Just for a change.... we headed off on a road trip to see those remaining parts of the south of the North Island that we hadn't yet seen. Amongst meeting many wonderful people and hearing their stories, we stayed for a couple of nights on a friend's sheep station near Taumaranui, not far from the recently erupted volcano, Mt Ruapehu. Kevin, Dezma and their son, Adam showed us briefly what life was like for a Kiwi sheep farmer. Incredibly interesting and informative and both Frances and I enjoyed ourselves immensly. 1,600 acres - over 5,000 sheep and a few hundred cattle and feral goats thrown in. All of North Island declared drought area but through good management still getting by. Sheep, sheep everywhere!!!!!!