In this book of short stories, you are invited on a series of journeys: hunting deer on the high tops and farming in the Wanaka area; tramping over mountain passes in the Nelson region; tales of building, fishing, and family times; life during the Great Depression of the 1930s; and opportunities of service in other lands.
Packing & Shooting – “Imagine, if you will, a beautiful crisp, sunny morning: you are leading a string of packhorses up the floor of a mountain valley, transporting a cargo of posts and rails to repair an outback cattle-yard. The only noise you hear is the jingling of the bridle rings as the horses munch on their bits and the squeaking of the leather packsaddles as their loads swing to and fro in time with the rhythmic beat of the horses’ hooves, or perhaps the occasional snort from one of the horses as it clears it’s nose. Your world seemingly appears to be at peace. What could be more soul restoring? You just drink in the mountain panoramas. You enjoy the expansive vistas of the tussocky tablelands. You admire the boldness of those rocky, tussocky ridges as they descend down towards the girgling, swirling waters of the Matatapu River as it works its way through a vast array of boulders towards distant Lake Wanaka. You are alone in the wilds, enjoying the great outdoors without any visible sign nor sound of … man. Sheer bliss!”
This book has a true Kiwi flavour, with a look into the outbacks of New Zealand as seen through the eyes of a family man with a passion for the wide open spaces and an ‘I’ll give it a go’ attitude.
