Five friends travel slowly

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 27, 1 December 1987, Page 1

Five friends travel slowly

A brightiy painted wagon drawn by three dignified Clydesdale horses is home for 'Alex' - one of New Zealand's roving adventurers. A quiet, private man, Alex would only tell us he had come from the Wairarapa and was heading north, and was hoping to visit Taupo on the way. The wagon which he calls home is completely selfcontained, carrying a gas cooker and coal range as well as all his worldly possessions. He says his is one of only half a dozen horse drawn house wagons in the country. This is the second summer that he has spent o n the road. For company he has the three horses - Jenny, Benjamin and Major - and 'Blue' the dog. He says they are like family to him.

On a good day they will trav'el 20 miles, stopping wherever the scenery is nicest and where there is lots of grass for the horses. As Alex points out, they have all summer to reach their destination. During the winter months he leases a paddock for the horses and gets a job to

pay for their keep and any expenses. For Alex, travelling the country in a horse-drawn wagon is the only way to see all there is to see. As well as meeting a lot of people, he is iridulging his love of harness and draught horses, who he says are by far the best company.