No Longer Unemployed - Managers

So I’m sure we all want to know what job we have in line. Paying very well, basic hours, and the luxury of onsite accommodation; Dave and I were keen on becoming Cattle Station Manager/Caretakers.

We called up the next morning and organised to have coffee with the owner; nothing like a free coffee after our banging heads from the night before. So after some chit chat and coffee the owner was pleased to have us working the next day and with that easy agreement we were now no longer unemployed. He suggested that we come over to his (very lucrative) seafood factory where we were given today’s caught barramundi, calamari, prawns and random other filets of fish along with $300 cash for groceries.  OMG, we were in heaven. Fresh fish for dinner plus $300 for other food and meat; to us this was unbelievable especially when our budget is so tight, but to him...I could only see yellow and green notes coming from his pockets. Generous and trusting person when he gives random strangers money and keys to his cattle station.

The keys allowed us access to the Homestead and our very own quarters. It was a shock to see how green and luscious the area around the homestead was after travelling through red dust and minimal greenery. Here, the station had unlimited fresh drinkable bore water straight from the ground which explained the extensive water systems and a blasé attitude towards saving water. 

Our job was to look after the homestead, the garden, bore runs for the cattle, and all the animals around the house. Dave took ownership of the bore runs which was fine by me because that left me with the caretaking of the animals. I had horses, cows, chickens, dogs, ducks, ducklings, and potty calves.

The homestead was divided into 2 purposely designed to withstand cyclones which was an assuring and daunting feeling at the same time. There we massive gum tress around the house along with banana, pawpaw, lemon, citrus, mango trees, a collection of berry bushes, palm trees with coconuts, and plants off all variety in full bloom. It was an amazing place to work especially during the heat of the day when you could fall asleep under the shade of a gum tree then take a dip in the pool.

So this was our workplace. We spent most of our time keeping up with the gardening, mowing the lawns, dealing with sprinklers, fixing anything we could get our hands on including a BBQ, chainsaw, quad bike, the leaf blower etc, and generally just looking after the place. We loved our jobs.

Introduction to the family:

Maverick decided to look very cute in this photo only because he probably
wanted some milk. Maverick hands down was the easiest calf to drink out
of the bottle. Therefore...my favourite.

Maverick (brown male) first potty calf about week old and
Milkybar (female) who was extremely sick when we first picked her up.
Now both are doing very well...little fatties.

My 3rd potty calf, chocalatte.

The amazingly tame Sunrise who has made the homestead her
permanent home. She especially enjoys little treats like pawpaws, banana leaves,
and fallen mangos.  

Little video just showing my potty calves. 

Maverick and Milkybar get let our for a few hours which they loved. They fashionably showed off
how energetic and healthy they were by running around, jumping, and kicking like the little kids they are.

All the horses around the homestead

The dogs at the Homestead became our best friends. Below, the Doberman was an absolute nut case. Running and barking at anything that moved had no obedience training what so ever. It took me 4 weeks to get her under control.  By the end she learnt all the basic commands and didn't chase the cows or horses into a frenzy. I loved her. 

Bella

Zoe was Dave's dog. She loved going on bore runs and 'shot-gunning' the front seat in the ute.

Zoe (blue healer)

I had to look after some ducklings. Here I think their only a few days old. I built them a separate
pen because the chickens and maverick were giving them a hard time. Very well behaved ducks.

I'll do another blog showing the cattle/yard work.

Coastal View - The sunny side of Broome

Arriving into civil Derby after 600km of ruggered dusty and notoriously known corrugated Gibb River Road we finally realised that we loved and cherished the tarred road. We so dearly missed the luxury of smooth driving and not worrying that the dashboard would permantely remove itself from the car. When we started the Gibb my mentality was just to complete the road but it slowly changed to a clique saying “it was the journey not the destination” that made it one of the most exciting adventures I’ve had. Dave is just happy about his made driving skillz. I’d describe Derby as just a simple town mostly accommodating the desperate tourists coming off the Gibb in need of a decent shower, fish and chips, and basic mechanical repairs. Thankfully we needed all of these necessities. Derby was a one night place especially knowing that the famous coastal town of Broome was only a few hours away. I’d been looking forward to seeing Broome ever since we left for this trip. Hearing about the crystal clear waters, the sandy white beaches, and the aura of Broome just drew us towards this North West part of the state along with thousands of other tourists. We now had become the typical travelling nomad. I had no problem with that classification when Broome shows off in good fashion everything you’d expected in a bustling tourist town. 

The beautiful Cable Beach

I’d compare Broome to Cairns; I know full well that I haven’t actually been to Cairns but what is expected out of Cairns you can expect out of Broome. Think of palm trees throughout the town, boutique stores offering everything beach and surf like, jewellery stores showing off all their local produced pearls, and that feeling of just being laid back walking around in swimmers and thongs.

We hanged around Broome for a week or so checking out the local fishing spots, laying on the beach, swimming every hour, and enjoyed our last few days with Tim and Nat before we moved on on our own ways. 

Dave and I truly enjoyed our time with Tim and Nat certainly appreciating their help and generally knowing that if anything bad happened we were there with someone. Nat and I agreed that when we had our downs likes the time they got bogged near Gibb River and when we did our brake line having the other couple their made the whole experience a laughing matter.

 The last night in Brome we all celebrated with a few drinks at the pub. Though, I wouldn’t really call the ‘nightlife’ a ‘full nightlife’. We had a band rocking away through the night till about 11pm which then they packed up and left expecting DJ music to take over; nothing eventuated. Around 11.30pm some of the main interior light came on which we purposely ignored hoping it wasn’t what we thinking. But then we hear a few moments later “last drinks”. Looking at each other dazed we knew we’d just heard the end of our night. And yep, 12am came and so did the garage doors closing off the bar. Bitter disappointed after being on a massive high and that all ending just after bed time. We did however get something very worth our while on the way back to the caravan park. A notice board highlighted our attention when it boasted plenty of work available within Broome. Searching through the crap with our beer goggles on we found an amazing job not far from Broome that was just up our ally. You’ll have to read the next blog to find out....haha

Camels walking down to Cable Beach. However, look what I've also captured in the photo. (hint: the bike)
good stack.

Weren't quite game enough

Bush Mechanics on the Gibb

So continuing on the Gibb River Road:

Every side track had something special to offer but today this particular 4WD track off to Adcock Gorge gave us some grief. So we had a very issuing angle requiring Low4 and a very high margin for error; our case, tipping the troopy. We got up and over after some fowl language and waving of the arms but found with the use of our brakes the warning brake light came up on the dash. Up went the bonnet and our heart rate and found the brake fluid reservoir was completely empty, so assumed that we had broken a brake line somewhere Dave got under the car and spotted all the spitting fluid. Hmm, we thought, well honestly I was a bit pissed off and worried, not quite as simple as an ‘hmm’. The next major town was the little aboriginal community of Imintji which is the only town on the Gibb River that does mechanical work and thanking our lucky stars it was only 40km away. With no brakes and only gears to rely on, it was Tim and Nat’s time to shine. The CB radio paid for its self in this isolated piece of country with constant communication with Tim and Nat giving us the heads up on steep descents and the level of water through plenty of deep river crossings. It was a nervous drive but we knew the troppy could handle the small alteration. We rocked up to the local mechanic at Imintji about 2 hours later expecting ‘dodgeville’ but surprisingly met a very helpful mechanic offering a cheap fix up (crimp the brake line - $25) that would allow us to finish the Gibb, comfy waiting area with the AFL playing, and generally a happy and informative environment. He would have been the most polite and full of energy mechanic I’ve ever met which was a pleasant surprise when you’re on one of the most remote and rugged roads in Australia. He would have a very lucrative business; within 15 minutes of being there, 3 people turned up wanting tyre patches. You could tell that was his main business suggested by the thousands of tyres lying all around the workshop. So far so good, no tyres busted yet for our convoy.

We were so glad to find out that we could continue on our Gibb River Road adventure with only 3 brakes working. If things got that bad we could have limped to Derby but then would have missed out on the some of the major attractions.

Bells gorge was just north of Imintiji community which is one of the most popular gorges along the Gibb. About a 40km rough as guts track got us there and an average to hard walking track got us to the gorge. As expected the water was bloody freezing but was counteracted by our awesome blow up rafting board; that what we call ‘winning’.

Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek were the last gorges on our list to do. Another 50km rough as guts track off the Gibb which we were glad to see the last off, got us to some off the most amazing landscape I’ve ever seen. 

Windjana Gorge is one of those places essential to experience the Kimberley region; it’s on every itinerary bourcher, every tourism advertisement, and apart of every guided tour. The Gorge is a little oasis in the middle of nowhere boasting almost rainforest like environment, an abundant of wildlife, and steady water during the dry.

This was a close Dave wanted to go

any one for the Beach in the middle of the Kimberley?

Nat and I

Good pointing there Tim

Tunnel Creek though was something spectacular; something that exceeded all expectation. From the beginning we heard of this wonderful place from other travellers and knew it was something we needed to see. Knowing we needed headlights and sturdy footwear and the fact that we were going to get wet sounded like a good combination. 

It was about a kilometre walk through the whole tunnel with majority of it complete darkness all the while trolling around through metre deep water trying to find the direct line to the end.

Tunnel creek would definitely be in my top 5 walks along with Kings Canyon, Ayres Rock, Cradle Mountain, and South East Cape.

Can you see the dim headlight? That me.

Which direction?

So after 600kms of rugged roads, sharp river rocks, and all the creek crossings we leave the Gibb River with only damage to one brake line. EPIC WIN!