Trish Travels: Hobo Life

Day 7 - Ularring rock to Queen Victoria springs

Thursday, 31 October 2013

Buggar, HEADACHE. (:

Turning off the Nippon Highway to QVS the track deteriorated. Varying landscapes, trees lots of vegetation and a few birds. Not fun with bad headache. Feel a bit vulnerable in thick scrub on a 40c day and being so isolated.

Very slow going. Found the turn off to streich's mound. Who was he. A companion of Giles? Unfortunately the track stopped 1.3 km from the "monument”. In the heat of the day, Åland feeling as I do the walk wasn't going to happen, so back tracked and pushed on to queen Vic Springs. Lots of burnt out areas. Arrived at "boot and billy" camp. No water but a very well made visitor information box. Lovely to read previous travellers' stories. Must be a pretty place after rains. Comments about dingos howling and lots of camels.

Not enough shade to camp and too hot to sit around without it so headed out again.

HH driving like he is in a rally when we hit a low overhead branch. Awful crunch, awful feeling in pit of stomach, is my house broken? Investigation showed a large dent in checker plate and some crushed fiberglass. Fortunately just in the reinforcing area, phew. I still have a roof over my head.

Back to Nippon Highway and on to Plumridge lakes Reserve. More haul roads to confuse us. Feeling very unwell. Passed several nicely shaded clearings for camping but HH wants to push on!! Eventually had to call it a day, too late, getting dark.

	Mulga Flowers [Map]		We're not lost [Map]
	Streich's Mound [Map]		Queen Vic Spring , dry! [Map]
	Last of the flowers [Map]

Day 8 - Connie sue to Rawlinna

Friday, 1 November 2013

Headache still here :( Decamped early as going to be another hot day. Got to where we had hoped to camp last night and were pleased we hadn't pushed on. Nothing to write home about. Weren't expecting any water. Did find some dried creek, found a beautiful dried out large insect whilst climbing over a ridge to see if ewe could find any water. Passed 3 camels, who trotted away as we approached but then turned back to 'smile' at us.

A disappointing drive through Plumridge lakes! but it is the wrong time of year. Came out at the Connie Sue and turned right! South. Amazed to find the track quite wide and in good condition. The relief from bumping around with a sore noggin was short lived. Turned out yet another haul road ran in conjunction with the Connie S for a short while. We passed a couple of oil drums on the left and 50m later, on checking the GPS realised that was where the original CS branched off. Buggar back to a bumpy track, but apparently it was one of those iconic tracks that are a must for certain people.

The country was very flat, barren and dry, even when we got onto station country. Seven gates later we rounded a stockyard, passing Cockburn cement's closed down lime mine and entered Rawlinna.

I was stunned to find so many buildings. Old station, post office, school and quite a lot of houses. Stopped by the old station where there were a couple of trees (yay shade) with grass as well, so a little cooler. HH propped up the front wheel and started transferring fuel from the auxiliary tank. I sat down on the step with the iPad when there was a loud TOOOOT toooooot, picking myself up off the ground just in time to return the wave from the train driver I raced around looking for the camera.

The adrenalin had only just slowed down when up drives Mark, 2 in charge caretaker. Delightful man, lots to chat about, so interesting. He offered us the shelter of the shed at the Nullabor Muster show ground, as it was so hot and the wind was really picking up we were very grateful. Toilets and showers too. I always feel embarrassed when I am offered a shower after being in the bush and try to make sure I am standing down wind :)

We learnt from Mark that his offsides, Geoff, is sort of a local. His parents Jill and rod Campbell run Kybo, the next station along. Mark told us Jill has a wonderful museum and said he felt sure she would be glad to show us around. Gave them a call later and sure enough it was ok to call in next day. Woo hoo.

On checking the internet that night we learnt that Rod had been having wild dog problems decimating his sheep and earlier in the year the ABC had been out to make a documentary about it.

	Plumridge Lake area [Map]		Dried out! [Map]
	Curious camels [Map]		Connie Sue [Map]
	Gate Girl [Map]		Rawlinna Station [Map]
	Rawlinna [Map]

Day 9 - Kybo Station

Saturday, 2 November 2013

Arriving at Kybo late morning we found Jill with a broom at the window clearing spider webs. We teased we weren't royalty and didn't mind the spiders. Greeted with a very warm welcome Jill took us through into the kitchen where we met a baby bobtail who was promptly given some greens from the fridge.

Rod returned shortly after doing the water rounds and then it started. We found ourselves to be the guests of such generous hosts. The chatting didn't stop. Such interesting people. What a life. Rod had got the lease of the land back in the early 60's with his brother. After marrying Jill in 1965 they built their home (still the same one today) of jarrah railway sleepers and brought up 3 boys on the property.

Before we knew if we discovered that a cup of tea came with lunch. We had so many questions, their experience of life on the land was unbelievable. We had intended to to drive on to Forrest, but then the beers came out and we were asked to stay.

These two incredible people have had such a hard life, I never heard one whinge or complaint. Very on the ball and intelligent. Jill took us out to the museum. I have never seen such a collection of local and family history. Whilst she showed us around Rod had put on tea (dinner) so we quickly set up our camper grabbed some drinks to share and were soon seated around their very large dining table. We brought a bottle of Pernod over and discovered Rod was rather partial. What a laugh. The hours rolled by so quickly. I was very surprised to find how interested they were in out lives, and they were asking as many questions as us.

Back in bed I have never heard my HH talk so much. We were so overwhelmed by these beautiful people, I think it was a life changing day for us.

	On Kybo [Map]		Jill and Rod Campbell, Kybo [Map]
	Country Hospitality at its best [Map]		Outside their home made of sleepers [Map]
	Leaving Kybo [Map]