We Got Some Country - last month in the Desert

OCT:  Well, the last month at Hamilton Downs.  Lots of tidying up and cleaning in preparation for the New Caretakers including finishing the vege garden with garden hose on the edges and clearing rocks from the 12km rough part of the driveway.  I dressed up in my best work shorts and glow vest for the occasion.   

It was getting hot, 40 degrees a couple of days, but luckily cooled down into the 20's for the arrival of the lovely Jennifer and Rob from the near the  NSW central coast.                                                     

And in case you missed it, here is the music clip we shot on the property of our song:  Get Some Country.

Indigo and Fuggles did some climbing up the hill bonding...

And Danny photographed a long jet stream and noticed a bright, shiningball of light underneath.  Weather balloon, U.F.O ? 





Danny, with a bit of help from Sammy, made a new access road for the tip truck and fire trailer with salvaged double gate.

 Monday, Oct 29 and it was time to leave Hamilton Downs Youth Camp.  It was in interesting 3 months with beautiful sunsets and views of the Namatjira-style landscape on our doorstep. 

We took it very slowly going out the 25km driveway and said our Goodbyes at the gate.

A Hay Shed and Gardening at Longford Station

 Week 1:  We parked Keith outside the WOOFERS Shed, with a view of the Sturt Desert Peas.  We spent our first night sitting on the homestead verandah, getting to know our hosts, Lindsay and Sally Allan.  The property had once been owned by poet and writer Dame Mary Gilmour  and consists of 22 000acres, now with 2000 head of cattle.
Next dy we got stuck into work around 7:30am - Danny helping Lindsay with the new hay shed which he had been waiting 3 years to complete; and  I did a clean of the Woofers amenities and then got started in the gardens. 
Over the course of the week, Danny got a handle on stick welding and spent long days out at the new hay shed.  I watered the gardens, cooked and learnt how to retain water for the vegies and trees using cow dung and hay.

We went for a walk on Tuesday into the dry river bed.  We were looking for fossils...and we found two.  A small shell and a larger imprint of a mollusc in the round moon rocks. 
Our hosts and the food was great - and there was lots of it.  Sally and Lindsay were doing Dry July, but we had a couple of beers / wines at the end of each day.

Some friends of theirs came to visit in their 2 caravans with their 2 dogs.  Indigo wasn't that interested in the bounding exuberance of "Rocky"...
I got inspired while working in the garden on Thursday and started to compose a song.  Danny helped out with some lyrics and some of the chords and put some harp to it. 
On Friday night, we performed for the Allans and friends with our listeners joining in singing some of the tunes.

What a great week 1 at Longford Station.