Wellington>>

While I have been staying here I have primarily been working in the garden. Clearing brush and weeds as well as tree trimming. I been able to escape to the golf course or bike into town when i like. Here probably for another week or so, then on to south island.

Woof 10 > Wellington

Paradise









Staying in best place yet. Brian and Jane have a breathtaking view atop hill overlooking the wellington harbor. I gaze out as i write. Played 9 holes of golf yesterday and hope to go for a bike ride today. more to come> I am loving staying here.

Train from Auckland back to Taihape

"the train begins its creep into the fresh crisp of the morning-
it looks to be a spectacular day, in hindsight i was in no way disappointed-
the low angle of the recently dawned sun casts long shadows that spill over new zealand farmland-
the train begins to pick up speed-
hills ungulate like a sea of vivid green-
rays of golden light find glossy leaves and dew fallen grass blades with silvery shimmer-
fence posts stitch their way through paddocks dividing herds of sheep-
cattle freckle a distant hillside-
a pair Paradise duck fly fast and low over a placid lake, it's water ripples to life when wings cup and feathers collide with its converging reflection-
thoughts turn homeward..."

_smith

Woof 9 > Taihape into the gorge

Interesting couple in Di and Terry. Di teaches and Terry works at pulp mill. Very hospitable and laid back. I enjoyed spitting wood and going into town to get maps of the local trails of the area. It has rained a bunch so far during my stay here. I hope to be here until next weekend.

UPDATE:

So I unfortunatly had wallet stolen with absolutly everything in it: passport, debit card, drivers license, cell phone, and car key. Needless to say im a bit stuck at the moment. Staying positive dispite setback.

I have cut, split, and stacked tons of wood here which of course I greatly enjoy, now even more so because my wonderful sister sent me her IPOD. There is something about listening to good music while splitting firewood that just clicks with me.

At the moment my car will start with the turn of a screw driver. Had to take ignition switch in to get new key cut. As for my drivers license and passport, I take the bus to Auckland on thursday. I take the train back which I greatly look forward to. I should be another week or so until I recieve license and debit card in the mail so I will obviously be here until then.

Other than the woodwork, Di and Terry have not had too much other work for me. And since I currently have zero dollars to my name, I have gone to work. Typical work day goes as follow:

>Wake at 6:30

>At sheep farm by 7:20

>It usually takes around 30 minutes to set up everything and for the dogs and shepherds to round up sheep.

>Once sheep in what is called "the yards," the ewes(mothers) are seperated from young when they go down shoot with two-way directing gate at the end; the ewes are allowed back out into pasture while young divided into smaller pen. Once this small pen is full the process begins.

>Its pretty much a 6 step assembly line:

-"the lifter" picks lamb up and puts it on its back and pinned down on roller-belt-thing.
(lambs are pulled down by hand, 5 to 6 can fit on rollers at a time)
-lambs are then marked, males right ear and females left

-tight rubber-band-type thing put around base of testicles (they fall off in two to three months)

-then they injected in neck with a vitamin shot

-next they get a "scratch" which is a viral immunization done by dull needle being scratched roughly on upper hind leg.

-finally, their tails are cut off by clippers with blow torch attached.

-they then go kicking and screaming back to their mothers

This process is called "docking" and as of now I have docked 840 sheep. I work Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

I dare say it has been quite the experience. Certainly something new, different, and enjoyable.


UPDATE:

Back in Auckland at the moment applying for new passport >> beautiful train ride back to Taihape to look forward to tomorrow >> funny stories from backpackers but they will have to wait >> met 4 Miss State grads who seem really nice and up for the hiking sceen >> things looking up . . .

Woof 8 > Waipukurau Updated

I am now woofing in the small town of Waipukurau with Angela and her 3 boys, 8,12,16. My roommate is Connor, he is 8. We have a secret language and practice his cricket skills in the paddock behind house. Angela has a meat packhouse behind there placein which they process veal ribs and bovine placenta which they ship overseas. I am happy that I have not been required to help with whatever process that goes on with the placenta. Moving on>> Amazing mountain bike trail about 2 miles away that I went to about 10 to 12 times during my 2 week stay. They are building a big new house and I will be busting up rock to fill columns on front and back porch. There are many projects going on here and always games to play with the kids. During my time here these are some of my activities: the horse races, sheep and beef dinner party, playing with 4 week old lab puppies, waipukurau nightlife, cricket with the boys, cards, feeding sheep, moving boxes, planting trees. Very enjoyable but always exciting to be on the move.

Pictures while at mikes

Pig hunting with Mike

Mike is not your typical friendly new zealander. About 90% of the time he looks like he wants to rip your head off. I knew i needed to get on his good side from the beginning or it would be an unpleasant work environment.

I am really enjoying it here so needless to say Mike and I get on well. Its been hard but gratifying work. Wood cutting/trimming, garden tilling, rock collecting among much more.

There is a lot going on here in the Bay of Plenty. Mike has 13 dogs, a horse, probably 75 head of cattle, 2 goats, 2 sheep, 15 chickens, 4 duck and 3 cats. I look out from the back porch over Mike's 50 beautiful acres with a river running through. I have never seen so many different animals in on area. All the ducks and chickens with their head to the ground in search of food in close proximety to the house. Its quite the sight to see.

So I went on my first pig hunt with mike in the hills behind mike's place. No pig but something new.

All meals are cooked on his potbelly stove. For lunch, we eat the eggs the chickens give us and for dinner we will have either venisen, pork, or trout. Those are the options because thats what Mike hunts.

Went on a nice kayak trip a few days ago down through the gorge among a number of pleasant trail walks.

I will probably be here for only a few more days then I will continue my nomadic journey south down the east coast.