Southern Wagons Horse Power Bluff to Picton 2007: Rakaia Gorge

Friday, 23 February 2007

Rakaia Gorge - Camp

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LATEST NEWS !

The Christchurch Press - Monday 19th February 2007
Click here for the latest story on the Cavalcade as at Monday 19th February
The Timaru Herald - Thursday 8th February 2007
Click here to see the latest story on the Cavalcade from the Timaru Herald.
TV1 News article and video - Saturday February 3rd.

Click here to view the One News TV article on the Cavalcade. You can also view the video clip once in there.

Bridlepath Website
Click here to view comments left on this website with regards to the Cavalcade trip.

THE JOURNEY SO FAR - START SATURDAY 20TH JANUARY - WEDNESDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2007

Day 32 - Oxford Wednesday 21st February 2007

Rest day.

Day 31 - Coalgate - Oxford - Tuesday 20th February 2007

Day 30 - Rakaia Gorge - Coalgate Monday 19th February 2007 - 30 ks approx.

Lots of hills and downhills and windy roads. A lot more interesting for those riding and in wagons !

Day 29 - Staveley - Rakaia Gorge Sunday 18th February 2007 - 26 ks approx.

Swim time in the Gorge for some. Very hot weekend !!

Day 28 - Mayfield - Staveley Saturday 17th February 2007 - 26 ks approx.

More long, long straight roads ! Thanks very much to the wonderful hospitality of Jocelyn and Errol Symes of Staveley for the use of their field, showers, outhouse etc. Much appreciated !

Day 27 - Geraldine to Mayfield Friday 16th February 2007 - 34 ks approx.

Long, long, straight roads !

Day 26 - Geraldine Thursday 15th February 2007

Another rest day in Geraldine.

Thanks to Nicky's brother Sam and his wife Ann McCloud for allowing the group onto their land. The group had a lovely BBQ.

Nicky would like to thank Geraldine Phsyio who worked wonders on her 'broken bottom!' No more cartwheels for Nicky !!!

Day 25 - Geraldine Wednesday 14th February 2007

Rest Day.

The Group "robbed" Geraldine ! Hold ups occured in the Banks, Police Station, Tour Buses and Shops ! Thanks so much to everyone in Geraldine for their donations. The group collected around $800 !!

Peter Robson also picked up the Mayor of Woodbury. Thanks to Woodbury School for the lovely morning tea. The group had an 'armed' guard accompanying them !

Day 25 - Te Awa - Geraldine Tuesday 13th February 2007 - 14 ks approx.
Another short day.
Day 24 - Pleasant Point - Te Awa Monday 12th February 2007 - 15 ks approx

A shorter day today. Thanks to the people of Pleasant Point. The group collected some money around town. Thanks to the Pleasant Point Pub.

Day 23 - Redruth - Pleasant Point Sunday 11th February 2007 - 30 ks approx

Poor Ellwyn took a tumble off her horse today ! All OK though.

Day 22 - Otaio - Redruth Saturday 10th February 2007 - 30 ks approx.

Thank you to Megan Kelly again for allowing the group on her land.

Day 21 - Waimate to Otaio Friday 9th February 2007 - 39 ks approx

Thanks to the Horse Stud who allowed the group to stay on land in Otaio.

Day 20 - Waimate Thursday 8th February 2007

Took the Mayor for a ride in the Stagecoach. Waimate museum had people in period dress to greet the group.

Day 19 - Ikawai to Waimate Wednesday 7th February 2007 - 30 ks approx.

All good.

Day 18 - Pattersons Cottage to Ikawai Tuesday 6th February - 20 ks approx.

Thanks to the locals of Ikawai who helped move the Cavalcade vehicles onto Waimate.

Day 17 - Kurow to Pattersons Cottage Monday 5th February 2007 - 20 ks approx.

A pretty and historical cottage in the middle of a field (Pattersons Cottage)

Day 16 - Livingston to Kurow Sunday 4th February 2007 - 35 ks approx.

The hot weather continues. Many thanks to the Kurow Rugby Club for use of their facilities.

Day 15 - Dancey's Pass to Livingston Saturday 3rd February 2007 - 35 ks approx.
Many thanks to the Dancey's Pass Hotel for their warm hospitality.
Day 14 - Naseby to the bottom of the Danceys Pass Friday 2nd February 2007 - 10.8 ks approx.

A short day due to the TV Film Crew arriving and taking some footage for the national news.

Day 13 - Wedderburn on to Naseby before starting over Dansey's Pass Thursday - 1st February 2007 - 18.8 ks approx

Another hot and windy day. Peter Robson had a saying "Release the Beasts" when it was time to move on. As soon as he said it this time Sean's horse Bess decided to rear right up into the air breaking her head collar and loosing her bit! All was good though. I don't think Peter will be saying that again !

Day 12 Ida Valley to Wedderburn - 47 ks approx. Wednesday - 31st January 2007

A very windy day with a lot of the horses playing up. Ellwins horse lost a shoe unbeknown to her until someone found it later.

Day 11 - Galloway to the Ida Valley - 40 ks approx. Tuesday - 30th January 2007

All good.

Day 10 - Galloway Monday - 29th January 2007

Rest day ! Some time to catch up on the washing.

Day 9 - Fruitlands - Galloway - (Alexandra) - 20 ks approx Sunday - 28th January 2007

A short day arriving at Galloway around 1.00pm. The Cavalcade did a tour of Alexandra before arriving, stopping at a rest home and taking some lovely ladies for a drive around the town. The horses did well again today, going over the bridge at Alex without any problems. Ellwin Cowie was looking forward to a swim in the river by the field that the cavalcaders were staying in. Just as she used to do as a child!

Day 8 - Roxburgh - Fruitlands - 30 ks approx. Saturday - 27th January 2007
Very hilly ! The hardest day so far. The horses did well again and there were no issues going over the impressive Roxburgh Dam.

It was decided due to the heat and the hills to stop at Fruitlands for the night.

Funny story.... Nicky went to retrieve her car and found it to have a flat battery. She flagged down Peter and his stagecoach and asked if he had any jump leads on him ??!!!!! Hmmmmm??

Day 7 - Millers Flat - Roxburgh - 20 ks approx. Friday - 26th January 2007

Rolling countryside. A short day arriving at Roxburgh racecourse around 1.30 pm. Very hot. Sean Haggarty and Peter Robson took a wrong turn so ended up doing a lap of the racecourse with their horses and wagons to get to the correct place. The racecourse had swimming facilities for the horses so took some of them for a swim. Day 6 - Herriot - Millers Flat - 41 ks approx. Thursday - 25th January 2007
The day starts with a short sharp climb and onto rolling countryside again. Proceeded onto Raes Junction then on to Millers Flat for the night. Ken's horses must have been bored in their wee pen and decided to go for a wander in the middle of the night, other than that all good. Thanks to the Millers Flat Rodeo club for the use of their field. Day 5 - Herriot Wednesday - 24th January 2007
Rest day - thank goodness !! Maintenance day for most. Day 4 - Wakaka to Herriot - 30 ks approx. Tuesday - 23rd January 2007
Tar Sealed roads, rolling countryside. Stopped for the day at Herriot Rugby Club. Tucked into the Jim Beam and Brandy in copious amounts !! Who fell asleep with his head on the table ??? !!! A funny story that night - Nicola Riddel had been unable to find her reading glasses since the start of the trip. Sometime in the middle of the night she was heard yelling "Peter, Peter ! Your horses are out and tangled in the tent ropes !" Unknown to the others, Nicola was sleep walking ! She then woke her self up and when she came to she was standing in the field with a torch on her head and her reading glasses on !! It's still a mystery as to where she found them !! Thank you to the wonderful people of Herriot town and also the Rugby Club for the use of the kitchen and facilities. Day 3 - Waimumu to Waikaka - 42 ks approx Monday - 22nd January 2007

Gravel roads and very scenic, much like the South West of Scotland it was said. Thanks to the gentleman who owned the field behind the rugby club, the cavalcade were told it should be OK to stay but the gentleman was actually away so thanks anyway !

Day 2 - Woodlands to Waimumu - 35 ks approx. Sunday - 21st January 2007

A shorter day with better weather!

Day 1 - Bluff to Woodlands -60 ks approx. Saturday - 20th January 2007

A very rainy start to the day and quite a long distance for the 1st day but all went well. Just one horse dropped out and was replaced by Albie Edwards' Mare. Thanks to Albie ! Thanks to the lady in the house across the field in Bluff for allowing the Cavalcade to use her water supply. Also thanks to the Woodlands Rugby Club for the use of their field and club house facilities. A hot shower was much appreciated after such a wet day.

LATEST NEWS ON THE CAVALCADE - Friday 26th January 2007

After a day of rest yesterday in Herriot, the Cavalcade Team are back on the road again today, heading towards Roxburgh for the night. All is going well, although a lot of shoeing is going on with Sean Haggarty's Horse Meg wearing hers out every few days or so ! The team will be going through Millers Flat and Fruitlands arriving at Alexandra possibly at the weekend. Then onto Chatto Creek, Ophir through the hilly Ida Valley, which should prove to be challenging for the horses heading towards Ranfurly. WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE INFORMATION......... Pat Bucelis, Friday 26th January, 10.30 am.