A work in progress
LeeGil asked how I'm going to make the donkey I'll be taking with me to carry my baggage on my Camino walk next spring. I thought she deserved a posting of her own, as there will be much more news about her in the coming weeks/months. So here goes:
Jamilla, my donkey (the name means 'perfection' in Arabic) will be about the size of a miniature Mediterranean donkey.
Her framework has been cannibalised from an old ironing board, which I've dismantled and cut down to size/shape. Oh, my poor hands! On top of the (now smaller) ironing surface goes Jamilla's body, which also doubles as my bag. This has been configured to hold 45+ litres, as I carry about 40 litres, summer or winter and, along with my research on donkeys, has determined her over-all size.
Her body and legs, etc. will be made from a pvc-covered fabric, which will keep her waterproof. Shape will come from stuffing legs and contours (like head, for example) with polystyrene beads, for lightness, possibly with cotton batting to keep the shape neat. (This is very much experimental for me - I've never done anything quite like this before.)
Over that - I'm debating whether to cover her in fake fur fabric or just a soft, suede-like cloth; this covering will be removable and washable. Colour is yet to be decided, but will be pale - either honey-coloured or grey.
Then she will have wheels, from a couple of old shopping trolleys. And reins, which will be made easier on the hands by the addition of a softer plastic pull-along handle which comes from one of the shopping trolleys.
At present, I'm considering making the body dismantleable, and storing it between the legs, for a more compact bus/plane package. And I have yet to devise her 'horse-box'. These things take time and much thought - both conscious and unconscious.
When she has been completed (and road-tested) to my satisfaction I'll be putting up a website so she can start raising money for charity.
I'll let you know as and when.
Wish me luck.
