Pictures from the farm...

Internet issues in the Outback

Because of internet issues, this post was written last Sunday, posted today:

Hello world!

Hello to all on a lazy, hot Sunday afternoon. We are hibernating in our kitchen under AC fans… the coolest place on the farm, aside from the pool, - I think. I’m not sure what the thermometer reads, pretty sure it starts with a ‘3’.

Last week harvest started! It seems the much awaited flood recession has occurred, some spots still soggy, but we are able to get to most fields. With the heat and wind today I’m sure tomorrow will be dry.

The guys started in the field late Thursday afternoon. Friday I joined in. It was Wayne on the header (combine), me on the chaser bin (grain cart), Pat emptying trucks and Dale on the 2^nd header later on (which kept Pat and I hoppin!).

We have needed a couple tractor tows for the header when it got ‘bogged’, and nearly a tractor tow for itself …but it managed to get out. You never know when you will sink!

The sorgum crop isn’t great (says Dale). A lot has shelled out and it is the lowest grade at this point. Disappointing as it looked to be a great crop before the flood.

Wayne saw his first emu’s yesterday, said there were 4.

We are in awe of the amount of bugs here. …can anyone tell us why bugs like light? We have to sneak around a night and try not to have many/any lights on. The mass of bugs may be the reason for the plethora of frogs found around nearly every corner and shower crevice [today I poured a frog into my coffee.. I musta boiled him up in the kettle!].

Wayne & I are getting excited about our bike trip. He’s reading lonely planet “biking Australia” as I write.  We took our tandem for a test ride at the farm one evening. Deep, moist gravel isn’t the best place to practice (I decided). Reality sunk in that the back rider has to give up all control… I have lots to work on (!!). In some ways it would be easier to be blind, as many are, as the back seat ‘driver’ ;). Good marriage counseling for sure!

I guess that’s all for now. Not a ton of new adventures yet, just new work, itchy bites, tank tops & feet in sandals (lovin’ that).

Australia - Day 5...met a belly-full, friendly carpet snake

We have arrived down under! Australia is still as great as Kami remembers it. We landed on Friday with all our gear, bike box intact, grabbed a rental car & headed to the Sunshine Coast. In Mooloolaba we found some Canadian friends (Shane & Robyn Smith & family) along with our Australian friends (Dale & Leslie Megli), spent a couple days with them, worked our bodies into their new clocks (still working on it), enjoyed a 4 hr walk, big waves and nearly 30 degrees... not hard to adjust to at all. Yesterday we went to Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, found more Canadian friends (Kevin & Ivy Birch & family) who let us crash on their ocean-view balcony... paradise indeed! And now we are on the way to our farm work "home" in Moree, a 6hr drive from the coast. They have been flooded for a long while, the harvest is ready but there's too much water to get to it, so we might hang out & wait for a week or so. We feel we cannot get enough sleep so this could be a great thing. We can't believe we are here, living this dream, enjoying the blessing and soon... Roos and Frogs (enjoy yeah sure ;)). Till more adventures occur... Us