WILCANNIA to COBAR, to NYNGAN to BOURKE to ......

This “new territory” fascinated us. Gradually we left behind the dry bluebush, saltbush, mulga country ... on which the stock do amazingly well. We saw no stock in poor condition. We've been told the stocking rate is one beast to 25 acres ... which is a world apart from the one beast per acre we grazed in the Waikato, N.Z.

Getting nearer to Nyngan the country changed gradually into cropping land; wheat crops were nearly ready to harvest, and looked like good yields ..... if no disasters occur.

Different species of trees and grass suddenly loomed. After hundreds of miles of desert-type terrain, it was balm to the eyesight to see green crops in paddocks. Lots of emus strutted around; not many kangaroos.

Because we don’t have a timetable, our travel is governed by the weather ... more particularly the wind, of which there has been plenty. We try to avoid travelling into it, endeavoring to achieve a reasonable fuel consumption. We don’t mind if it is blowing behind us, helping us to skim along.

Which is why we were in Nyngan for four days, instead of the initial two-night stay. But in a peaceful setting beside the Bogan River, with good company, it was no hardship.

Now we are staying in Bourke for some extra days ... no, not because of the excellent bee-stings at the Bourke Bakery .... because the wind is blowing, very hot, from the wrong quarter. And again we are in a beautiful, peaceful camp. We can actually smell the roses. On Tuesday we may head back into Queensland, to Cunnamulla if the wind turns south-west, as predicted.

But will I see the property with the TY1 cattle-brand, which was significant to the world-breaking cattle drive I’m writing about?

We have identified a road we haven’t traveled previously; between St. George and Mitchell! Care Outreach operates in this region. We must go and see.

At St. George and Roma we hope to engage with some graduates from The Pines. And at Miles we may connect with some people we know there. Which means we are getting very close to home!