Longreach

Friday, 5 June 2009

On the drive to Longreach the kids really started noticing the dead animals that were on the side of the highway. Before long it had almost turned into a game for them - who would spot the dead kangaroo first! We also saw our longest road train to date - 4 trailers. The kids are really good in the car and muck around and till they just about drive us crazy.

Heading to Longreach we were planning to stay at a free camp site 4kms out of town, but had a bit of trouble finding it. Initially we took the wrong turn off from the highway and ended up looking at the campsite across the river! After we manager to turn the fifth wheeler around in a paddock - and we didn't think it was 4wd! - we got back on the highway and found the right turnoff and arrived at the campsite. It was a very popular free campsite with approx 40 vans already there and set up - and later into the afternoon even more turned up.

Saturday, 6 June 2009
Today we headed off to check out the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame - Chris was very excited. I was a bit concerned that the kids and I might be a bit bored - Chris seems to soak up this sort of thing and I don't as much - however by the end of the day I had changed my tune. Even the kids surprised me and really enjoyed it - they took it all in and asked Chris hundreds of questions - which he loved answering.

Walking around the Hall of Fame you view the displays and get an insight into the history behind some of Australia's greatest and bravest explorers, stock workers and Aborigines. As part of the Hall of Fame you could also pay a bit extra and see the RM Williams Outback Stockman's Show - which I am really glad we did as it was great fun. With five working dogs, a stockhorse, packhorse, mule, a small flock of sheep and the outback stockman, Rusty, it was well worth seeing. It helped the kids to understand how the stockmen used to live and gave a demonstration of the working dogs.

The kids had already seen the working dogs at Nathan's farm but still enjoyed watching him use the dogs to round up and control the sheep. One of the working dogs, Cooper, came over and walked through everyone in the crowd - the kids enjoyed patting him.

The host, Rusty, was quite a character and had the kids in fits of laughter when he demonstrated how stubbon a mule could be. He told us that he was going to try and ride the mule. Usually they were just packhorses, but he would give it a go. As he tried to get on, the mule just start walking around in a circle - no luck - so Rusty tried again - this time the mule sat down. Rusty tried to move him by pulling on the reins - still no budging him. He went around behind the mule and started pushing him - but the subbon thing still would not move. The kids were in fits of laughter at him trying to move the mule.

For more pictures of our visit to the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame - click here http://picasaweb.google.com/travellingoakeys/LongreachHallOfFame?feat=directlink