Bob Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 (edited) Pressing on we came across some old water tanks that had been used in the days when stockmen drove sheep and cattle along "stock routes" across Australia. Droving stock was still being done up until the mid to late 50s before cattle transporting by trucks came into being.Here is the big roof providing catchment of rain that runs off into holding tanks for the stockmen when it's needed.http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00362.jpgThe water flowed into troughs for the stockhttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00363.jpgWe saw Quandong trees ("wild peaches") along the roadside occasionally. We picked the fruit to stew it and make jam and/or dessert for eating on our triphttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00370.jpgNowadays sheep are shepherded by motorbike. Horses are rarely used, although on a couple of Cattle Stations today, horses are coming back because they quieten the cattle more than noisy motorbikes as cattle are apt to "rush" (stampede) over the spookiest thing in the bushhttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00374.jpgin the heat of the day, you pull up and take what little shade is availablehttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00377.jpgthe road to Kingoonyahttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00384.jpgKingoonya has died over the past few years since the old dirt road to the Northern Territory was diverted. It now is sealed by bitumen and runs 50 kms / 30 miles to the east. There is only a pub left in town nowadays, but the railway line goes through town. This train had two locos and pulled anything up to 80 to 90 trucks.http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00387.jpgWe travelled along the last 50 kms of dirt road to Glendambo which is situated on the main Adelaide to Darwin (Northern Territory) highway. The locals from the surrounding stations were holding their yearly Gymkhana, featuring horse races and dirt-bike events among other events.http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00441.jpgeven the kids learn how to ride in raceshttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00397.jpghorse racing around barrelshttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00403.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00405.jpgToday, cattle stations have motor bikes to do lots of work and these boys can ride . . . http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00408.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00419.jpgWith A$100 on the table and a carton of beer to win, any bloke has to have a go. Competitor number 1 to beat . . . . http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00421.jpgCompetitor number 2 to beat . . . http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00424.jpgThey ended up competing the last few blokes late into the evening when most had had a few beers. I was back in my caravan at that stage, so never got to have a further go at winning the carton of beer! (sob)Anyhow, even the kids from the stations from 100 miles / 150 kms around turned up with mum and dad and put in for some fun timehttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00426.jpgand a drink race to see who could run up to the drink flask and drink it quickest . . . http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00433.jpgthe 100 yard "dash"http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00437.jpgSomebody was enjoying the races . . . http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00440.jpgInside the shed on one end was the 'canteen' where we got pies, pasties, tea, coffee and sandwiches.The sign says "No Tag . . No Tucker"http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00442.jpgThe other end of the shed is the pub. The sign there says "No tag . . . No Booze"http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00443.jpgAussies like to park their cars around the football (or cricket) oval to watch the event and this race meeting is no differenthttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00444.jpgThe dirt bikes showed us how far they could go down the straight (and even around the track!) on their back wheels doing "Monos"http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00456.jpgOf course, we have to have a "ladies event". This one is seeing how far they could chuck a cow's tailhttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00477.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00469.jpgI reckon she means business . . . http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00484.jpgThe sheep race has Aussies betting on which sheep will reach the end of the straight first . . . http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00487.jpgThe evening draws in and this shot is a peaceful one behind the shed with all the station hands bring their cars and "utes" (bakkies) to the races . . . http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00490.jpgkicking on, after dark, to a band and having a few beers and a dancehttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/bob...ie/DSC00495.jpg Edited October 18, 2006 by Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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