Goodbye NT, hello open road

If the scheduling tool on my blogger has worked, this post should go live when I'm due to leave Katherine. If all goes well, my lift into town won't break down, the greyhound leaves on time and I'll get into Darwin with all my luggage intact.   Early the next morning I'll be on a flight to Cairns and so my Northern Territory adventure will be over.  Whenever I leave somewhere, its hard not to feel a little sentimental. Its an end to a chapter of my life and another start into the unknown.  Although my four months haven't been filled with visiting an array of different places and partying, its allowed me to think about what I want to work towards.   The work has some times been hard, the isolation tougher than expected and time has seemed to go in slow motion.  But I would never take this experience back.  I got to fly in a helicopter, get close to wild animals, see the cowboy life, save a little cash and go to my first rodeo.  Working on a cattle station isn't for all, but its certainly something different.

Here starts my next adventure, and to say I'm excited would be an understatement.  Picture a kid the night before Christmas and you're nearly there.  In Cairns I'll meet two of my oldest and closest friends. Some how we've all ended up in Oz and free to roam the east coast together.  Our 5 day diving course is all booked and then we'll be picking up our rented camper van. For one month we'll be travelling down the east coast to Sydney, navigating not only through the roads but threes egos, a very tight budget and camping.

People, its about to get interesting...

Homestead

You'll have to forgive me. I'm mourning the fact I'll be loosing my personal space and want to indulge in country living a little bit longer.
This has been my home for the last four months. Its where I've slept, eaten and breathed.  As its a pretty new station, everything is in good shape.

Things to Miss:

  I'll miss the grader driver's caravan, which is too cool for school in my eyes.

I'll miss the verandah overlooking the ridge...

 Being able to hang my clothes outside...

I'll miss fossil, even though you never started for me.

And I'll miss Lucy. Who as soon as she spots you, waddles over for a pat.

But now my backpack calls and I must get ready to leave

Wallaby vs Guinea Fowl

In my post Stalking Wallabies I mentioned how getting a non-blurred photo of a wallaby/walla-rue or kangaroo seemed out of my capabilities.  Well, a few days ago, I spotted this guy on the station. And so did the guinea fowl, leading to a weird show down. My favourite part was where our hopping friend ploughed into the feathered mob that had surrounded him!

Also this week, there was another snake incident. I didn't stand on it. No this time the cowgirl I share with got a nasty surprise when she went to the fridge. That's right people, a snake had made its way into the house to the top of the fridge.  As my house mate has some issues with snakes, it was my job to evict it. Luckily for me it was a tree snake (i.e not poisonous) and was feeling cooperative and climbed into a cool bag. I then hoisted it up using a mop handle (sure, someone might may its not poisonous but I'm taking no chances on this continent!) and relocated it away from the homestead.

True to say, sometimes you don't need to go trampling around the bush to see the wildlife.  Sometimes it comes looking for you!

Rodeo!!!!!

I had all these images flashing through my head.  I'd be able to get an amazing shot of a brave cowboy holding on for dear life while a bull bounces around.  But sometimes things don't work out how you picture it. Sometimes bad lighting, an unfortunate spot and a limited camera mean all you get is unrecognisable shots.    So I put the camera away and enjoyed my first rodeo.  It was pretty good, my favourite part being the young children on the bucking Shetlands - weird and wonderful.The stadium was so jam packed that we had to stand - which I could only handle for about an hour and a half. I think this is a sign I'm getting old.

The Katherine show, except for the Rodeo and Boxing ring (where member of the public can go against the professionals),  resemble country shows back home. There were rides,  baking competitions, show jumping, animal breeding contests and stall after stall of retail wonders.  I tried my first (and second) Dagwood and Slept out under the stars. 
I also attended my first 'chuck auction,' although I was disappointed when they didn't have any geese for sale; I wanted to buy Lucy a friend.
One things for sure, I've decided that if I want better pictures, it may be time to invest....

Anyway, here's a few pictures of the day and night.  The first one I really like as it shows some young cowboys hanging about on the side lines. Second is a bunch of young'uns getting their prizes for barrel racing. Third chuck auction. Fourth is the entries for the best scare crow competition - I'm guessing!!!!

Five things I've learnt in the outback

Got to love four day weeks!!! Everyone is off with a long weekend so they can make the most of the Katherine show, which is a big hoo-ha in these parts.  One word in particular has filled me with a lot of excitement: Rodeo. You'll be surprise to hear that the sport doesn't have a big presence back in England. I am  a rodeo virgin.

So lately I've been thinking about the things I've learnt over the last few months, whether that be practicalities, personal decisions or randoms facts.  Here's my top five.

1. Bring a hat. Cowboy style head wear aren't just worn to look the part, they're a necessity. The Ozzy sun is fierce and way stronger than it the northern hemisphere. When working outside the last thing you want is your grey cells overheating. Something as simple as a $10 hat is the difference between a week off work with sunstroke and getting on with your life.  Even if you think you'll only be in the sun for ten minutes, get in the habit of putting it on. 

2. An understanding of the following words; 'tailing weeners', 'mustering', a 'boer run', 'gelding' and 'a killa.'  When I first started it would feel like everyone was speaking another language. But now I feel fairly fluent in farm talk.

3. Galas and guinea fowl make the most Annoying noises. Ever. When combined it makes me want to break things.I remember thinking the first time I saw a Gala "what a pretty bird."  And then they go and ruin it by opening their screeching beaks!

4.  Diesel rules out here. Without the Land cruisers, quad bikes, helicopters and trucks, commercial farming would be non-existent. Its been great being behind a vehicle again and has really siked me up about the camper van.

5. People still go out of their way for others. Sometimes when you're travelling alone, you can get so wrapped up in yourself and only worry about what you want.  The managers and others have made me re-evaluate my own behaviour. From driving me to the doctors when I was sick to little things like lending me a swag, they have gone out of their way for me, asking nothing in return.  Sure there are some shits still out there, but the goodies really have humbled me and makes you ask "what have I done for someone else today?"

Dingo Day

At the beginning of the week I had another of those days that make me glad I'm in the bush. It certainly was a little bit different.   I drove out to one of the cattle yards to see some cattle mustering - cowboys hats and horses a plenty.  At one point I was left on my own to wait to get picked up. Wandering around, passing the time, I then found myself face to face with two Dingoes coming straight towards me. Now I wasn't quite sure what to do. I realise dingo attacks on people are very rare, but when you're on your own with no vehicle, no way of protecting yourself and you're out numbered, its hard to feel at ease.  Yet every time I moved back one of them kept coming closer for a better look. I don't think these guys had seen a human before and wanted to know what I was.  Within a minute or so, they were gone on their merry way.  From the picture you can see how close they were.

The cattle were led out/rounded up/moved from place to place. At one point I was in a Land cruiser being used to herd them.

 

Then it was time for tea at a burnt down camp....

 

And then up, up and away! A lift home in a helicopter.

 Yep, this was a good day...

Ride on fluffy, ride on.

Entering my final month on the station, more of my spare time has been spent researching camper vans, booking travel and reading about the east coast. I'm also having to educate myself on tax returns (ugh!) as the financial year has just come to a close.  Accounting is really not one of my strong points.

However, as promised by the manager, I did go out riding after work this week.  This was my third time on a horse, ever and I can't wait to have a go again. It was something I really wanted to have a go at whilst in the bush and its something I can see myself trying to improve on. The horses here all have their little personalities and its surprised how clever they are. Throughout the wet season the horses are pretty much left to their own devices, yet when the dry season comes they remember whats needed from them and ESPECIALLY what a nose bag is. 

Other then that my entertainment still comes from a diva called Lucy. Lucy is loud, stroppy, slightly bi-polar and a goose.  Since the ganja was killed by a snake when I arrived, she's been confused about what to do.  Sometimes she super protective of her eggs, not leaving them for days, even though their obviously no good.  I'm tempted to take them away but I'm not sure if this would just cause her more distress.  Other times she's waddling around, screeching away looking for attention. She'll even let you pet her if she in the right mood. But what she's really in need of is a friend and I hope they get one for her soon.

88th Day

Today I stood on a snake. A long, skinny, thing with a tiny head. The cook thinks its a certain snake that's the deadliest in Australia. At the time I was wearing bloody flip-flops, so I think one of my nine lives was used up right there.

Tomorrow will be a very special day. Its my 88th day working on the cattle station and holds special significance to many a backpacker in Australia.  Because after this day is worked, I'll be eligible for my 2nd year working holiday visa.  I've got to say, I'm pretty happy this day has come and that all the hard work was worth it. Don't get me wrong, there have been other benefits to living away from the rest of civilisation; experiencing another way of life, saving money, eating well and resting up. If it was all about the visa, I wouldn't be staying the extra month.
And yet its a weight off my mind to know I will still have time on my side if I decide to stay in Australia another year, which, lets face it, is pretty likely.  I also feel I'm enjoying the space in the outback to the full again because its not long until that's all gone again.  I love picking a red dirt track to walk down and know I won't meet another human along the way. Over the last few walks I've took a few snaps of  Walla-rues but there just not coming out clear enough.  Grrrrr.

At the weekend I received a parcel from home,  a collaboration between my Mum and middle sister.  Among the assortment of chocolate (Dairy Milk really does taste different here), socks and other items was a book called 'One Day' by David Nicholls.  I read the book over two days sitting out on the veranda.  From it came my favourite line,

"..If I could give you just one gift ever for the rest of your life it would be this .

Confidence.

It would be the gift of confidence. Either that or a scented candle."

I also got the new album from Kaleidophone, which has been great to listen to and I'm glad to see the guys are doing so well and all their hard work has created a beautiful album. 'Wrecking ball" is my favourite of the moment.

Stalking Wallabies

It has come to my attention that I really haven't been making the most of my surroundings. And so, I've begun  taking a walk everyday through the paddocks.  On one of these walks I came across a wallaby. Luckily this little guy was too busy eating to see me and i was able to sneak up pretty close before he realised I wasn't a tree/shrub/termite hill and skipped off. I had no camera to hand but it was great to see one of these wild little guys from the front.  There are quite a few around here, along with Kangaroos and do you think I can ever get a clear pic of the buggers?! Only two minutes later I spotted a wallaby pretending to be a tree/shrub/termite hill as he'd spotted me first.   These are the things that interest me now, whether I meet a wallaby...OK...think its time I go to town.

Here a few snaps taken on my bush walks after work;


By the time I noticed this heavy loaded bull, it was too late to walk out of his path.  Just keep walking past and don't look him in the eye.



Crows in the bush.

the road a head.

More crows.

I keep taking pictures of the trees here. I'm not sure why.

weeds at `sunset.

Everything is starting to look a lot dryer.

Tree down.

Nosey Heifers

It's cattle, but not as we know it

Its been almost two and a half months since I arrived at the cattle station and life has been a lot more comfortable than expected. First off there's wireless Internet access, which came as a relief. Second, the station cook is amazing and even though beef is the dominate staple (obviously!), we do have breaks now and again. His prawn pizza is a personal favourite. Thirdly, the people out here have so far, been of a good sort. And finally, after five months in a dorm room I have my own room with a/c!!!

When I first arrived the wet season was still looming. It was hot, humid and rained every day. Now I'm experiencing the dry season; cold nights and early mornings, with it heating up during the day to around 30 degrees. The skies are nearly always clear.

I still cannot get my head around the size of the station. At some parts the terrain is so harsh it can only be access via aircraft. Which brings me to my favourite things about station life: that helicopter. As most of my work is on the homestead premises, I don't get to do too much of the cool stuff. However a couple of times I've gone up and it's been breath taking. You get to see so much and really see how big the bush is. From up high you can also spot the wild horses and donkeys, which there are tonnes of! Farming is just completely different to how it's done in England and it's all the more interesting for it.  At home cattle are like pets compared to the feral ones living on this land. 

Favourite experiences so far have included;
• watching the cattle do their thing in the yards. Note to self, a White t- shirt in such a dusty place is not the smartest idea...
• Throwing fire bombs for annual bush burning from a helicopter
• Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle again, even if it is about 10 times the size Of any other vehicle I've ever driven. God love land cruisers.
• A goose getting killed by a python. Don't feel sorry for it. He was a dickhead.


And the not so great...
• I have a lot of time on my hands. I'm out of books and ideas. I've also taken the opportunity to stop drinking for three months, which has been good for my liver, but would make the hours go quicker. Still only 13 days to go!!!
• Trip to the doctor due to infected wounds and tonsillitis.



So here's a few pictures of the station...

Yard work

Sure they look pretty cool, but these birds make a sound like strangled cat.

Sunsets and sunrises are pretty awesome here.

The view from above

loading cattle