I have really had a hankering in recent months to do something/see something different. I am in love with the beautiful county where I live, but I’ve also wanted to just see something new, local or otherwise. So when a friend mentioned going to a buffalo watch, which would most likely offer some good photo ops, I thought it a great idea. And off we went. The day was overcast, but for me, that doesn’t detract at all from the lovely views.
This is a photo of the Readington River Buffalo Farm from a distance. My friend and I decided to take the tour, which is a bunch of us in a hay wagon pulled around the farm by a John Deere. The farm is 200+ acres, and also stables a number of polo ponies. There is a store on the premises which sells a variety of cuts of buffalo meat, which, of course, I did not go in. I am well aware why they’re raising the buffalo; I wanted to simply enjoy the animals.
This is Lance, who drove the tractor. Our “tour guide” on the hay wagon is a member of the nearby Whitehouse Station Rescue Squad which benefitted from the small fee for the tour. He provided us with a lot of information about the economics of raising buffalo, the farm, the animals and how the owner came to raise them. I love that a woman runs this entire operation and that the whole farm is solar powered!
This is one of the two prize breeding bulls. I honestly wanted to get out and give him a kiss, but who knows how he would have felt about that even if it were allowed? Not to mention, if I could smooch a buffalo, EVERYONE would want to get out and smooch a buffalo!!
This is the second breeding bull. Here are a few things I learned about buffalo: they have 7 layers of skin and 4 stomachs; males and females both have horns, but the males’ horns are bigger; the bulls weigh 1,800 pounds! and did I mention they’re damn cute?
This is a shot on the road leaving the property. So often I want to take photos when I drive the beautiful backroads of Hunterdon County and share them here. The problem is, almost all roads are 2 lane blacktops with a double line and no shoulder. Very rarely is there anyplace to pull over, (without being in a ditch), to photograph the countryside. But today on the farm’s road, I could get out and do so.
And another shot of a farm set back from the same road.
Thanks for coming along, and I hope you enjoyed the (short) tour!
You never fail to surprise me Jeanne! This time it’s your desire to go smooch a buffalo!! 😀 The thought has never crossed my mind (it could be that I have never been up close and personal with a buffalo before). But the thought brought a smile to me. You are an absolute sweetheart.
Seeing you go out on the open road to a new setting brought out the hankering in me too – especially now that spring is here, there is grass in the horizon and the air is soft. I especially loved this tour. (And the new header you’ve put up!)
Thank you for the country roads and the wide open spaces. More please!
Sharon
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Thanks, Sharon. Glad you enjoyed the country – I’m making a commitment to bring my camera with me more often so I’ll be ready to catch more beautiful scenery. Stay tuned! 🙂
Jeanne
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