Grannies riding high on trek
RAISING $33,000 is no mean feat, and neither is riding on horseback for three days straight and covering more than 150km.
But the Travelling Grannies have done both during the past 12 years.
Colleen Hinds and Cherrie Davies started their annual trek yesterday and despite having their carefully planned route disrupted by bushfires the two were in good spirits.
The group do this ride every year to raise money for the Westpac rescue helicopter.
However their efforts gained real urgency four years ago when Colleen's life was saved by the chopper after a brutal riding accident.
She was thrown from a horse that bolted after it was cut by a barbed-wire fence.
She was knocked unconscious and were it not for the quick response of the rescue helicopter crew the outcome could have been much worse.
With bushfires burning throughout the Valley, their ride has been punctuated by sightings of RFS choppers and planes, as well as a large goanna.
Despite these interruptions, the horses have apparently been well behaved.
"Things like this really make you appreciate life more," said Colleen.
"It makes you realise how materialistic people are."
They will be joined by friends Pippa Baden and Vicki Fletcher this afternoon and will ride along the Firth Heinz Rd to Tucabia.
They will then make their way over the Briner Bridge and along Gillette's Ridge before turning for the home stretch to Ulmarra.
"We encourage anyone who wants to see us ride to come and have a look and we are taking donations as we ride along," said Colleen.
