Interstate work adventure
Last Sunday saw us all arriving back at the centre from our 2 weeks leave, met with laboured nods of the head, and the customary indifferent stares which i think we can assume were really saying "Welcome my friend, I've missed you more than I can say!"
Before I had even had a chance to ask Laura why our room smelt of keroscene, a rumour had formed from an unknown source, about a secret journey to an unknown location for unknown reasons and unknown duration, leaving 4.30am on tuesday 1 day hence! A rumour that of course was met with incredulous laughter and...further invesigation, which, infact revealed that we were to embark on a 5 day interstate work-adventure!
SO, we packed our bed rolls and gum boots, and headed off to ACT?? Which ended up just being the fruit fly free zone... so we continued on to Swan Hill and over the border to...
Victoria!! We discovered that the wirly-gig, though illegal in NSW, can be found in roughly 2 out of 3 parks in Victoria! What a treat! And murder after chocolate and a long drive...
But we kept on driving, and I awoke to find to my surprise, that i was infact in...SOUTH AUSTRALIA! Dissapointed to discover that we weren't continuing on to indonesia, but all discontentment fled my mind, when I entered the blood stained Wool Shed which would house us for the next 3 days. No really it was great!! I was entertaining the idea of spending a whole year there!
We awoke the next day to a glorious sunset, and over the next 3 days, we planted about 5000 trees as wind breaks. It was hard work, starting by 7.30am, and finishing when the sun set, but it came close to beating the Olive grove as the best job we've got to do this year. Surrounded by fields of a colour I'd almost forgotten existed, and thousands of eweing lambs...thanks to tracey for that one. Nat was determined to take one home with her, but as yet was denied.
The term "too many cheiftans, not enough indians" became a favourite with some of the boys (Dane), but we worked together and figured out a good system, and got it all done on time! A special mention to Team Samara, who I'm sure must have broken a record in something.
We let our hair down a bit (mine was literally flying off into Richards face) when we rode back to the farm on the back of a crumbling trailor doing pushing 100kms, with green grass wigs, spittin' contests, and friendly winks from the passing vehicles, and good jolly laughs all round. Ho ho.
On the last day in SA, we got to see a bit of the lovely state- driving to the ocean at sunset. As we pressed out together to get to the end of the longest jety in the southern hemisphere, swathed in scarves and beanies and several layers of thermal underwear, Aline decided it might be nice to go for a dip, and plunged into the giant waves that were nearly nearly frozen solid from the lovely Antarctic breeze. Bless her dear heart.
We were then treated to a fabulous meal at a local pub- plates piled high with prawns and scallots and calamari and fish and...tortellini. Then we all snuggled into our beds for our last sleep in the shed.
The trip back took us 2 days- thanks to providence, we found ourselves with a few flat tyres/broken trailors, and that wee lamby-kins Nat had been after. We stayed The Sat night at the Swan Hill centre- it was great to see what an alternate us could look like, but I didn't get to meet my alternate self, which was dissapointing, but I'm sure there'll be other opportunities.
On an on we travelled. A mean old man tried to steal the lamb from us- claiming he'd take proper care of it, but he just wanted him for dinner eh Aline!! So he put the lamb in his truck, and when he went inside the shop, one of our guys took the lamb back and announced in christian triumph that the lamb had just weed in the man's car. Then we drove off.
Stopped for lunch at West Wyalong, and Richard impressed us all by clmbing to the top of the simulated mine, using a rope tied around his feet! I felt like I was on an island in the pacific, while he threw coconuts down, but it was just kylie's camera...whoopsies.
On and on and on and on...until...
WE REACHED CANOWINDRA!! It was good to be home, but we really had a fantastic time. It was a great way to start the second half of the year, bonding etc etc, and seeing a bit of our great nation with each other. And now we're all back to the grind! Yes, we all came back! It was touch and go for a few there, but we didn't lose anyone to the wool shed, though i seriously thought about taking up permanent residence there.
Before I had even had a chance to ask Laura why our room smelt of keroscene, a rumour had formed from an unknown source, about a secret journey to an unknown location for unknown reasons and unknown duration, leaving 4.30am on tuesday 1 day hence! A rumour that of course was met with incredulous laughter and...further invesigation, which, infact revealed that we were to embark on a 5 day interstate work-adventure!
SO, we packed our bed rolls and gum boots, and headed off to ACT?? Which ended up just being the fruit fly free zone... so we continued on to Swan Hill and over the border to...
Victoria!! We discovered that the wirly-gig, though illegal in NSW, can be found in roughly 2 out of 3 parks in Victoria! What a treat! And murder after chocolate and a long drive...
But we kept on driving, and I awoke to find to my surprise, that i was infact in...SOUTH AUSTRALIA! Dissapointed to discover that we weren't continuing on to indonesia, but all discontentment fled my mind, when I entered the blood stained Wool Shed which would house us for the next 3 days. No really it was great!! I was entertaining the idea of spending a whole year there!
We awoke the next day to a glorious sunset, and over the next 3 days, we planted about 5000 trees as wind breaks. It was hard work, starting by 7.30am, and finishing when the sun set, but it came close to beating the Olive grove as the best job we've got to do this year. Surrounded by fields of a colour I'd almost forgotten existed, and thousands of eweing lambs...thanks to tracey for that one. Nat was determined to take one home with her, but as yet was denied.
The term "too many cheiftans, not enough indians" became a favourite with some of the boys (Dane), but we worked together and figured out a good system, and got it all done on time! A special mention to Team Samara, who I'm sure must have broken a record in something.
We let our hair down a bit (mine was literally flying off into Richards face) when we rode back to the farm on the back of a crumbling trailor doing pushing 100kms, with green grass wigs, spittin' contests, and friendly winks from the passing vehicles, and good jolly laughs all round. Ho ho.
On the last day in SA, we got to see a bit of the lovely state- driving to the ocean at sunset. As we pressed out together to get to the end of the longest jety in the southern hemisphere, swathed in scarves and beanies and several layers of thermal underwear, Aline decided it might be nice to go for a dip, and plunged into the giant waves that were nearly nearly frozen solid from the lovely Antarctic breeze. Bless her dear heart.
We were then treated to a fabulous meal at a local pub- plates piled high with prawns and scallots and calamari and fish and...tortellini. Then we all snuggled into our beds for our last sleep in the shed.
The trip back took us 2 days- thanks to providence, we found ourselves with a few flat tyres/broken trailors, and that wee lamby-kins Nat had been after. We stayed The Sat night at the Swan Hill centre- it was great to see what an alternate us could look like, but I didn't get to meet my alternate self, which was dissapointing, but I'm sure there'll be other opportunities.
On an on we travelled. A mean old man tried to steal the lamb from us- claiming he'd take proper care of it, but he just wanted him for dinner eh Aline!! So he put the lamb in his truck, and when he went inside the shop, one of our guys took the lamb back and announced in christian triumph that the lamb had just weed in the man's car. Then we drove off.
Stopped for lunch at West Wyalong, and Richard impressed us all by clmbing to the top of the simulated mine, using a rope tied around his feet! I felt like I was on an island in the pacific, while he threw coconuts down, but it was just kylie's camera...whoopsies.
On and on and on and on...until...
WE REACHED CANOWINDRA!! It was good to be home, but we really had a fantastic time. It was a great way to start the second half of the year, bonding etc etc, and seeing a bit of our great nation with each other. And now we're all back to the grind! Yes, we all came back! It was touch and go for a few there, but we didn't lose anyone to the wool shed, though i seriously thought about taking up permanent residence there.
posted by Kimmmoi at 9:50 PM
5 Comments:
We were sometimes tantalised with talk of an interstate work adventure during my first year when the work was thin locally but it never actually eventuated...sounds like it was worthwhile! Also sounds like you have a gun crew! Just prayed for you all there and I trust the second half of the year will bring abundant growth both spiritually as well as on the grape/vege vines!
Nath
Hey frangine ! trop la classe en badinsuit (comment t ecris deja !!!) en tout cas je vois que c est aussi l hivers chez vous ! eh oui, nous de notre petite suisse qui pensions qu a l hemisphere sud il fait tjs chaud... au oublie des fois qu au Pole sud il y a des pinguins... heureusement que Jonas est la pour nous le rappeler ! :o)
J espere te retrouver la bas !!! j espere j espere...
hey, are there any 'dropbears' in SA. they're so notoriously famous they appear on TV more than errr... Kangaroos do!! if they there was any did they 'drop' on you
Wow, how fun and Adventurous, Das ist Wunderbar!!!!!!!!
I'm glad u guys got your lamb back...what ended up happening to it?
I like the idea of travelling on the back of a car travelling at 100k/h #=p cool...hope u were wearing seat belts.
By the way, it is a very well written report of the trip- I really enjoyed reading it:)Can't wait to read any other fun and crazy things u guys have been up to or will get up to! Praying for you....
Naomi. (heya kimmoi;)
I agree totally, a great writing job! You shouldn't need to worry about how you'll go with writing all those assignments - there's a lot of talent here!!
:) luv Hannah
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