Jacqui Knight - New Zealand: Bit By Bit

NZ : Bit by Bit

One woman, fourhorses and a dog

Theinspirational story of a womans eleven-month horseback
journey from one end of New Zealand to the other

CopyrightJacqui Knight (2012) All rights reserved.

All photographsby the author unless otherwise noted.

Licence Notes:This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It is notto be resold or given away to other people. If you would like toshare this book with another person please buy another copy forthem. If youre reading this book and did not purchase it, or itwas not purchased for your use only then please go toSmashwords.com and buy your own copy. Thank you for respecting myhard work.

DEDICATION

INTRODUCTION

Chapter One: My Journey Begins

Chapter Two: Over the Rainbow

Chapter Three: Adventure in the Alps

Chapter Four: Waikari Sheep Dog Trials

Chapter Five: Across North Canterbury

Chapter Six: Whirlwinds Around the South Island

Chapter Seven: Bluff and Northwards

Chapter Eight: Into the Deep Catlins and Otago

Chapter Nine: North Otago and South Canterbury

Chapter Ten: Timaru to Canterbury

ChapterEleven: And back to Christchurch

ChapterTwelve: Capital Times

ChapterThirteen: Kapiti Coast and the Manawatu

ChapterFourteen: Through the Manawatu

ChapterFifteen: Around the Volcanoes

ChapterSixteen: King Country Meanders

ChapterSeventeen: And Into the Waikato

ChapterEighteen: Through Auckland

ChapterNineteen: Lee graduates

ChapterTwenty: And Into the Far North

Appendix A: A Brief History of NZ

Appendix B: The Maori Language

Appendix C:Glossary

Appendix D:Some Maori translations

Appendix E:References

I set out onmy journey with the blessing of my two sons, Chris and James.Throughout my trip they remained as excited as I was, their spiritrode with me and they remained near to my heart. Chris spent hoursof his business and personal time designing and updating mywebsite. He answered phone calls and e-mail at all times of the dayand night to resolve problems I may have had understanding mycomputer.

I am indebtedto Chris for the brilliant work he did on the website. AlthoughJames was kept busy with school, work and social life, we managedto spend time together and the messages he would leave on mycellphone always reminded me of his keen sense of humour and histalent at languages.

I depended onthe companionship and help of some faithful animal friends, settingout with Rosy, the mare Id owned for five years, and two dogs Brae, my Sheltie, and Zig, a young Border Collie. Along the way Iacquired more horses packhorse Doug, (also known as Kia Kaha), andlater faithful dArtagnan. Towards the end of the trail Captaintook over when Doug hurt his back.

From allindications the animals really enjoyed the journey; the horsesseemed to have a presence when they passed others temporarilyabandoned in corners of paddocks, or being trotted around in tightdressage arenas. Brae looked with disdain at the dogs that had tostay home; it was as though he knew that NZ belonged to him.

The farriers,vets and horse dentist I used along the way provided an excellentservice. The horses coats shone, their eyes sparkled andthroughout the journey they looked a picture of health from thewild foods foraged along the way. Veterinary attention was minimal;they got through thirteen sets of shoes. Braes feet stood up wellto the travel but he didnt like the special leather boots I hadhad made. As it got hotter and the roads more difficult he justspent more and more time riding behind me on Dart.

To all thoseNew Zealanders who aided and abetted me, who so willingly gave uptheir best paddock for the horses, I cannot thank you enough. I wasgiven good and bad advice, whether I needed it or not. There weresmall and even large services for which I wasnt allowed to pay.The many children who obligingly shifted out of their beds for me thank you. I cannot mention all my benefactors by name, there arejust too many, but you know who you are thank you, thank you,thank you.

The manypeople who rode along with me for parts of the journey LawrieMcVicar, Lee Oldfield, Jenna, Lawrie OCarroll, Lisa, Rodney,Diane, Erin, Jan, Fiona, Michelle and Jodie, Donna, Ann, Evelyn,Beth, Carol, Kaye, Vicky, the Auckland Mounted Police and GrantLatimer, and the brave, courageous Lee Gabriel, Abbey, Betty, Seland Kathleen I enjoyed your camaraderie. We had a lot of fun,didnt we?

To CompuServePacific, who sponsored my time on the internet, I am grateful forbeing able to keep in touch with my many friends around the worldas I rode, and making new ones too. You provide a wonderfulservice, far greater than any other internet provider does. Beingable to tell friends and relations where I was at that instant intime was so amazing.

More than onceI stayed at a remote location, hooked up my computer to the phoneto chat with someone else around the world and found my e-mailfriends knew someone in some way connected with the people withwhom I was staying! The excitement and energy in the air just aboutexploded my laptop! If youre looking for some of the people I met,try the CompuServe Pacific Forum.

And lastly Idlike to say I met many people who have had similar dreams, buthavent yet fulfilled them. When I set out I didnt know if I was acapable enough rider, or had the courage or dedication to completesuch a journey. I took one day at a time and eventually foundmyself at Cape Reinga. I learned a lot, in particular about myself.Now I wont be afraid to take on new challenges.

To thosepeople who are still dreaming I say: if you really want somethingall you need is the heart and desire to do it. Go for it. This isyour life, live it. Enjoy it. Life is too short to sit aroundwondering what to do and whether one can do it.

Kiakaha. Be strong.

No reira tenakoutou nga hoa nga iwi mo ou koutou maanakitanga.

JacquiKnight

This is thestory of a journey I took on horseback the length of New Zealand,from Bluff at the bottom of the South Island to Cape Reinga at thetop of the North. It took me 105 days riding over a period ofeleven months a total of 2538.2 kilometres. I was 46 when I setout, and although Id been dreaming of it for over thirty years, itall came about very suddenly.

I sold myhome. I didnt want to, but when I did I knew Id made the rightdecision. The mortgage that weighed heavily around my shoulders hadgone. I was free. My sons didnt need me to be on hand for theirlives, the house didnt need me any more. The people who had boughtMerriemont, my old kauri villa with its pretty, lacy fretwork,gabled roof, and the solid back door step that had worn away withthe boots of many farmers, and the dark, mysterious corridors; theywere able to do the restoration that I couldnt afford.

What betterthing to do than to have a holiday Do something for MY health andMY future. Something Id wanted to do for thirty-odd years.

So it was thaton 4 April 1996 I set out to ride the length of NZ. I didnt intendto be roughing it. I had a laptop computer and a cellular phone,and I hoped to stay each night on farms, on marae or with localschools.

I took alaptop not only to record my writing but because I was so active onthe internet. For the previous six months Id made excellentfriends all round the world through an internet service provider(ISP) called CompuServe. Id become deeply involved with theirTravel and Pacific forums and earned myself a reputation foranswering peoples queries with regard to touring NZ almost likean electronic Visitors Information Centre. This had increased mydesire to see our own country more closely.