[drivingpairs] Letter from Team Texas...They have arrived.

It is Friday.  We arrived on Wednesday morning in Amsterdam and by the time we 
cleared customs with all the stuff it was almost 5 pm when we left the airport. 
 There were drugs found in something in the cargo and everything had to be 
searched.  All our stuff was fine, it just took about 2 hours longer than we 
thought.  We were 2 hours late leaving Houston so that added even more time.  
Once we arrived at Blackheide we then had to unload everything.  That took 
another 1-2 hours.  All in all it was a very long day.  We started at 3am Texas 
time and ended at 11:30 Belgium time - I don't even know how many hours that is 
- 38?  Anyway, my clock is pretty adjusted, but Mike had worked so hard to get 
everything ready to leave he started sleep deprived and has not quite caught up 
yet.

After barn chores this morning (7am-10am),we went visiting with our host 
Gerard.   He took us to where he lived before moving here 1.5 years ago and 
then to his neighbors - van den Heuvel and van de Weil.  That's right, drivers, 
the harness maker and the carraige maker.  They live about 5 miles apart and he 
lived between the two of them, having grown up with them and driving with them 
on a nightly basis.  We watched videos, toured each shop and had a wonderful 
afternoon.  

There is a driving magazine here called Mensport.  They are coming tomorrow at 
11am to write an article and take pictures of Blackheide for one of their 
magazines.  Gerard is trying to decide how best to impress them and we told him 
he could use us or hide us, whatever would help him advertise his facility.  If 
you have not gone to the website, you must.  This place is GREAT!!!  Tomorrow 
evening we will barbeque and all have dinner together.  

Sunday we are off to the "Farmer's World Championship" as they call it.  It is 
a one day CDE and a young Canadian girl who has been here since school was out 
will be showing, so we will go and support her, being back here about 1 pm.  It 
is only an hour away.  It is hard to believe that there are so many 
competitions so close to everyone.

Guess I'll sign off for this note and send another after the show on Sunday.  

Love to you all,


Jerry McLennan                                                                  
    

    Helen Roeder
Sunshine Pony Farm,
  El Hasa Sport Ponies and
www.drivingpairs.com

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