerves and fear abandoned me and I knew that I could trust Rapunzel. Looking into her deep, dark eyes, she wasn't hiding any secrets. There were no monsters lurking inside Rapunzel. She was simply herself. A short legged, stumpy horse with very long and endearingly messy hair. Beautiful in her own way. I can only describe her as a race horse with the height and grace of a Shetland Pony.

So on I climbed and Eric, Suzie and Elwood went trotting off on their own horses.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, 15 minutes had passed and I was still sitting on top of Rapunzel who was yet to move. 'Clipety clop Rapunzel, clipety clop', I said making some horsey clicking noises and then whoosh!! Off she went and Rapunzel really did go!!! 'Yee hah Rapunzel!'. The wild horse dragged me away.

Feeling a little like Zorro we rode off in chase of the others. Galloping along I thought, until a person walking with a dog on a lead overtook us. With my feet not far off the ground I wondered if it would actually be quicker for me to walk back to the campsite.

Of course when I did get off, walking wasn't that straightforward any more. My legs killed! And I smelt of horse. But I did have a new friend with a very funky name and a nice cup of tea waiting for me when I got back to the tent.