s e v e n i s a j o u r n e y

Yay! We actually got off the farm and took a vacation. First time we have been off the farm in 12 months, and it was nice.

We took the Ferry over to the South Island, planning to tour around, especially down in Otago and Southland.

But of course while we were there we had to look at alpacas. Lots of alpacas. Every day but one of our 10-day trip we stopped on at least one farm filled with either alpacas of llamas. From Picton to Invercargill, we saw a bunch- and it was a lot of fun. Seeing so many different animals, hearing the opinions of the owners, and seeing the pirces being charged, was all very informative. We also learned about some of the petty politics between various big and small breeders in the region. Boy, some people can sure hold vociferous grudges!

I think the highlight was getting down to Stewart Island, which is south of the South Island, about an hours ferry ride from Bluff. We took the glass-bottom boat and saw lots of seaweed, sea-tulips, fish, sear stars and other bottom life. (And while we were down there the cell phone rang! “Sorry, can’t talk, I’m uderwater right now!”) After the boat we walked around a bit, taking trails connected to the town. Saw plenty of Kereru (wood pigeons), and heard oodles of Tui and Bellbirds. We spotted no Kaka though. They would have been fun. Stewart Island is about 98% national park, with one tiny little town (Oban).

And while we were staying with Andy in Dunedin we got to help a maiden female birth a pretty little white girl. As we were there at birth, we got to name her. The mother’s name was “Elitist”, so I suggested “Condescension”. Hee-hee. Now she is stuck with the name. Andy is hoping she may be good enough to show next year, and I think that is a great name for a show animal. But then again, I have always been a trouble-maker. Andy has also learned the danger of letting us pick names.

While we were away a huge storm ripped through Wellington, of course. 120 kph winds and heavy rains. Kerry did a great job moving the girls to cover before the storm. Many text messages were passed back and forth as we tried to convey where we wanted everyone for that sort of storm.

That same storm caused quite a shift in the weather down south. One day is is sunny and 26. The next day it is 4 C and hail is falling. After the storm all the southern alps were covered with a layer of snow. Tam was very glad she had bought lots of Merino wool clothing on sale at the Wanaka A&P show. And now we will be forever convinced that Dunedin is perpetually cold, windy and raining. It was like that in 1999, and again in 2007. Surely from those two data points we can infer it is always like that!

We got back to find that the water system had conked out in our absence, and the horses were out of water and the alpac only had a smigen left in their troughs. So Monday morning I went up and cleared the blockage, which was right at the head of the spring. But the water is flowing again, now. I also discovered we have a cute little 4-inch long crayfish living in the sediment tank. Next time I am up there I will scoop him out into the stream, where he can live out his little crayfish life.