How lucky are you?

Just when we think things arent going so good,we step back and see ......that something is worse for one of our friends.There is suppossed to be a recession on.But is there really or have we just got used to having it good.I still own my own home ,car truck and motorbike and I still go on holiday.A friend of mine needs to fix a tooth and its gonna be expensive she has 3 kids no husband and no money.How lucky are you.?

Do you have those days....when you just cant get your ass off the couch

Do you wake up and have all these things to do and do none of them.?The plan is .....Ill do it tommorrow.Well guess what tommorrow never comes.How do you deal with lack of motivation.?
*Have a plan ...write it down.
*Get plenty of sleep.
*Eat well.
Maybe I just need a holiday........
What do you think??????????

CAVALCADE THE END UNTILL NEXT YEAR

I woke Friiday morning to the sound of an uncanny murmer about the camp .As the dawn broke a single shot rang out and I knew tragedy had struck .During the night Alices horse had become tangled in its cover and snapped its leg ,a clean break.We all know the risks .Its our first tragedy and even I tough as boots had trouble fighting back the tears as her horse was humanely destroyed.Alice had ridden 11 cavalcades on that horse and was in her late 70s.I admired the courage she had if it had been my Whiteface I would surely had been a pathetic mess.We collected ourselves and went about the day all a little subdued.The station children were first to my camp they had heard about this magnificent giant horse that was waiting patiently to take them all for a ride and as per usual Whiteface did not let me down.As she stood quietly I placed the step ladder carefully beside her and one by one the children climbed on.She was as always her enchanting self and the ride thru the rather spread out camp site would be a story told time and time again well after we had gone.The youngest being only 3 years old and each saying goodbye to her with an apple .Oh how she loves children.We set out for our last camp which would take us just outside of waikaka our final destination.There was to be no water girl that day as it just seemed inapropriate on such a sad day ,,,,Alice,,,,,.The weather was beautiful and a helicopter with a news crew landed just up above the trail.Our horses are so used to helicopters now as we get visited on a regular basis.We reached our destination early and after the animals were organized we headed off for a game of cricket.My back up driver had misteriously dissapeared and so had a few others but an hour later had turned up legless from the waikaka pub.It of course was not a problem Duncans job as back up driver was to look after us two girls and he had done an amazing job.There was always water for the horses when we came in and the camp site set up with hot showers when the weather permitted.I will put in a gas unit for next year.(Only had solar showers this year with not much sun)Tommorrow would be Duncans last job to get my truck to Waikaka and then he could play up all he liked because I would drive it home on the Sunday.I had been placing chocolates on unsuspecting cavalcaders pillows all thru the week so just to confuse everyone Duncan placed them on everyones pillow for the last night.They still dont know it was us.Hmmmm that gives me a great idea for next year.So its our last night a sad day and sad that its nearly all over night.

Saturday morning and we clean our horses put on the last of our clean clothes and ride into Waikaka where we will meet up with 400 other horses.We can hear the band playing in the distance and people lining the streets to see us all arrive.Its a marvellous finish to a marvellous journey and to meet me at the end of it was my son Adrian and his partner Debbie.We all got showered and sat on the first flush toilet Id seen in quite some time and headed off for the hoedown.It was in a huge marque I estimated with about 1500 people The music went well into the night and hardy cowboys and girls shared a drink and a dance and memories of other cavalcades.I sat with friends in my hotel horse truck and listened to the last hour b4 the band retired then drifted off to sleep.....

Its now Sunday we have our last breakfast and prepare for our journey home.I went to get my horse and found a pony standing under her belly it had adopted her in the middle of the night when it had felt insecure.I loaded Whiteface and started my truck.Duncan was to be navigator and the first place he got me lost was in waikaka itself (theres only 2 roads ) and then we got lost on the straight road home lol but it was a good thing because I hadnt dont much hill driving so it was good experience.This had been my first ever heavy vehicle (7tonne) and it was an old ford with a gear box where i have to double the clutch so it was good to learn in.We finally arrived home happy but exhausted and as I hugged Duncan good bye he said same time same place next year.You bet.

Cavalcading is the most amazing thing I have formed such friendships and remembered unbelievable charactors.Some memories will remain always.Like laughing so hard my bed collapsed.or sitting the vibrating beetle between the upturned bucket and the trail bosses bed.Ive never seen anyone ever sit down so slowly and get up so fast ..buuuzzzzz...Filling that mans leggins with water while sneaking up behind him in the wagon.to this day he cant understand how he could be wet on the outside of his pants and not a cloud in the sky....water girl strikes again.

So I say goodbye and dream of next year.My beautiful Whiteface to be retired for more sedate riding and my Best friend Hercules to learn the ways of the mysterious water girl.The t shirt to be made for next year on one side will say...If I cant remember it didnt happen ....and on the other side...Cleverly diguised as a responsible adult.

CAVALCADE ITS WEDNESDAY

So ok its Wednesday. Big day today.We leave early.There is a steep climb this morning to cross over into Rob Roy Station but most of the horses acheive it with ease.The sun is poking out its gonna be a hot day.By 2 oclock we have reach the other side and have only 2 river crossings to do. This would have been a perfect day for the water girl but I have conserved my water due to the heat.Whiteface is quite good at drinking out of my hat and its important not to let your horse dehydrate.Its definetely a sunscreen day.The rivers are still high so it still appears challenging to cross the rivers safely ,in fact at the first crossing we try several spots to create the safest.But we are about to find where the carts are to go is very swift and slippery.Trish an outrider like me crosses first to test the "waters' but her horse Cheeky slips and Trish goes under.Honest the water girl was no where near when Trish got soaked.Im innocent.Its a bit hairy getting the wagons across as the current is very strong.My horse is very big and bulldozes thru it.Everyone safe we continue to the next river this would also prove difficult.I show concerns for a smaller horse and smaller wagon so I walk upstream to break the current and Marie throws a rope onto the wagon to stop it from rolling.Although this particular trail is a wagon trail outriders play a very important part in it.We can now see Rob Roy Station in the distance and have been informed that the owner is very religious and please be careful with our language.Duncan has put the solar showers out in the sun and after my horse has been fed watered cleaned and put away for the night Im first in.Its still warm and the rest of the evening is spent sitting out in the sun wearing my lava lava that I had picked up in fiji and drinking communial (he he) wine out of a cleverly disguised coffee cup.The farm cat had parked itself on my bed and all was well.

Thursday comes along with what promises to be another gr8 day and we saddle up for a pleasant ride over more hills and leaving the central country side alone we wander into the lush green pasture of southland.Every step gets me closer to home and I can feel the constant change in climate .Southland is a cooler more dense climate and well yes it rains a lot.When the trail boss first tested this trail she told us of a charactor she ran into.He was working in the field with not a stitch on (must have been a sunworshipper) so all of the girls who had blood running thru out vains eagerly awaited a peek at this apparently nice looking native.But allas he must have gone bush.....I thought to be polite if we caught up with him I would show him my water girl skills...just to be polite of course....As we rounded the corner to Oakely Hills Station we watered our horses in the nearby stream.There had been a man following us for about 5 kms taking pictures and he was quite annoying hiding behind things ,jumping out to take photos ...annoying .So as I rode over the bridge to the station I gave him a gentle and accidental of course push .Just as he was about to go headfirst I had a change of heart and grabbed him by his jacket.Just kidding I said.Wow the look on his face was worse than the look on a mans face just before he was about to say "I do"lol.We settled in to Oakley Hills for the night and I brought out my guitar for what ended up a 4 hour session.Tragedy would strike come day break.....to be continued.

CAVALCADE PART TWO

Ok so we have reached Cattle Flat Station and about to embark on our second day there.This is a lay over day partially due to the late night we had the previous night and partially because its been raining heavily and we are trying to dry gear.There is a choice today a ride over the hills or stay at camp.Linda and I made our own choice and took our horses for a brisk walk along the river bank.This was much more important than giving them a day off as by keeping them moving we ensured they didnt "tie up" .Tying up is a term used when a horses joints cease. It can be caused by strenuous excercise,the sudden stop of excercise or the lack of selinium.Selinium is a mineral that is sometimes scarce in southland soils therefore a good supplement is usually needed.So after all this had been acheived in the morning it gave us the whole afternoon to play up.So I opened a box of Chateaux Cardboard medium white wine and the festivities had begun.I dont usually drink (its an allergic thing)so after I had no allergy symptons after a glass I started to finally relax .Out came the guitar and we all sat around singing those songs that everyone knew while I played.By now Doc had brewed a potion which can only be described as KILLCOCK.It consisted of stones gingerwine,brandy whiskey and some secret ingredient.But after a couple of flasks of this Linda could only be described as well on her way .The night ended with possum races and other such like games.Possum racing being hilarious with the man on all fours and the woman hanging on like a possum.Linda was crowned Dick of the Day and had to wear the dreaded orange jersey for being the mosted drunk person the trail boss has ever seen and Duncan sooooo drunk he fell out of the horse truck and spent most of the night trying to get back in it.Its all because of Docs KILLCOCK.Alchoholism aside what an amazing group of friends to spend a tuesday afternoon with.Tommorrow would prove to be a long and more difficult day so we will leave that for tommorrow.

CAVALCADE 2010 IS ONLY 51 WEEKS AWAY

Hey Everyone Im home from cavalcade and as per usual had a wonderful time .Ive been doing this for 18 years so I should have it right by now.Saturday came around far too slowly and I was still packing 5 minutes before I loaded the horse but thats nothing unusual.My backup driver Duncan turned up on time and we left for Fairlight only a 2 hour journey.Fairlight was on the edge of the lakes district surrounded by hills and a great place to start an adventure.I had unloaded the horse and within 10 minutes set up my bed and camp in what I call my second home 'Hotel Horse Truck'.I always sleep with the ramp down (side loading)so I can see the stars.Re acquainted with old friends and settled in for the night I eagerly awaited daybreak.

Sunday morning arrived with fresh expectations and the smell of coffee ,baked beans bacon and eggs.The horses saddled and the ramp lifted to secure my travelling hotel lol We headed out for the next nights camp about 35 kms away on a station not far from Athol.Athol is a small community mostly retired fishermen ,having access to some of the best fishing rivers in the south.After about 10 kms of winding and hilly countryside and river banks we stopped for a moment in civilization.We had to cross the path of a very old steam engine called the Kingston Flyer.Although some of the horses werent that keen most of them rode along side this noisy puff of steam with ease.We encountered our first problem here with one of the wagon horses rearing up and over backwards in the wagon.Obviously didnt like the train.After fruitless attempts to settle it we ended up removing it from the wagon and saddling it for riding.The rest of the day passed without incident and we peacefully meandered down the valley to our overnight camp.The only trouble maker left was the water girl and her 2 water containers who happily went about her work soaking new cavalcaders and unsuspecting old ones .I just cant believe in the last 18 years people still answer "no" when I ask them have you been wet today.lol thats right that water girl is me.....

Monday morning started well the weather a little drizzly but not cold.We had two river crossings today and the rivers were high due to the large amount of rain we had had the night before.The night before had been very interesting with a camera crew arriving to film the next stage of our journey.We also had a bit of an incident with a a gate crasher who disrespected one of the younger girls but being part of the cavalcade family we look after each other and from the disscussion I had with this man he quickly left and there was no more trouble.I can be scary.So for the first part of the journey the camera man rode my horse to get up close with the cavalcaders and I went in the four wheel drive which was just as exciting especially crossing the swollen river.As we filmed the horses crossing the river one of the wagons lost its wheel but other than that all was good.Back on my horse the film crew left us for another trail.There were about 5 trails of about 80 horses on each but we would all arrive at the same destination.Waikaka.We worked our way thru and over Nokomai Station and prepared for the second river crossing to reach Cattle Flat Station.Nokomai was somewhere I had spent time growing up with tenting holidays with my family every Christmas.Of course only my brother remains now so the memories were very precious.Dad was a wonderful fisherman.The second river crossing proved a little more difficult as the river was very high.I crossed with my big Clydesdale upstream to take the force of the water off the smaller horses and apart from some of the smaller wagons floating everyone crossed safely.We arrived at Cattle Flat Station in plenty of time to get ready as we were to have a dance in the woolshed entertained by John McCabe and his wife Sylvie.The music echoed off the hills long after I went to my LOL Hotel Horse Truck .It was a great night and all my team Linda Duncan and I laughed as we retired for the night cos CAVALCADE IS A HAPPY PLACE.

We were to have two nights at Cattle Flat Station so this is were I stop Part One and tommorrow Ill continue with Part Two.

CAVALCADE 2009 STARTS ON SATURDAY

Hey Everyone .Only 5 more working days and Ill be loading the horse in the truck to leave for cavalcade.Ive just given her a good ride.We did about 15kilometres at a decent clip with no signs of tiring.So Im happy with her fitness.Mines not bad either lol.So this week will be filled with daily workouts ,cleaning gear and making sure I have everything in the truck that we both need.Which reminds me I need to go get her some spare shoes.I must pack a first aid kit for me and my crew.You know the sort of things Panadol for hangovers Elastoplasts for the blisters on your bum.Nah I got it covered I have a sheepskin that goes on the outside of my saddle lol.Its gonna be awesome.Ill fuel up thursday night and load gear friday morning.Then all I got to do is put the horse on and drive my truck to Winton to pick up my back up driver.Cavalcade 2009 here I come.

CAVALCADE 2009

Hey.This is for everyone .Im about to go on cavalcade again for the 18th time.Cavalcade is where about 100 people meet at a farmers woolshed somewhere in new zealand and with their horses they travel anywhere up to about 400 kilometres over hills ,mountain terrain and through rivers to reach the same destination as 5 other trails of about 100 people.This year the destination will be the township of Waikaka where about 5-600 people ,horses and wagons will arrive on the 28th of February.It is hard to explain what a feeling of commeradery old friendships and family ignite with the first few moments of arriving.One can certainly say that on cavalcade one is never alone.On my cavalcade we are blessed with a keen group of back up people who feed us intensly put up moveable toilet tents every day at base camp and supply us with alchohol from the moveable bar.We are also blessed with a first aid guy who always has an endless supply of sympathy and bandages.We are treat to entertainment and dancing----lots of dancing(to go along with the alcohol) and on the final night we have a huge Hoedown at the host town that accomodates aproximately 2000 weathered and rearing to go cowboys and girls.The journey should take aproximately 9 days.

So here I am almost ready to leave for cavalcade .The blacksmith will shoe my horses tommorrow and I have spent the last 2 weeks getting my horse truck ready.I have a back up driver who will bring the truck fwd everynight while I ride my horse to the next destination.When I first started cavalcading in 1993 we got dropped off at point A and carried everything on the horse to point B.Now I bring my bed in a 7 tonne truck lol.I hope to take lots of pictures to share with you all .And will update this blog closer to the start time.The countdown to cavalcade has begun.We leave on the 21st of February.