Sofala Day 2

And what a beautiful day it was too – have to say – phew mate, what a scorcher. Can’t believe how cold it gets in comparison of an evening (hence the toga!!)

A short trip into the surrounding Hicksville’s for supplies – think we went to Ilford, which I swear down, looks just like an American mid-west town – except the people are thinner! Even down to the railway crossing and the size / shape of the buildings. There was even a long, tree lined road section which wasn’t unlike the entrance to Decimus Maximus’ farm where his son gets ridden down by the Praetorian Guard.

On the way back, Dana revealed that she’d spoken with ‘Trev’, the guy who runs her Dad’s farm and that he was happy to take us out in the Ute to show us the farm – I was getting mega-excited when she mentioned that they go ‘Roo shooting on horseback ‘in these ‘ere parts…’! Wow. As it was, ‘Trev’ was away from his gaff – I walked round to the rear and started thinking of Texas Chainsaw Massacre – expecting ol’ Leatherface to lunge out of some barn….! Anyway, Trev, a very affable guy, asked if any of us have driven a 4WD before – I had some experience in Russia – so made the claim – fucked if we weren’t getting to balloon about the farm like idiot! So that’s what we did! Pretty amazing seeing how the land is. We discovered a number of (presumably) cow skeletons. I recall quite clearly thinking of writers phrases such as:

‘…bones picked clean and bleached white in the merciless sun….’

That’s exactly what they looked like! In fact, they looked like they’d be chalk!

Anyway, Phil knew what to do!

We discussed the reasons for the corpse and looking at the lie of the land, it seemed the bones lay in a shallow depression running down from the hills – I’m willing to bet these were formed by the torrential rain, so it was agreed we reckon the poor beastie was killed in a flash flood – fuck me, some flood huh?!


The funniest thing has to be the live cows though! They are obviously fed from the back of the Ute and so, as we motored past, they must have thought food was on the go! They are stupid animals though as they surely can’t have mistaken Jimmy and the Baron for food, although I guess the Baron does look a tasty morsel!!

Final treat from Trev was to collect one of his trail bikes from the other side of the farm and bring it over. Jimmy quite rightly pointed out that someone needed to get the beers so Phil, Baron and I promptly offered to collect the bike! One to drive the Ute over – 1 to ride and the other to, um, take pix? Soz Jimmy!

Mind you, look at the great picture here…. Me, knight-like astride a throbbing machine…oo-er!

Feeling bad about letting Jimmy (and Danz) pick up all the sauce, we had a game of cricket in the back garden – I was out for 9 – pretty shite huh. The baron was getting settled in when he spoons an easy ball to me….. and I drop it! Dana and Jimmy get back and with the remaining light, we play ‘2 innings’ each. We were trying to keep Danz in so that she got more runs that Jimmy, but he spoiled it by catching a really easy ball – spoil sport! That said, good girl Danz for getting stuck in – she had a bowl as well, which I’m ashamed to say was better than mine! Still, I won, 29 over the 2 innings – only fitting result for a Captain I’d say!

Back to Sydney tomollow – sob!