Charlotte and Kev's Big Trip: October 2006

G'day.

Just a quick update to let you know that we're well and happy. We're still working here on the farm and although the work itself isn't too stimulating, it's enjoyable enough to keep us earning a decent bit of money to live off when we leave.

There isn't much to report, we've spent most of our days at work and evenings asleep. We had our now tri-weekly trip to the shops last week which was quite eventful. We took Sean and Mark, two of the Irish lads with us since they have no wheels of their own.

Halfway between the farm and civilisation, we went to overtake a truck, hit the accelerator, heard a snap and then the pedal went floppy. I hoped the throttle cable had just slipped off the lever but after pulling over and popping the 'bonnet' (the passenger seat), we found that the end of the cable had snapped off. We were miles from anywhere with no phone signal, so attempted to cobble together a fix with paper clips, bulldog clips, string and various other things that were lying about the van.

In the end, we just settled for wrapping a piece of string around the throttle lever, and I accelerated by pulling it. It's a new driving experience and one we wouldn't suggest you try, but it got us far enough. Luckily, one of the blokes from the farm lived in Humpty Doo so we got it to his house and he managed to improvise a fix which got us to the shops and then back to the farm.

The new throttle cable will be ordered tomorrow but this being the Northern Territory, who knows when it will arrive...

Tonight, Charlotte and I grabbed a Gator and took some pictures around the farm. So here they are:

Charlotte in the Gator:

The water boat that they go out crocodile spotting in. Sadly out of action though:

One of the farm managers, Brendan, in the car that they built here for a bit of fun. It is very fast but "doesn't steer or stop". Good job we saw him because he advised us not to go out later as they're going shooting:

Err, the sheds:

Another week has passed by since our last update so it's a good time to let you know what's been going on.

Last Thursday night we were invited out to find some of the pigs that have been strutting round like they own the place. Charlotte stayed at the house, while Brett (Aussie), Dave (Aussie), Leeya (German) and I (English) set off in the two Gators. We drove round without much success, although Brett showed me how to find the Huntsman spiders: shine the torch anywhere around the trees and you'll see a thousand eyes glistening in the darkness.

After an hour or so without a lot of wildlife, we began to head back but luckily spotted three big, smelly, wild pigs wandering through the orchard. We left the Gators and started to walk cautiously towards them. They've got tusks like elephants and if they decide to charge, your options are to get up a tree or wait for a loud squeal and a big chunk to be taken out of your leg.

It was decided that these were females - no tusks - so we got a bit closer to try and get some good footage on the video camera. However, at this point Dave got bored, and as I got in the Gator beside him, he decided to fire the engine up. The pigs bolted, Dave hit the throttle and the chase was on!

We chased them in and out of the trees for a few minutes, almost clipping the back legs of one of them. Eventually, they gave us the slip and we had to get away from the trees so that we didn't run over any of the dropped nuts.

Anyway, the important thing is that we got a good bit of video!

The following day, the farm treated us all to a fishing trip down at Corroborree: part of the network of wetlands in this area. We piled into cars (and Matilda) and set off for the river. When we arrived, Barry, Chris and Sean already had the bbq going so we had a bit of breakfast on the boat before setting out with a $100 prize for the biggest fish in mind.

We got lucky early on, Charlotte expertly picking the lure and Kev bringing the fish in. We still don't know what it was but it was pretty big! We measured the fish and put it back, and continued on the way. The area is very pretty, reminiscent of an English canal. The main difference was that this place completely floods during the wet season, and it's absolutely teeming with wildlife. We saw crocs, birds and buffalo within minutes of leaving dry land.

On the other boat, Sean (Irish) managed to catch a big fat Catfish which turned out to be the winner that day. After that, it was time for lunch so we moored up at a boat ramp and lit the bbq once more.

Charlotte and I stepped off the boat, something that couldn't be done without getting our feet wetand therefore it's something that's done quickly. We hadn't realised that there were at least two small crocs watching us, but really it's the ones you can't see that you have to be concerned about...

As we settled down to lunch we were joined by a dozen Wedge-tailed Eagles, which were spectacularly swooping down from the sky to grab the scraps. Meanwhile, the Irish contingent kept us amused with their endless banter.

We finished our meals and watched a freshwater (the harmless ones) croc hiding amongst the bushes nearby. At this point, Brett, the Northern Territorian, decided that he was going to jump in the water.

So he did. And jumped straight back out again!

However, this clearly didn't satisfy the crowd so he jumped in again, and walked round the boat back to shore. With each step came the realisation that this was a bad idea.

The ingredients for this particular bravery pie were heaps of booze and an overflow of testosterone. As if the ever present crocs didn't already make this bloody dangerous, the area we were fishing in was where a very recent photograph showed what is believed to be the biggest salwater crocodile in the world. This thing is at least 6 metres long, and was somewhere in the area.

Anyway, the important thing is that we got a good bit of video!

As the day went on, the fish stopped playing and Charlotte and I just collected a catfish to bring our total for the day up to a mighty two.

That evening, most of us lit a fire back at the farm, and we carried on drinking. We also continued to be entertained by the Irish who got funnier as they got more drunk and abusive towards each other.

The only other excitement for this week was last night. We were sat watching telly when we heard a gunshot near the house. Then a few seconds later, another shot. We grabbed a torch and headed outside to see Brendan, one of the farm managers, with the shotgun in his hand and his dog Patch with his teeth into a pig on the floor. These pigs are tough sods, it took two shots from a shotgun and was still kicking and squealing. He was after three pigs which had been tearing up the irrigation in the orchards, but we're not sure if it's the same ones we saw the other evening.

Two are now dingo food but one is still at large...

Right, that's all for now. If you've read all that, you will now be rewarded with some photographs.

Here we have Narma, Charlotte, Brett, Barry, Sean, Cotts and Leeya, and also one full 'Esky' (cool box) per person: