Promoted to crash-test-dummy

I just finished a week in a loving home north of Auckland where I was involved in the Kiwi Cowboy Experience! Monday morning 8 am I walked to Lower Albert street where, according to my map, my pick-up would be at 8.30. The directions told me: 46 Lower Albert Street, Ritchies Route 058, pickup to farm 8.30 am. At first I thought Ritchies and Route 058 were stores I had to be in front of (as there is a Route 66 store, so why not a Route 058 store..) and I couldn't find them. According to the map I was in the right position, so I just waited for the pick-up to come and get me. Time went by and after calling the number on the form several time without answering I realized I couldn't be in the right place. All of a sudden I saw a government bus coming my way with 'RITCHIES ROUTE 058' on the screen.. Then I knew it was a bus company and I felt pretty damn stupid. I hopped on, told the guy where I needed to go and he looked at me like I was talking Swahili. With an 'other bus coming' he kicked me off the bus again. As it was about 15 minutes after departure time I decided to leave and when I crossed the road a timetable with 'route 058' catched my eye. I had been on the wrong side of the road for 45 minutes! I didn't take any risks and jumped in the first Ritchies bus I saw to ask for directions. The driver was very helpful, got on his intercom-system and the moment he got in contact with the right bus it had just passed us.. That's when the chase begun, one bus following the other, with the result that I could get onto the right bus a few miles further up. The moment I got into the right bus and I told the driver where to go he had no idea either.. Luckily by then I got through to the organization by phone and they could tell the driver where to go. Only half an hour late I arrived at my destination :-)

Julie (the owner), Paula and Andrea (two german girls) were waiting for me and after we bought ourselves some Gum Boots (our regenlaarzen :))we were on our way to the farm! It's a horsefarm where Julie has her own horses and other people's horses, where there are nice big paddocks to graze, play and ride in and which is close to the forest and the beach! The week went by so quickly, we rode every day, in the paddocks, the forest or on the beach, we got natural horsemanship lessons and helped out with cleaning, feeding, grooming and transporting the horses. We lived with the family in their home (Julie, Chris and their son Jordan, Angela who just stayed for a few more weeks, puppy and the two cats) and they are the most welcoming people I've met so far. In a week's time Julie promoted me to crash-test-dummy for new horses and would love to have me back before I leave, and I can't wait! First I'll do my trip around New Zealand, starting on tuesday and when I come back I'll have another week and a half to stay with them.
But now, let's actually see some sheep, walk a few glaciers and jump out of a plane! I'll keep you posted..