A Bovine Respite Way up in the Hills

Our hosts for 2 days were a neat couple about our age named Rick and Lindy. We found that interesting as our tandem bike dealers back in NY are named Rich and Lindy. Their farm has been raising beef cattle for “the freezer” as they put it but they also have a small herd of Scottish Highland Cattle. These they just enjoy as “pets” and had just lost a few before we arrived. Very sad.

These “freezer” cows are called spotted cows. Another example of how folks here are very literal with their naming. As fans of all things bovine we were in heaven. It was tough to traipse around all the cow patties in the field but well worth the effort.

We were allowed to feed the highlanders some of their favorite treats. Not sure what they were but the cows certainly enjoyed them. Boy did they drool a lot!

Lindy allowed us to pose while giving this highlander a nice scratch. She said to really dig in with our nails or it will think we are just another annoying fly and swat us with her tail.

These cute little calves were interested in us until we got too close, then they scattered. One of them had just been treated for a huge abscess. Lindy popped it while Rick calmed the cow down. That led to a discussion of what is meant by “woman’s work”.

We mistakenly bought this bag thinking it was potatoes. Note the name “Lotatoes”, 40% less carbs in every spud! We only ate them once as they tasted like watery mush no matter how we tried to cook them. We offered the bag to Lindy as chicken food. She said she had never heard of such a thing but would cook them up and feed them to the chickens (if they will eat it?)

Their dog Max was a real attention hound! Always hanging around our door looking for a scratch. We were told to always wash our hands if he licks you as his favorite toy is the dead possums Rick catches in his traps. It was a bit morbid, but fun, to watch him shake this around and carry it with him on our walk through the cow pastures. They usually try to make him forget about his possum prizes during the walk so he does not have to bring them all back home.

We decided to take a nice “stroll” up to their property line (123 acres) and pass through a gate onto protected land, much like state forests back home. Boy was it uphill the entire mile and a half but the initial view of the surrounding landscape was beautiful and lush.

Pretty cool concept indeed.

Not usually flower people but this one was too pretty to ignore. They grow all over the place out here in the hills. Rick said they are called Foxglove and are poisonous to cows if they eat them. Hope our bovine friends know this.

Wonder if Max left one of his toys up here?

New Zealand is full of these huge “fern trees”. This one appears to be doubling as an umbrella to keep us out of the sun. Really pretty!

Check out the strangling vines this tree has to put up with. They are so strong and sturdy that when they cross the path in the air they even hold my hefty weight up when I stand on them!

A quick glimpse of what the inside of a $70 per night entire house Air-B-NB looks like. Did not need the wood stove as the temps are always between 60 and 70 degrees here this time of year, day or night.

Had to show y’all this picture of when we arrived at the property after a nice 25 minute drive along the country dirt roads to get here. Never seen a sign that was hand written telling me that the road actually works. It would not have if we were driving a Corvette! It was a good foot drop off to where they want to pour cement next year.