The Taranaki Gate

The girls on this farm, and no doubt everywhere, really love these gates - or not! 



ATaranaki Gate

 These gates are named after the region Taranaki in New Zealand, where they were used extensively by the dairy farmers in the early days of settlement here.  Unfortunately they are still in use today.  Although they are handy in rarely used situations.  Our problem is "The Boss" is stronger than us girls, therefore they are usually a little tight and very difficult to undo, and more difficult to close. 

The gate is made of wire (usually sheep netting) and battens, and usually has a stake at each end to put on the fence post.  There is a loop at the bottom of the post holding it, and a tensioning loop at the top or (more frequently in our case) just a piece of number 8 wire.  We NZ'ers are famous for what we can achieve with a piece of No 8 Wire.

The gate in this picture is used reasonably regularly, but as the cows are out on these blocks over the summer for mating, the gate gets trashed by the bulls when they decide the mob just over there has better cows than they have!  Hence the gate - cheap and easily erected!  But we have too many of them (mainly for this reason), and the number of times I'm struggling to get the gate open or closed to stop  a mob, or with limited time to get to the spot I'm supposed to be in makes for a fair bit of swearing.  Last time I did this one the wire broke on me which didn't improve my disposition.

When we first came to this farm this gateway was open all the time.  The sheep were Romneys then, and they decided they didn't like the gate "The Boss" put in their path, so some of the mob stood on their hindlegs and bashed it down - not a happy man that day!

On the Road last night ...

About 7.30pm (dark) we were just coming around the river, and you have to travel slowly thankfully, as we suddenly had four red deer yearling hinds in the headlights.  They were all startled, but I  just stopped the car to let them get their bearings, and they then trotted up the road in front of us until they found one of their tracks.  Up the bank they disappeared very quickly.  They are in peak condition, and just looked so beautiful.  According to the neighbours they are coming up the river below their house, then up an old track onto our young grass.  That is why they are looking so good!  The deer population is increasing around here, which is unfortunate as they devastate the native bush regrowth if the numbers get too large.  But really special animals to see in the wild.

Bit frustrating

I don't know why, but blogger has just been unavailable to me for the last week.  Was a little frustrating as I have some wonderful photos of our West Coast holiday.  "The Boss" and I packed our bags and headed over Lewis Pass to spend the night in Hokitika.  The roads were the quietest I've ever experienced on that drive, so just wonder how many people are cancelling trips to NZ.  We were disappointed to see that "The King's Speech"  had already started at the local movies there.  I was going to go to see it in February, and we haven't been to the Movies since before the Chch September quake.  But half an hour in was too much to bother.
From "Hoki" we went to Haast, checked into the Motel, then went down to Jackson's Bay, and over the track to look down into the Cascade Valley.  Next day, pottered our way back up to Hoki, with stops to see the Glaciers - Fox and Franz Josef.  It was a sunny day so had to make the most of it.  We found a quieter motel  than the first night, and the following day it was off home via Arthurs Pass.  The last day was the only one where we encounted any real traffic to speak of.  So it was a pleasant little break, and came home to find No 3 had raked up all the leaves off the lawn, so that's one horrible job I don't have to do - although we've had galeforce winds since then, so they probably would've disappeared.



Bruce Bay, South Westland




Looking down the Cascade Valley, the Tasman Sea is in the distance




Jackson Bay Wharf.  In the mid1860's immigrants from several nations were dropped in this Bay (no wharf then) amidst the Bush to start farming.  It was not successful as it was so isolated.  There was terrible hardship and the settlement was abandoned, apart from a few hardy families who shifted out of the Bay some distance, and managed to clear enough land to raise Horned Hereford cattle.  These then had to be driven (walked) up the coast where they could, or though rough tracks in the bush up to the towns further up the West Coast to be sold.
These days it is a thriving fishing village, as the Bay is very sheltered compared to most on the Coast.



Fox Glacier



Franz Josef Glacier




Fox Glacier Neve




Lake Paringa, Podocarp forest




Middle Earth Country - imagine trying to get cattle through these places without tracks.




Real rainforest - in most places in Westland the rainfall is measured in feet not inches, we were lucky to have good days.

 The job when we got home was getting the Boys (Rams) out with the Ewes, and they were well and truly ready to get into making next seasons lambs.

Maid - A NZ Huntaway



Maid enjoying a wee dip

When it's hot, and we've had a few good days recently, even though I thought Summer days were well and truly over, the dogs love a dip in the river.  The others weren't staying still enough to get them, well mainly it was Don, the young heading dog, leaping in at just the wrong time, but Maid was right beside me loving the water.  And I've got pretty good at missing the wet dog shake as they come out.  With 6 of them it sometimes takes some doing.

The Huntaway (hunts sheep away) was initially bred in New Zealand just over 100 years ago, for NZ conditions.  The Border Collie that came with the original shepherds had limitations on our hills, and in our scrub.  So they set about breeding a dog that would suit - so originally a MONGREL.  No one really knows exactly which breeds were used, but the base was definititely the Border Collie to which was added in no order Beardie (from Northern Scotland), Old English Sheepdog, Smithfield (working dogs from the London, Smithfield Markets), Labrador, Foxhound, Retriever.  Some people believe Kelpie (breed developed in Australia) went into the mix at times, but no German Shepherd (who knows).

They were bred to have a loud deep bark,  and to be very energetic.  On some of the large stations and farms they can cover up to 100kms a day during the busy times.  So think twice if you want one for your backyard - the excess energy goes into barking!!  The Huntaway is usually Black and Tan (like my Maid), but they can be black, brindle and occasionally red, and their coat is smooth, rough or grizzly.  They are highly intelligent and friendly.

With training the Huntaway becomes what is called a Handy Dog - meaning it can head and hunt sheep, work in yards (where they are champion hurdlers), but you can never stop them barking as they work, although some are a lot quieter than others - Maid is not one, and neither is Jake "the Bosses" huntaway.  And with commands, either word or whistle, you can get them to just the right position (most of the time) to send the stock the correct way.

New Zealand farmers would be absolutely lost without our good dogs - especially on hill and high country farms.  I didn't mention how incredibly loyal they are, and they often will not work for more than one person.   It is always a very sad day when one of the oldies passes away here.  They often spend the last few years pottering around the garden and lying on the doorstep.




Thirsty work Jake?

 Jake is skinnier than Maid, because he is much fitter.  Like human athletes, when you are in top condition you don't carry excess weight.  On hot summer days a fat dog really suffers, and they can succumb to heat stroke.


What a Failure

Sour dough Bunz - I think not!

Tried my hand at GF Sourdough loaf.  Didn't work as you can see, but will have another go, as even though it was VERY solid, it was reasonably tasty, although 2 pieces were enough before the loaf was chucked.  Better luck next time hopefully.