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There are several ways to get to Ratchet. From the middle of Ashenvale, you go through the hole on the east side of the Horde-controlled gate (forgot the name - starts with an 'M') and go down and through the Barrens. The path of least resistance would be to stick to the north and head east to the river, then south along the river to Ratchet. Most Horde players you'll see will be sub-20's and if they ask for help from their friends when they see you, it's gonna take the other players a while to get there and you'll be gone by the time they do. The mobs you'll encounter are raptors and hyenas, around lvl 20, and an occasional lion or two. Avoid going near the Crossroads -- there are flightpaths all around it and the Horde will sound the alert if you're spotted and it won't take them long to find and gank you.... Or from the east side of Ashenvale, you could go through Azshara to the river and head south.
Alternatively, you could swim north around Dustwallow Marsh from Theramore Isle to Ratchet or go through Dustwallow Marsh to the Barrens and head north east, but there are all sorts of nasties ranging from the upper 20's to the lower 40's all over Dustwallow, and that would be my last choice....
The path I'm going to take if and when I stop getting sidetracked (this quest is now grey for me), is to head south from Stormwind and go through Stranglethorn Vale (steering clear of Grom'Gol Base Camp) to Booty Bay. Then take the boat to Ratchet. That, for me is the easiest and most interesting way to go because I'll pick up flightpaths along the way (the one in Booty bay is all the way back through the tavern -- go up the stairs in the tavern, accross the bridge, up more stairs, and out the door. The Flight Master for the Allies is right there -- the one for the Horde is around the corner from him, so be careful.... Also, most of the Horde quests along they way are for low-level 20's and/or upper teens in my experience (on both Horde and Ally sides) so I think the only problems I'll have are gonna be from the occasional lvl 40-60's riding through on their way to somewhere or helping their lower-level friends out with the hunting quests in Stranglethorne....

Don't forget to get a parrot from a vendor in the emporium while in Booty Bay!