Been Outback for a while

[Ian Allomes]

Well not too far outback, but far enough to see the Great Goat Races again.

With friends, we set off out west to stay at a 10, 000 acre sheep and cattle station for a few days, while there we took in the great goat race.

Here we are over the mountains and heading west.

We passed these fellas again this year and I still don’t know what there for, maybe to scare some of the millions of cockatoos away from the place.

Here we have our camp set up out on the cattle station.

Some of the heats building up to the grand final of the goat races, these buggers are wild and don’t always go in a straight line. Last time I was out there one took off up a side street and they ended up chasing it with 4 wheel drives just to get the kid back, who was still hanging onto the buggy.

Here’s the goat I had my money on, called, “Go You Good Thing” but after taking a detour up the footpath and being untangled out of the crowd he was beaten severely by a goat called Kamal.

 

[Ian Allomes]

continued:

It’s a big country out here; even the chooks have a bit of size about them.

I found this old tractor up on the New England country in a little place called Red Range. I’d live there in a heartbeat, beautiful bit of country.
The tractor didn’t have any rust at all and would have been sitting there for many years.

A little pioneer cottage still standing, apparently there was still the old hitching rail there for the horses up until a couple of years ago.

Hope you enjoyed them,
Ian.

 

[xaman]

Great pics Ian, I'd love to via those goat races someday!

 

[RickJ]

I want to go down under so bad! I can't bring my Busse ASH-1 can I?


RickJ

 

[Ian Allomes]

I want to go down under so bad! I can't bring my Busse ASH-1 can I?


RickJ

I had my SFNO and an AD with me, it's good country for Busses, they like it rough.

 

[RussMo]

Great pics Ian, and I agree with RickJ I to would love to come down under. Thanks for the pics Bro!!!

 

[RoNNiE]

Very cool pics Ian,,,,,,,,, thanks 4 sharing

 

[azshaman]

Now that goat racing looks like fun, Ian! Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures!

 

[Lazydog1]

Thanks for sharing. Looks like a lot of fun.

 

[Lil' Foo]

“Go You Good Thing” :thumbup:
That's a great name... probably would have picked it for the win too.

Cool pic of the old tractor too... great find. :thumbup:

Thanks for the pics!!!

.

 

[1Tracker]

Man, I was expecting pictures of you riding off into the Sun with your horse string; and I get a picture of a caravan! Somehow that was too easy 'roughing it' Ian,LOL! Nice pictures from a seemingly good time Down Under.

 

[RedbeAR15]

Cool Pics Ian - thanks for sharing

Did you participate in the races, or just spectate?

 

[Ian Allomes]

Cool Pics Ian - thanks for sharing

Did you participate in the races, or just spectate?

No, it was bad enough loosing my money on Go you good thing

There was an old lady there driving one in her seventies, she had a black T shirt on that said "Adventure before dementia" on the front of it.

 

[Greg45]

Always a pleasure, Ian! Thanks for the pics - love those goat races.

 

[RedbeAR15]

No, it was bad enough loosing my money on Go you good thing

There was an old lady there driving one in her seventies, she had a black T shirt on that said "Adventure before dementia" on the front of it.

Looks like some great times and great fun - again thanks so much for sharing:thumbup:

 

[Ian Allomes]

They have wheely bin races in between the goat races as well, it gives them time to catch the fresh goats and harness them up.

Lightning Ridge is purely an opal mining town and is the home of the world’s black opals

Here is a little history about them:
Black opal is the rarest and most valuable type of opal.Black opal is generally found as an opal bar (or bars) of various colours forming natural water horizontals in dark grey to black opal 'potch nobbies' or 'opal nodules'. The unique patterns in black opal are as complex as an artist's imagination
Few realize that 99.9% of the world's opal supply of this radiant, dark, lustrous gem is mined at only two pinpoints on the globe-- the Australian towns of Lightning Ridge in New South Wales (the black opal capital) and Mintabie in South Australia (Home of Mintabie black opal).

Back when I was ten years old I was living in a small town called Collarenebri with my Auntie and uncles who were both shearers. We passed through there coming home this time, it’s a town of 150 today, I think there was more there then though?

For pocket money I used to accompany the mail contractor on the 60 mile dirt road to Lightening Ridge and open the many gates for him to save him getting out of his truck, the pay wasn’t good but the adventure for a kid of ten was. it wasn’t always a quick trip, sometimes we would get bogged out on the black soil for a few days.

There were so many Kangaroo’s out there then you would have measured them in their tens of thousands and you could really walk up to them.

I used to lay on the ground and peddle my legs in the air and the Emus being inquisitive would walk right up to me to see what I was up to.

My wife wants to go back for a few weeks with me to fossic for opals; so we might head back during our next winter.

 

[resinguy]

... they like it rough.

You mean the goats?

 

[peppercorn]

Hey Ian .....good to see you are out and about !!!..sorry I have been out of touch lately..tomorrow is our big day with Uncle Sam here and I have been a little pre-occupied.
BTW....did you have Bonnie with you on the trip?

 

[Ian Allomes]

Hey Ian .....good to see you are out and about !!!..sorry I have been out of touch lately..tomorrow is our big day with Uncle Sam here and I have been a little pre-occupied.
BTW....did you have Bonnie with you on the trip?

G'day mate,

No Bonnie this time, but she's definitely going with us next time. there were dogs everywhere including a pure bred Dingo strutting around with his owner.

 

[Ian Allomes]

You mean the goats?

No, I meant the Busses. :thumbup:

the goats were pretty bloody rough as well.