The Long Ride 2010

1) How much will it cost

A) Essentially it will depend on how long you propose to be ‘on the ground’. As an entirely self supporting exercise, funding must come from the participants and is calculated on a ‘per week’ basis, currently standing at £450 per week or £80 per day on a part-week basis. I have anticipated a continued rise in the £ against the $ and have gone firm on the figures above.

2) Are air fares included?

 A) No, these are the affair of the participant.

 

3) Is the cost of transport from airport to expedition included?

A) No. This cost is borne by the individual. Attempts will be made to help with transport within the States but nothing can be guaranteed at this point. I will, before departure, be putting members of  a each leg in touch with one another to facilitate group planning and cost sharing. We are now obliged to travel with a support vehicle, and wherever feasible, I propose using this to alleviate the problem of personnel movement. However, this cannot be guaranteed still.

4) Do I need any experience?

A) Yes, as a rider! You will have full responsibility for two or three horses, for a minimum of two weeks, in the field, miles from anywhere! It is proposed to run at last one training weekend, format not yet decided, but slanted towards expedition living, equipment and it’s use. Not riding, there will be ample time for that later!

 

5) Will I need personal insurance?

A) Yes. This is not a commercial exercise and the organiser will therefore not be insuring your personal losses nor injury. Medical costs in the States are high, therefore you are strongly urged to look closely at the matter of insurance in all it’s forms. I have made an arrangement for reduced rate cover from a company, ‘Dogtag’ which is extremely attractive whichever way one looks at it. Interested parties must make contact through me in the first instance to secure the reduced rate. Believe me, this is an attractive package, have a good look at it. Their web address is www.dogtag.co.uk. Their sale and customer services team is on the ball.

6) What will I require in the way of personal equipment?

A) A kit list will be provided for each rider well before departure date. Chose carefully, as replacements will be difficult, if not impossible.

 

7) How long can I stay with the expedition?

A) Due to the difficulties anticipated in getting people to and from the expedition in the field, riders can opt for multiples of two weeks only, i.e. two,  four weeks etc, thus limiting the ‘exchange points’ to only twelve instead of, potentially, twenty-five.

 

8) Limits on personal equipment?

A) Yes. Currently, provision for 30lbs per person. Personal equipment is all to be contained in a duffel bag (soft backed, no metal frames) no larger than 30 x 24”. Riders will be required to adhere rigidly to this maximum weight.

 

 

9) Visas – Will I need one?

A) Yes. The standard 90 day visa will suffice and is granted at the point of entry normally. However, under new regulations you will not be able to board your plane in UK if you have not previously completed an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation). Completion and receipt of confirmation does not automatically grant you access to the US, however, one thing is certain, without it you will not get on an aircraft! https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov should take you straight there