Woah there horsey!

---

After spending far too long getting my car hire (bizarrely much cheaper to book at a counter in person that on the internet, I have found), I headed in to Taupo for lunch. Had a Dr. Juice drink (yep, that disgusting juice stuff I used ot make myself, mmm, lovely). The guy was Canadian and was quite impressed I didn't suggest he was American. However I was then quite put out when he accused me of being from Essex! (No offence to the Darbourn's...)

I then headed above Taupo on a horse trek - no shire horses, but my horse, Willie, was sturdy enough after all 😉 I have never been on a horse in my life, but you all know I love the cowboy thing, so it was about time. Got on my helmet and the horse was all saddled up. We had a nice standing ledge to help us get on. I had my balance all wrong first time (don't I always) and didn't quite make it, but second time I was in the saddle. I got instructed on how to handle the horse (there's no brake or gear change, I'm not quite sure what to do now). Trotted off to wiat for the rest of the party. All a bit scary at first as the horse trots off and does what it wants, but I had a bit of a practice and accelorating and braking... I mean, starting and stopping the horse. Jaunty as the horse was, it wasn't as bad as the camel in Tunisia, and Sally had told me it was far easier, so I wasn't nervous. In the party was a mum with two young girls. One was quite scared and crying. They guy who was guiding the tour was fantastic with her. He got her to calm down and breath, explained what the horses did. She still wasn't totally happy, so he teathered their horses together and off we trotted in single file. By the end of the 1 hour ride she was really enjoying herself and wanted to come back another day, so he had done the most fantastic job and I was really impressed 😊 The trotting along was fairly ok and comfortable. We rode slowly through some great bush and lovely scenery. I was really enjoying myself. However, I did want a bit more control over the horse, the fun bit is always making it do what you want. So on the way back another guide joined us and those wanting to go faster to follow her. I wasn't sure I wanted to actually go faster, I just wanted to drive! So I followed her anyway and all was well for a while. We then went off into second gear (a canter?) and for about the first 8 seconds this was fine. We then went down hill, which is where I started my scared giggling routine. I know the theory, push down into your stirrups, heels down, lean back, hold on tight etc.. But it's scary as Hell when it actually HAPPENS! So we slowed down a bit. And that was fine. We went of for another trot and I felt like I was going to come out of the saddle. That scared the living you-know-what out of me, and after that we went a bit slower. I'm sure there must be another trick to it, to actually not flying out of the saddle. Maybe another day! I loved the ride though and would love to do more of it if it wasn't so expensive in the UK. I tell you what though, my thighs didn't half ache afterwards. My bum was ok, but I felt like I was on jelly for a while!

That evening I met up with Auntie Liz and Nana at Liz's friends in Taupo. You never quite know what to expect when meeting someone elses' friends and I had made enquiries about where to stay in case they were mad and I hated them. As it turned out, they were all mad, but I loved them! We sat outside in their lovely garden drinking Ian's whiskey from his own still (unlike the Dukes of Hazzard, it's not up in the mountains). It was lovely whiskey, quite fresh and light but still a bit potent. We all ended up having one or two drinks with dinner (except Kylie, who kept spilling hers) and had a brilliant laugh; Sarah kept coming out with various $2 Xmas alice bands, Liz danced to Xmas songs like the crazy thing she is, Nana and Sarah's dad seemed to be hitting it off (Nana was even shown the grampy flat...) and I introduced them to sniffing...

I slept on a squeaky pull out sofa and Liz on an air bed. I did warn her that I was fidgety, and therefore, that night, squeaky. The next morning Liz said, "You're right, you really ARE a fidget!". I do take pity on anyone who has to sleep with me... 😉

---

Comments

[Mike]

Horse vs Camel
Come on you know you love the camels more! Cheaper to book at the counter because they need to go to the outhouse to check the computer for bookings. Flying out of the saddle worried me a tad, no flashbacks to a certain superman?