Excited about my day off the following day, I asked Eisuke if
he was going anywhere as it was his day off as well. Since it was raining and had been for the previous few days,
skateboarding was out of the question. He told me that he and a some of the
girls from housekeeping were headed over to check out John’s farm. There was
one seat left in the car so I decided to go too.
First let me tell you a bit about John. John (no idea what
his last name is) is a typical west coast New Zealand farmer. Pete had been
telling me for months to get over to his farm, but I never got the chance. John
shows up at Maruia Springs every Thursday morning and hauls away our trash. I
have absolutely no idea where he takes it, but it seems that he has been doing
it every week for some time.
So, it’s early morning, and we’re headed to Farmer John’s.
Yes, Farmer John. Like every children’s book his name is Farmer John and he a
big fluffy white beard and a sheep dog. John welcomed us with a friendly smile
mostly hidden behind that beard of his. His dog, Boss, came trotting up as
well. He and Boss led us around the back of their house to the garden where
three little lambs were at the fence shouldering each other aside to get a
better view of the oncoming visitors. At 6 weeks old, they stood maybe two feet
tall, and were absolutely adorable. We hand-fed them some milk, and
let them get back to their prancing around the garden. While Farmer John
stepped inside, Boss led us around the other side of the house where an ostrich
was stretching her big brown wings. John returned with an ostrich egg. Easily
the size of a softball, I had but one question on my mind. “How big would a
fried ostrich egg be??” Boss and John hopped into his old, tough as nails,
Hilux and we followed them down the road to his barn.
Though it had been raining the previous few days, this
particular day was blue skies and the true beauty of NZ farmland revealed
itself. We hopped out of the car as Farmer John and Boss were walking up to the
barn. John called out “Pigs!” and moments later seven or eight piglets came
running out their short little legs. That sight alone made my day. We fed the
piglets and the big pigs, and then went into the barn where we waded waste deep
through a room full of sheep. John opened the barn doors and the sheep spilled
out into the sunlight only to be rounded up by the awaiting Boss. John also had
a herd of deer, and around 50 head of cattle. Before leaving John told me about
a cave up the hill from the cows, so hopefully I’ll check it out soon.
It was late morning by the time we left Farmer John to his
work. We all had the day off, so we impulsively decided to go to Greymouth and
see the ocean. Although it was a holiday and most of the shops were closed, we
had fun walking around town and down by the ocean. Eisuke and I found a spot
where the waves crash on the rocks below and sprayed well above head height.
The vast spread of the ocean horizon was a most welcoming
sight, compared to the foggy mountainous horizon I have become quite accustomed
to.
Hungry Lamb
Through the fence
Super sized
Piglets!
Mouth full of dirt...
NZ farmland
Farmer John
