Hi All, Three weeks into sheep/wheat sitting. Checking on sheep in various paddocks/water runs, etc. on a 4-wheel dune buggy (with Susie their x kelpie), watching wheat grow, checking rain gauge, feeding cats, dog and chooks. Gallivanting around myriad dirt roads in a 4wd Patrol ute (with dog on the back), getting lost (and thats with a map) but manage to find my way back to the homestead eventually. Not a bloody soul around.. thousands of acres. Peaceful. I like it. Decided Id make a good farmers wife. (not)
Bindi Bindi is about 200ks NNE of Perth in the north east part of the wheat belt WA. Windy got blown away yesterday. Sunbaking today. Seems that all of WA is windy. Or maybe its just Winter here - but still not that cold. Wild flowers are just beautiful- and growing wild along the roadside. No need for tours. Hope to have my Fiat serviced in Wongan Hills this week. Moora Show next week. Country folk are just great. A wonderful experience! Hope I have more. Cheers for now, Sue
Firefly said
09:37 PM Sep 7, 2009
Gawd you sound like you are having such a great time, good on you.
Jonathan said
09:51 PM Sep 7, 2009
well done Sue .. great to see you're getting the best out of life .. Top stuff !!
Jon
Vic41 said
01:29 AM Sep 8, 2009
Great stuff Sue, the week before we were at Wongan Hills (via Toodyay & Goomalling) then Cadoux, Koorda, Bencubbin, Beacon, Bonnie Rock, Mukinbudin, Trayning, Wyalcatchem, Dowerin and back to Perth via Goomalling & Toodyay. The wildflowers were terrific in that general area as you would know, and I believe that Moora wildflowers are in full swing, so hope you enjoy the show. Great little caravan park at Wongan Hills if you decide to stay there, also cheap backpackers rooms (airconditioned, all kitchen facilities, TV etc) at the Caravan Park if you have to leave your m/home in the workshop overnight. Glad you are having such a wonderful time,
Vic
embkb said
08:43 AM Sep 8, 2009
FYI Wongan Hills was the first RV Friendly town in Oz as per the CMCA ('cos all great ideas come from W.A.). Some great rocks to camp at there in an arc thru to Sourthern Cross. Probably the pick is Etchalbutting (spelling?). The Tourist Bureau has an A4 hand-drawn Map of 'em.
Michael.
Vic41 said
10:05 AM Sep 8, 2009
Interesting Michael, I wasn't aware it was the first CMCA accredited RV Friendly Town, they certainly have been busy in country WA since then and doing a good job, especially with the installation of dump points etc.
We were going to visit Elachbutting Rock and Beringbooding Rock but ran out of time, we were doing a "whirlwind" wilflower tour without the van (stayed at Wongan Hills one night and Wyalcatchem the other) as the wife had to get backt to work. They are on our must do list for our next trip that way when we have more time, with the van next time.
Here is a link for anyone who is interested in the rock you mentioned and some others in WA in the Granite country. Click on;
-- Edited by Vic41 on Tuesday 8th of September 2009 10:07:18 AM
kenmarg said
12:37 PM Sep 8, 2009
hi sue, it sounds as if you are having a great time,and becoming a professional jackeroo. in this life it's marvelous what you can do if you try. it's good to see a woman with a bit of a adventurous spirit,and i take my hat off to you
Ma said
03:46 PM Sep 8, 2009
Girl Power Ken, GIRL POWER !!!
Cruising Granny said
06:08 PM Sep 8, 2009
Well done Sue, the "Jillaroo". You're obviously making the most of a great opportunity. Free living with a few responsibilities.
Are you camping in your truck or in the quarters/house?
Another way to "work" your way around the country while keeping your costs down - and you don't have to cook for the mob.
You go girl! Cheers Chris
embkb said
07:01 PM Sep 8, 2009
Yeah Vic, some great spots to camp out that way - you won't regret it - and they're all free except for Wave Rock. It's amazing to see some of the walls around the rocks that the old-timers built to funnel water into Rock-pools - hundreds of metres of them. Elachbutting has a great pool up the top - worth the climb - or drive if you have 4WD. Between Hyden and Kondinin there's Mcann's Rock that's not on many Maps - great spot that was originally a RSL Recreation Area. Nobody uses it anymore and it's tucked away just 5km off the road with flushing toilets and a shed with sinks and water piped to it from the Rock-pool. Plenty of firewood around, old Picnic Tables made from sleepers and great shelter from the wind in any direction plus plenty of shade. Yabbies in the Pool half way up the rock. The drive 300 odd km drive from Hyden to Norseman - mostly gravel - is also a great trip with 20+ interesting spots - about 5 with Drop-loos.
Michael.
xina said
07:44 PM Sep 8, 2009
Glad you're doing so well Sue. I'll bet you're really enjoying the sense of freedom you must have, knowing you can go anywhere, and do anything you want to. Can't wait 'till I sell this darned house.
Cheers,
xina.
suenami said
11:58 PM Sep 8, 2009
Thank you everyone.
Firefly, I am enjoying the space. (good that Im a bit of a loner)The nearest lambs to my van, I am sure, along with Susie the Dog all enjoyed my LOUD music from Eddie Fisher to Luciano Pavarotti this arvo from my laptop.
Vic, I hope to be around here for while so Im sorry I missed you. The park at Wongan Hills looks really nice and I will probably go around the places you mentioned. Maybe not Elachbutting. But will look for it.Its only because Ive no idea where Im going next. Now that I know my way around a bit I would have gone to the Dowerin Field Days shame it was held so soon after I arrived here. (I can still get lost). Looks like its got be to Wangara in Perth to service my Fiat (first service) or Geraldton or Carnarvon.
Chris Im in my motorhome because all my stuff is there and its easier. I was offered the house but declined. I use their laundry and have eaten all the chocolate bullets that were in a Tupperware container near the kitchen sink. (I think Ive forgotten how to cook which is why Ive lost 15 kilos since I left home in March my knees thank me).
Michael, I didnt know it was the first but when I saw the dump point at the info centre today, I assumed CMCA input. Theyre kind of unique.
Xina Tis good. Hope you sell soon. Its a bit addictive though. Thank you Jon, Kenmarg and Guru and Ma . What a great bunch of folk we are! Its 9.30pm way past my bedtimemust be the redwell, it says it redwell was before I drank itcheers Sue
Vic41 said
01:01 AM Sep 9, 2009
G'Day Michael, have been to Wave Rock a couple of time but not recently. Had to laugh at the nearby town of Hyden, they had a retirement village complex called "Whispering Gums" because of the gum trees in that area, but being for oldie's you can imagine there would be a few "whispering gums" living there, lol ! Christmas Rock at Wongan Hills has those man built brick walls to channel the water down to a collection point as well, they used it for the old steam trains that used to stop there in the past.
Another Rock you may want to keep in mind is Kokerbin Rock about 70kms west of Bruce Rock on the way to Perth, or 25kms south of Kellerberrin, they allow free camping there and have a brick flush toilet in the camp grounds. See;
Sue, if you take your van to Wangara, facing Wanneroo Road behind the big boomerang is a Camec Caravan & Camping Store if you need any odds and ends relating to RV's etc. I am envious of your trip and experience, wish it was us too, glad you are enjoying it so much. A little known fact about Geraldton, it is much windier than Perth (the wind city) and has more constant winds, I remember years ago a report that it had more suicides than any other place in WA and they claimed it was because of the constant winds causing it. Well worth visiting though, especially the Sydney memorial.
Vic
-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 9th of September 2009 01:03:13 AM
suenami said
09:51 PM Sep 13, 2009
Thanks Vic. Wangara this week. Camec place will be handy. The bloody wind is driving insane here. Gale force on Thursday. And so much rain! But today it stopped. Sat in the sun most of the day. Wheat is knee high. Must be close to harvest. Have two bar signal tonight. Whooppee! Won't go back to Geraldton (could be catching) but had heard the same suicide bit on ABC radio this week. Know my way around now. Looks like Moora and Wongan Hills shires plus at least one other are going to merge. Possibly more. They say community interest is nil. Nothing changes. Same in eastern states.... cheers, Sue
BarbandDaz said
05:46 PM Sep 14, 2009
Go Girl So good to hear about your time on the farm. I am sure all the animals loved your music Barb
Hi All,
Three weeks into sheep/wheat sitting. Checking on sheep in various paddocks/water runs, etc. on a 4-wheel dune buggy (with Susie their x kelpie), watching wheat grow, checking rain gauge, feeding cats, dog and chooks.
Gallivanting around myriad dirt roads in a 4wd Patrol ute (with dog on the back), getting lost (and thats with a map) but manage to find my way back to the homestead eventually. Not a bloody soul around.. thousands of acres. Peaceful. I like it. Decided Id make a good farmers wife. (not)
Bindi Bindi is about 200ks NNE of Perth in the north east part of the wheat belt WA. Windy got blown away yesterday. Sunbaking today. Seems that all of WA is windy. Or maybe its just Winter here - but still not that cold. Wild flowers are just beautiful- and growing wild along the roadside. No need for tours.
Hope to have my Fiat serviced in Wongan Hills this week. Moora Show next week. Country folk are just great. A wonderful experience! Hope I have more.
Cheers for now,
Sue
Top stuff !!
Jon
Michael.
We were going to visit Elachbutting Rock and Beringbooding Rock but ran out of time, we were doing a "whirlwind" wilflower tour without the van (stayed at Wongan Hills one night and Wyalcatchem the other) as the wife had to get backt to work. They are on our must do list for our next trip that way when we have more time, with the van next time.
Here is a link for anyone who is interested in the rock you mentioned and some others in WA in the Granite country. Click on;
http://www.wheatbelttourism.com/en/Attractions/Granite+Outcrops.htm
Vic
-- Edited by Vic41 on Tuesday 8th of September 2009 10:07:18 AM
The drive 300 odd km drive from Hyden to Norseman - mostly gravel - is also a great trip with 20+ interesting spots - about 5 with Drop-loos.
Michael.
Thank you everyone.
Firefly, I am enjoying the space. (good that Im a bit of a loner)The nearest lambs to my van, I am sure, along with Susie the Dog all enjoyed my LOUD music from Eddie Fisher to Luciano Pavarotti this arvo from my laptop.
Vic, I hope to be around here for while so Im sorry I missed you. The park at Wongan Hills looks really nice and I will probably go around the places you mentioned. Maybe not Elachbutting. But will look for it. Its only because Ive no idea where Im going next. Now that I know my way around a bit I would have gone to the Dowerin Field Days shame it was held so soon after I arrived here. (I can still get lost). Looks like its got be to Wangara in Perth to service my Fiat (first service) or Geraldton or Carnarvon.
Chris Im in my motorhome because all my stuff is there and its easier. I was offered the house but declined. I use their laundry and have eaten all the chocolate bullets that were in a Tupperware container near the kitchen sink. (I think Ive forgotten how to cook which is why Ive lost 15 kilos since I left home in March my knees thank me).
Michael, I didnt know it was the first but when I saw the dump point at the info centre today, I assumed CMCA input. Theyre kind of unique.
Xina Tis good. Hope you sell soon. Its a bit addictive though. Thank you Jon, Kenmarg and Guru and Ma . What a great bunch of folk we are! Its 9.30pm way past my bedtimemust be the redwell, it says it redwell was before I drank itcheers Sue
Another Rock you may want to keep in mind is Kokerbin Rock about 70kms west of Bruce Rock on the way to Perth, or 25kms south of Kellerberrin, they allow free camping there and have a brick flush toilet in the camp grounds. See;
http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Pages/Attraction.aspx?n=Kokerbin_Rock&pid=9000917
Sue, if you take your van to Wangara, facing Wanneroo Road behind the big boomerang is a Camec Caravan & Camping Store if you need any odds and ends relating to RV's etc. I am envious of your trip and experience, wish it was us too, glad you are enjoying it so much. A little known fact about Geraldton, it is much windier than Perth (the wind city) and has more constant winds, I remember years ago a report that it had more suicides than any other place in WA and they claimed it was because of the constant winds causing it. Well worth visiting though, especially the Sydney memorial.
Vic
-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 9th of September 2009 01:03:13 AM
Have two bar signal tonight. Whooppee! Won't go back to Geraldton (could be catching) but had heard the same suicide bit on ABC radio this week. Know my way around now. Looks like Moora and Wongan Hills shires plus at least one other are going to merge. Possibly more. They say community interest is nil. Nothing changes. Same in eastern states....
cheers, Sue
So good to hear about your time on the farm. I am sure all the animals loved your music
Barb