Days 168 and 169 Red Hill Farm

Mooving the cows

 NSW 26 & 27 (168,169) Monday 8th to Tuesday 9th November, 2021

Looking at the BOM weather forecasts I decided to see if I could stay for 2 more nights. With 50mm dropping last night and a further 80mm predicted for today I thought it best to hold.

As it turned out the rain moved away by about 1pm with only a couple of millimetres falling here. To rub salt in the following day was fine but another storm front was coming. But I had committed to two more nights and Louise and Bill had agreed.

Looking down on the farm

To pay my way I made myself as useful as I could. First chore was to drive some cattle into the next paddock. The farm was registered as organic and the system of grazing they use is rotational. Four paddocks are set up around a central water point and cattle are pushed from one to the other on a 3-5 day rotation. Every so often the paddocks are mowed and mulched to promote growth and control weeds.

Clearing the fence line

I had the easy job of sitting as a passenger and opening gates. After this we headed out to the forested paddocks where trees had burnt in the last bushfire and dropped on the fences. Bill drove the tractor I drove the farm car and he pushed some timber off the fence line with the tractor whilst I freed up the wires that had been buried in the rubble. A lot more work to be done here.

Strap

An afternoon nap on the back verandah didn't endear me to the workers but I did wake up with enough energy to help carry a ladder. Bill did enjoy someone opening and closing gates for him. He is in his 70's and being an old Bronco bull rider with knee replacements and old horse injuries like fractured pelvis getting off and on a tractor can get to be a chore after the third or fourth time. We both managed to pick up leeches out in the scrub.

Aspley Falls

The following day we went to town to pick up a fridge for the farmstead cottage. It's an hour drive to Walcha and we stopped by Aspley Falls which was in full roar after the rain. Bill also took me to see a reporter for the local community paper, The Advocate. She had a chat with me. Don't know if I said anything interesting so will wait and see what they made of my ramblings.

There are some good cafes in Walcha. One had some home made goods but I can't remember the name. I did find Pepsi Max in the Goodman. Back at the farm I restrung the whipper snippers and did a bit of that. I don't think Bill is a fan of whipper snippers and might not have appreciated the effort I made as now Louise might expect more. I did as much around the homestead as I could.

Walcha

They were both getting ready for overnight away and I did some vacuuming before leaving. Louise and Bill are warm and welcoming people that fed and looked after me. I couldn't do enough in return.

Walcha

Walcha