LONGREACH

MON 8 - TUES 9.07.2013: We signed up with Kinnon & Co. for a Cobb & Co. ride, plus tent show. Just some background on this family that you have to admire - in 2006 after their fifth year of consistent drought on their Outback QLD Cattle Station Richard and Marisse Kinnon and their children Abigail, Jeremy and Lane realised they needed to do something to retain their cherished grazing land. With their passion for history and heritage Kinnon & Co was born. They still have their land and each year the business has grown and added additional attractions. Left the poodles in air conditioned comfort and walked up to the Kinnon & Co shop - bought our bush hats, much improved on our previous Coles specials, but of course, SO much more expensive! We were serenaded whilst we had lunch then moved into the Harry Redford Old Time Tent Show. Harry Redford or "Captain Starlight", was Australia's most famous cattle duffer - excellent.

The last "adventure" for the day was a ride on the coach into the "outback". In our supposed wisdom when asked who would like to ride on top of the wagon at the back we like school children, shot our hands into the air. Richard Kinnon looked at us and with what can only be deemed a large dose of scepticism said "are you sure?" "Of course", was our ignorant response! Carole assured Sybil that everything would be fine - after all they would have to have OH&S - HAAAA! We had to "mount" the coach via the wheel which Carole scaled without incident, Sybil's effort was none too elegant nor skillful! Sybil rehearsed various "brace" positions and was still not entirely convinced of a positive outcome. We took off - yee ha and all that. WELL - the potholes in the road just about lost us even before we hit the outback track. Then Richard kindly gave us a 500 metre at speed experience so we could avoid the bushrangers - Sybil at this stage would have surrendered! We safely made our way back and exited the coach,  although it took some time to extract Sybil's finger and toe nails from the wooden fixtures. Absolutely covered from head to toe in brown dust we sat down to tea and scones - great experience!

THE WAGON WE RODE ON -
NOTICE THE SIZE OF THE BACK WHEEL!

 

IMPENDING DOOM!



WE WERE ADVISED TO SELECT A HAT AND
A BONNET - CAROLE WISELY PICKED THE HAT
AND SYBIL WAS LEFT WITH THE BONNET -
GOTTA LOVE THE LOOK! YES, RUSTY THE RED CATTLE DOG
OVER OUR SHOULDER IS REAL AS IS THE GUN.

Next day was spent having hair cuts (human that is), and catching up on the washing and chores - the domestic goddesses are not fans of days like this! Longreach is a great place with lots to do - some of the activities we chose not to visit:
1. Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame
2. QANTAS Founders Outback Heritage Museum
3. Powerhouse Museum
4. Thomson Belle Paddle Wheeler Sunset River Cruise.