ATV Until the Cows Come Home.
Posted on Apr 12th 2015
The first time I traveled outside of my country was to New Zealand. I had been to different countries in the Navy, but that entailed looking at strange lands from the topside of my boat. There was no real opportunity to explore. Once I got out, however, I found myself wandering vast places without any plan.
My first stop in Kiwi Land was a dairy farm. I had never worked on a large spread; and this one was especially nice. Out in the middle of nowhere, 500 acres held just as many cows here needing to be rounded up and milked twice a day. The help wanted sign at the gate was too much to resist; and I applied for the job after just a few moments of talking with the owner. What else was a backpacker going to do to make a living? I had already tried picking apples: Too boring.
So, there I was with my own cabin and a motorbike as the only farm hand on a huge estate. My house was a half mile from the landlord and his wife. It was my responsibility to be up by five and in the milking shed with the cows before the sun came up. I don’t have to tell you, tooling around in the dark dewy pastures on two wheels can be harrowing; especially when you are trying to get the herd moving. Don’t believe what you hear about cows sleeping standing up. They get nice and comfortable curled up in a ball on the ground.
One day, the farm owner approached me and joked about my riding. He said that the new ATV that his wife made him get was driving him nuts and boring him to tears. He wanted to get back on his sport bike. He asked me if I would like to have four wheels under me for a while. I jumped at the chance.
Suddenly, trekking to the top of the water tower hill in the wet darkness was no longer a cold, muddy, mess. I simply cruised up the steep inclines in style, silently, surprising the cows where they slept.
When no one was looking, I would gun it down a straightaway in the flats of the farm. I looked down one time and saw 55 mph. This was on an ATV on a gravel road. No speed wobbles, no drift; but I knew the danger. I had heard about the rolling danger of ATVs. I only had that happen once, at slow speed; because I veered off of a cow path at a steep angle. I felt the bike pitch, and I jumped clear. It only rolled over once, and there was no damage. I easily righted it, and rode on. All-in-all, the ATV is the best farm vehicle for getting around.
You can always educate yourself about all-terrain vehicles and other motor vehicle technology on the MotorsHiFi site, located on the web at www.motorshifi.com. Here you can go to get your dream vehicle.