I have never been there.
But after my trip to New Zealand, I think I have a pretty real understanding as to what it would be like to cheat death from an angry bull.
{this is for you BDD}
I'm guessing my little bull-friend wasn't used to seeing American chicas pass by too often [on foot] on the nearby motorway. Truth be told, I can't believe I actually ran on the motorway. The posted speed limit was 100km.
But I did just find this on wikipedia:
In many respects, New Zealand highways are simply the major roads between significant places and can be used by any traveller, including cyclists, [runners-I may or may not have added this part],pedestrians and even farm animals.
Yes, they are so NOT lying on the farm animals part. I learned this fact in Waipu. Yep, you got it pronounced WHY-POO. Which Peanut loved. "Mom, waipu when you can just pee? It's faster." nice.
Anyway, while running in Waipu, there was a farmer [?] walking his cows on the motorway . . . ummm, ya this was after the charging bull experience so you bet your butt I turned around.
I'm really hoping I mentioned there was a fence between me and the bull. Call me a baby, whatever but unless you've had a massive animal like that running full boar, straight for you . . don't judge. ;)
Have I ever mentioned, I am a treadmill girl. kidding. kidding. So I had a week of me. outside. with nature. in New Zealand. no treadmills in sight :( . If I was going to run, I was going to look around and enjoy every moment. I thought it was so cool to run past animals, ocean, dead possums, mean Weka's, singing tui's, 75 year old women - - that when I saw the two massive bulls ahead I thought, "OMGosh, awesome, those are freaking huge bulls!"
Then . . . . .
c h a r g e !
That thing snorted something fierce then came at me like nothing I have ever seen before. [please keep in mind, I'm on a motorway {the ones with cars not farm animals} - I can't just move into the street!]. So, of course, I stop....still staring at the bull and now he and I are NO MORE than 3.5' away from each other [yes, the fence had stopped him]. looked at my hands. s h a k i n g - uncontrollably. Look at heart rate numbers. Yea, I'm still alive!
All is well. On the return, I was a smart little blonde and ran on the other side. of course, I stared him down the whole time. I saw him. He was shaking.
[the motorway minus the bull]
