Sat, 27th Oct, 2018 Bush camp at Peace Gorge, Meekatharra to Pastoral Station, 60km north of Sandstone,WA

7.30am 23 degrees, clear sunny morning.

Packed up and headed into town. Town is very quiet. Topped up the water, got some more groceries and some bread for Joy. Plenty available. I was chatting with a couple of ladies in the shop and she said they were from Wiluna and had been here for her brother’s funeral yesterday. I offered my sympathies then she said her other brother was killed in a bus on his way up to the funeral. How sad.

Headed back down the Meekatharra-Sandstone Road. As we reached the gravel a big goanna was crossing the road but he got running as we approached. Not far on we spotted another and then another after that.

Stopped at Mt Yagahong for a cuppa.

Crossed into the Sandstone Shire. They certainly work on their roads – much better condition that the Meeka section.

Reached the new Vermin-proof Fence with its information boards which we checked out a long time ago. There is a sign on the fence either side of the grid which says Barrambie Station so the vermin-proof fence is one of their boundaries.

A daddy emu and his two chicks were wandering along near the road in the bush.

Spotted the marker Joy had put out and we turned onto a very smooth track towards the homestead.

Joy and Lance met us and we sat down for a cuppa and chat. Eventually Kayla came out to say hello, she is 6 and she didn’t stay shy for long. Lovely family but they have been having a battle lately and want someone to give them a hand so they can get on top of things again.

They have a donga set up as guest quarters but we said we were happy to be in our van so we parked up on the other side of it. Will give us some protection from the morning sun and we have the awning and shade for the afternoon sun.

2pm 35 degrees but there is a nice breeze blowing.

Had a look around a small bit of the 250,000 acres they have here, apparently that is only a small pastoral lease in Sandstone Shire. A long escarpment runs through the property. Only a few cattle at present as they are working on a few other ideas and need to put in more water points etc. The country isn’t the best for cattle as they haven’t a big range of things to eat. They like the flats where they can get into the saltbush etc. A few mining companies have bought out some pastoral leases. Lance was saying that Gidgee Mine near Lake Mason is in caretaker mode and two guys stay there looking after things with air conditioning running all the time keeping the dongas and other building free of dust etc. Cheaper they say then starting all over after they shut it down.

Kayla does School of the Air as she is the only resident child in the Sandstone Shire. Amazing. I am going to help her with that to leave Joy to get on with some other things.

There are 4 horses and Kayla’s pony plus chooks and a rooster!! Oscar is a friendly big dog and Tiger the cat comes and goes who is very cuddly so I am happy.

Lance and Joy have been working very hard on their home and its surrounds and there are large raised beds full of vegies and other gardens full of plants and heaps of fruit trees all looking pretty good considering the red sandy dirt they are growing in. There is plenty of water available at the homestead so they are growing well.

Lance says they see the occasional camel, emus, goannas and a few dingoes. Rabbits are becoming a problem again especially with all the nice vegies etc. Lance has just finished enclosing this area to try and keep the ‘unwanted’ animals and the horses and chooks out of the gardens.

A road crew has a contract to keep the road good – they are doing a great job. Down the road a bit is a dam they use to water the road with and it is a great swimming spot for Kayla at the moment as it is only new. She had a swim while we chatted and learnt more about the area.

Went and checked one of the water points and Lance explained about the cattle. Bull gets the Heffer pregnant then she is known as a Cow. A bull who gets his nuts cut off becomes a Steer. He doesn’t cut the cows’ horns to short as she needs them to protect her calf from dingoes. She will have a calf each year. The steer has his horns cut short so when he is sold he is safe to transport.

Back to camp for a drink and lots of chatting. We will be happy to stay here and help them get ahead and we can learn heaps too. Also we have access to some areas to go prospecting so it will be a great spot to stop for the summer. And they have a spa pool which is lovely and cold.

Our route for today.