Kalgoorlie

With this being the last chance for us to have some time together for a while(John starts 12 hour a day seeding next week) we thought we would make the most of it and head to Kalgoorlie. We left the farm at 9am Saturday morning after what seemed like the rain that broke the drought the previous night.

Travelling the back roads we had worked out it would take between 2.5 and 3 hours.We started out no worries the sun was shining and most of the water had run into the drains on the side of the hard orange gravel roads. I looked down to see we were sitting on 120kms no worries, great we are going to get there even quicker we discussed. That was until will turned onto what could only be described as the best 4wd track if you where out looking for some mud to play in. We didn't want to play we wanted to get to Kal.
Too bad we had come to far to turn around we had to push through. We had no option we had to engage 4wd and go through the puddles there was no other way around.The kids loved it as puddle after puddle the water sprayed out the sides of the car up their windows and over the bonnet and onto the windscreen. It would have been great fun any other day, but we needed to get to Kalgoorlie and into the shops before they closed at 5pm. We slowly travelled the last 80kms over the next 1.5 hours and arrived in Kalgoorlie safe and sound.

The tourist car from Victoria was certainly alot dirtier than any of the local mine cars which where disgusting. We headed to the first car wash we could find after doing the shopping to make the car a little more respectable.
Bargains, bargains, bargains in Kmart Kalgoorlie. New shoes reduced to $1.00 a pair, cutlery sets reduced to $6.00 for a 30 piece wiltshire set. Jumpers $15,.00 games for the kids $5.00 and so much more. Needless to say the trolley was full when we walked out and only spent $200.00 BARGAIN.

Shopping done and car cleaner we headed to the Prospector caravan park to check in for the night. A lovely English couple chatted about the sites of the town and their caravan park gave us the keys to our cabin and off we went to the Superpit.
 AMAZING, HUGE are just a couple of words that come to mind oh and bloody freezing. Who would have thought the dessert would be so cold. The look out to the superpit sits so high above the rest of Kalgoorlie and the wind just goes straight through you. We stood and watched for as long as our bodies could cope before returning to the caravan park to rug up in warmer clothes and organise dinner. Pizza was the request from the kids so pizza it was. Then back out to the superpit to check it out under lights. Shouldn't have bothered couldn't really see anything, so back again to the caravan park and to watch a little tv, and have a good nights sleep.
We started  Sunday with breakfast out, then we went to Bunnings for a few bits and pieces we found we needed for the van. Then off to the Museum. What a fantastic place! Entry by coin donation. We started our tour of the museum via a glass lift up the poppet head to see the view of the town of Kalgoorlie. What a sight! The town is so much bigger than I had ever imagined. Then we went back down a level to learn about the history of gold mining in the area. The gold rush and equipment used back the day, saw some old restored cottages and shops,we then checked out some 100 year old advertising banners in a climate and light controlled room. Even the kids where impressed. They where huge and had such detail and where all made of cloth. From  here we went and learnt of the local aboriginal communities and there practises, before going down to the vault! The vault contained the first bar of gold refined from the superpit weighing 400 grams, as well as other large gold nuggets, antique gold jewellery. All under the watchful eye of many a security camera. But what a bargain we where there for almost three hours for $6.

We checked out the superpit again for one last time as this was free and the kids just couldn't get enough of the trucks.

Then did the drive down Hay Street, which has Kalgoorlie's oldest and original working brothel. We didn't tell the kids what it was and made sure it was daylight when we drove by. You can do a full guided tour which reading the reviews is quite the eye opener. A drive by was enough for me.

We then called out to the airport and the home of the Royal flying doctors service. Unfortunately no tours run on anything in Kalgoorlie on a Sunday so we had a look at the planes and then headed out of town back to the farm.

We stopped and had a picnic lunch and then travelled a different way home. It turned out to be and extra 130kms and we got back a little later than we had expected. Exhausted from our big weekend and ready for bed, I quickly whipped up some dinner showered the kids and put them to bed. Made John and I a nice cuppa before bed, only to look up at the clock to see it was only 7pm. OMG we really had covered a lot of kilometers and seen a lot of things we where all exhausted and fast asleep by 8.30pm, after a fun filled, educational and action packed weekend.

Wave rock

Sunday 8th May
Today John has the day off and it is mothers day so we are heading out for the day. Our destination "Wave rock" in  a town called Hyden, approx 130kms from Newdegate.
It was a great drive up here. I think the car really enjoyed the trip without the caravan, well I know the fuel consumption was so much better than we have had for the past month.

We pull into Hyden there are a row of shops on one side of the road and a railway on the other side. The local have gotten together to build a time line of Hyden and invention that had come during these years. All the creations where from recycled steel, tin and iron. What a creative bunch, it was really interesting and the kids enjoyed it to.

Being the country of course the bakery is closed. There goes my mothers day lunch treat. Never mind the trusty roadhouse is open so we can grab a bite to eat in there. 3 homemade sausage rolls and steak and mushroom pie, a pastie and a 1.25litre bottle of lemonade, $32.00. Would rather have gone to the pub for dinner for that sort of money (yes I know its one meal but it would be a good one), I even looked for the gold that surely must have been hidden in the ingredients somewhere. Not to worry luckily it was a treat and we don't do that sort of thing often.
From here its only 2kms down the road to Wave rock, pulling into the car park in the middle of no where we are greeted by a parking ticket machine, not unlike the ones you see in the city. $7.00 to park the car and look at the rock. Well I felt that was reasonable so paid my money, put on the aeroguard as the flies where trying to carry us away and then set along the path to fine Wave rock.
Gorgeous was my first thought, followed by amazing and beautiful. It was so worth the drive to see. This amazing rock that had been formed by mother nature over the past how ever many years was just incredible.

Wave rock stands 15 metres high and 110 meters long and over millions of years water has caused erosion. Lichens,mosses and algae cause the orange and black striped stains and look so dramatic. I stood and took it in whilst of course the children tried to climb the huge smooth walls, to no avail. We walked the length of the wave before climbing the stairs to the top. Its a great view of distant salt lakes and farming land surrounded by a few nature reserves. The rock itself is used as a catchment point for Hyden town water.

From here it was a small walk to whats called the Hippos yawn, another rock formation. The kids thought this was cool and where very relieved to see it wasn't a real hippo.

Our last stop for the region before heading home was a place called Mulkas cave. Mulka was an aboriginal boy, the illegitimate son of a woman who had fallen in love with a man whom marriage was forbidden and as a result was born with crossed eyes. Even though he grew up to be an outstandingly strong man and huge in height, his crossed eyes prevented him from aiming a spear accurately and become a successful hunter.The legend says that out of frustration he turned to catching and eating human children and became a terror in the district.It is then that he lives in Mulkas cave, leaving his hand prints much higher than that of the average man.
His mother became concerned and scolded him for his anti social behaviour,he turned on his own mother and killed her. This disgraced him even more and he fled the cave and the area heading south. Aboriginal people where outraged by Mulkas behaviour and set out to track down the man who had broken all the rules. They finally caught him 156kms South West of Hyden. Because he did not deserve a proper ritual burial they left his body for the ants.
So a pretty grim story lies behind the cave. We wondered if this is why there was no extra surcharge to go in and if the humiliation he brought to his people was why you could come and go as you pleased. Never the less very interesting.

Our day out was done and it was time to head back to the farm. But what a perfect Mothers day, me and my boys, learning new things, seeing new places and having adventures together. I did stop and think of Kaya all grown up and how I would love to have given her the same opportunity. But at the age of 22 she has her own life and family holidays would be so not cool. Besides she knows how much we love her, and she did get some pretty cool holidays as she was growing up to.

more to life on the farm #2

Wednesday
 School today was so much easier than yesterday. I think staggering the start and settling each individually is so much easier. We finished by 12 o'clock toady which left time for another horse ride. Today I even had him cantering, it feels so comfortable that I am actually surprised. Dancer is an Ex trotter so can be a little bumpy to begin but he really settles down well after that. Again today I rode for about 45 Min's and he even began to work up a sweat. The kids each had a ride. They all think he's great especially Luke who walks all around his legs and could probably walk under his tummy without a problem in the world. He hugs him and kisses him and tries to hang from his neck. I would have thought Luke having such a big height difference may have been apprehensive, but as with all things Luke does he just jumped in feet first assuming again as Luke does that the horse like so many other things will just love him.
looking like a dot sitting on the horses back he is lead around the paddock without a saddle, Luke just holding onto his mane. Maybe we have a cowboy in the making.

John and John have continued cleaning the dames ( I think there are 14 of them) They have had more breakages again today and are waiting on parts to arrive from Perth. We are so far from anywhere out here.
Tove needed to buy a new fridge and do the fortnightly grocery shop and had to drop the car of for a service. It was a 2.5 hour drive from the farm to the town. She left here at 7.30am and got home again at 7pm talk about a massive day!
Here are some pictures of things on the farm for those who have requested more "boy" photos

more to life on the farm

25th April

Today I was going to ride the horse not matter what it took. He had set me a challenge and I had excepted.So with carrot in my hand I approach, he sees it and actually walks towards me. We are off to a good start.I grab the halter and attached the lead rein and walked him back to the lunge ring and tied him to the fence, another victory for me. he then allowed me to saddle him up all be it carrying on over the bit. He kept throwing his head and as he is approx 16.2hh I had no hope of reaching his mouth. I still had a small piece of carrot and with sitting just under the bit he opened his mouth and again another win to me. Saddle and Bridle both now on. I thought it best I give him a walk in all his riding apparel as it had been more than 3 years since he had last been ridden. After 15mins I thought he was ready for me to hop on.He was a perfect gentleman. I walked and trotted him for about 45mins and decided should I ride any longer, tomorrow I might not be able to walk due an increasingly sore bottom. I took him back to the lunge ring unsaddled and gave him a big feed. I am actually really looking forward to riding him again. John spent today welding and doing tractor repairs before they commence further dam cleaning. The bucket on the scoop had broken and needed some attention. The kids are on the last day of holidays before school starts tomorrow. They are actually looking forward to it. Lets see how they feel after tomorrow!

Tuesday 26th April

The kids started school today all be it a day earlier than the kids back at school, but I wasn't sure how things where going to go. We got off to a patchy start as it was so far removed from anything the kids or I for that matter had ever known. Finally we got on a roll and got the days work done in a little over 4 hours. I think it should get easier as the days go by and we settle into it.
My bottom is sore from riding Dancer and although I would love another ride, it would be far to painful. I do want Dancer to get use to me though, so carrot in hand I head back into the paddock to win him over with the good stuff. He again came walking over to me when he saw me so I am hoping the battle is nearly won.


dinner for 7 a barrow full of yabbies

 The kids Tove and I all went yabbying we had 8 nets and some dog food which apparently they love! We pulled the nets out 2 hours later and it was true they love dog food. 200 Yabbies in each net. I could'nt believe it. We sized them throwing the smaller ones back and took only what we needed for dinner.

Muir's on the move on the farm

Easter Sunday
Breakfast was a treat! Tove had made the best breakfast feast. (being a Canadian its a tradition for her back home) Bacon, eggs, toast, juice, tea & coffee, hot cross buns and each of us had a large Easter egg sitting on our side plate. The boys couldn't believe their eyes, not only had Easter bunny managed to find them out here he had also under the guidance of John and Tove hidden them all through out their front yard as well as put them on their breakfast plates.

Off their trees is the best way to describe the rest of the day, to say sugar high just doesn't seem to explain it in enough detail. So by 10am they had already over dosed on chocolate and the rest of the day they where full of energy and unrest.

Our days since have been busy with chores. I have been into the paddock to catch the horse Dancer. Apparently he hasn't been ridden for the past 3 years, off to a great start I come along with a halter and lead rein in hand and he turns and gallops off in the opposite direction. OMG what have I got myself in for? I cant catch him let alone ride him.I decide to give him a bit of time and then try again. I will point out that his paddock is about 250 acres so he has plenty of room to run!
I help Tove and the kids finish feed the sheep before approaching him again. This time I thought I would trick him tucking the lead rein down the back of my pants and slowly walk up to him. He again turns to slowly walk away again. I stopped, he stopped. Bugger these games this was war and I was going to  win. As I walked towards him this time I explained that this was going to happen and he wasn't going to win. Finally standing before him and patting his face I was able to make a temporary halter from his lead rein. Once this was done the hard part was over, well until riding him anyway. I walked him ALL the way back to the house paddock about 100 acres away and locked him in the lunging ring. Thinking I might try saddling him up.

When approaching him with the saddle and bridle his body language told me this wasn't going to be happening well today anyway. I thought better of it and let him back into the home paddock. Tomorrow is another day and with the halter already on him it should be much easier to catch him in the morning.
Luckily I didn't ride him, it wasn't long before we where hit by a massive wind storm. You could see it coming and it looked like a wall of rain but was actually a wall of dirt mixed with .5mm of rain. I have never seen anything like it before in my life. It lasted 10mins and then we where back to blue skies and the wind dropped away. What a weird experience. Apparently that was just a mild sand storm.

Muir's on the move We have arrived at the farm

Its 4.30pm good Friday and we have arrived at the farm and have set up the basics. We are met by John and his wife Tove (pronounced Tova, shes Canadian)Brockie the kelpie dog and the 3 cats Boy cat, Girl Cat and Toulouse. Tove had prepared a lovely BBQ dinner. We where able to sit and chat, have a few drinks and get  to know each other a little better. The kids had space to run around and be kids.

We chatted a little about tomorrows work, and then exhausted said our good nights and hit the hay ready for what ever tomorrow might bring.

Easter Saturday, we where up at 7.30am and the day began with a bang. After breakfast The kids, Tove and myself set out to feed hay to approx 2500 sheep which where spread across 5000acres.
john and John started work on cleaning out a dam. To d o this they used 2 very large john Deere tractors, metal cables and a HUGE steel scoop. Whilst this was a dirty job I think it was the easier of the jobs. The boys worked all day on the dam until just on dark in air conditioned cabs. Tove and I meanwhile where on the back of the trailer with pitch forks feeding the sheep. When that job was done it was time to feed the cats, dog, chickens and to prepare dinner. I think we stopped for about 1 hour all day. Needless to say we all fell in a heap come bed time. Which I might add was only 9pm. Kids are very excited tomorrow is Easter and they can't wait to see what Easter bunny brings them.