The Cows come down

and a much easier job than it was in the rain, fog and snow of last year.  We had 2 whole days of sunshine last week - one for scanning, and the next for mustering the Spur.  The cows come off the steep hill at this time as they tend to slip and get stuck when they are in the advanced stages of pregnancy.  The first year we came here we left them too long on the hill, and several were bogged, or slipped and jammed legs in the creeks (and died).  So we've learnt!!

But first we had to get the bike over the river

This is the usual "ford", but we'll drown the bike today, and I think I'll just walk across anyway - that way the worst will be wet feet

Made it successfully (with Don's help of course)

and with a bit of rock stacking made it to this point

not quite on the track though

now we're right

but still debris to shift - I'm still walking, so we don't get bogged!

Now to business - this little mob has been living in a very sunny little basin

and joined up with my bigger mob to drift quietly around the gully then up onto the main track.  You just have to let them set their own pace so nothing gets stuck or slips.  And so long as Maid gives the occasional bark they do keep moving

Then bringing more cows down the face to join up with the others

The "lucky last" or perhaps that should be "ignorant last" coming down

Job finished, just the river to ford again

But as you can see - a truly wonderful day.

Although not so for everyone!  Looking East to Kaikoura, where it has been a grotty day with coastal fog.

And I finished the day with dry feet, so all good.  There must still be some cows further out, which is quite usual, but given a few days they often turn up as they hear the tractor feeding the others - saves the Boss a steep climb if they do.