Christchurch to Methven

Buffeted by very strong winds on the ride today. Mostly sidewinds, but strong enough to force me to stop several times just to avoid being swept off the road. Luckily the road was not at all busy. I am heading inland, into the mountains. The area is busier in the winter with ski slopes, but isn't supposed to be too hectic this time of year.

I've been passing a few rather unusual farms in the past couple days of cycling. Neither fruit, vegetable, nor cattle, but: deer. That's right. Deer farms. Apparently New Zealanders haven't yet realized what a pesky beast these non-native stags can be and feel the need to raise them. It is quite a shock to be riding along, caught up in the wanderings of your mind, and then to look up and see vast herds of deer standing stock still gazing at you. They are very calm- the sheep run away as soon as I pass by, but the deer just stand there staring. There aren't any wild deer here, so apparently the only way for New Zealanders to enjoy venison is by getting it from a farm. Definitely not something you see everyday at home.

The deer were less skittish than the sheep.