First things first - we set about getting some warmth happening from the fire. This was relatively easy as the log put on before going to bed had not completely burnt out and I had collected a lot of kindling the night before in readiness.
It was a yummy porridge breakfast and then off to get some washing done and out to dry. We thought we should take advantage of the time we were here to use their laundry facilities.
It was lovely to meet and chat with some more of the campers up in the powered sites - by the Shearers quarters - and sit by the fire there whilst waiting for the washing to finish. Yes it is still quite cold this morning at 10.00am. Even the owner thought it was cold this morning.
I had an interesting chat with Di who, with her husband David, run the tourist side of Trilby whilst Liz is off on her many trips oversees. They came to Trilby as paying visitors 9 years ago - but now act as Liz's "right hand man" allowing her the opportunity to travel - generally each year for 4-6 weeks (she likes adventure hiking overseas and this year will be going to northern India).
They are here helping out also through the "peak" season out here - for about a 6 week stint.
We would love to come back and do a volunteer stint some time in the future - it would be so good to experience living life in this outback environment of our country. Mostly volunteers get free accomodation and meat (lamb of course) -- and help out with the tourist side of the business.
The washing all pegged out we decided to take a walk around a section of the property. We are supplied with a mud map of the areas around the homestead to assist us and off we go.
(Note: this is an old map - and the billabong is now full - after the recent early winter rains this year)
A good hour later we are heading up the side of the airstrip back towards the homestead.
Along our walk we came across a decomposed carcass of a goat. Poor little thing - but a fact of life out in this tough environment.
There were also many Apostlebirds around the area on our walk
And at our campsite we are seeing a few of these lovely parrots
Some interesting things we learnt today about Trilby (from the information pack they give you on arrival) ---
* the property is run by Gary and Liz Murray - Gary being a fifth generation Murray who settled here on the Darling River from Ireland in 1860.
* Trilby is a sheep station of some 127,721 acres - approx 26000 acres is Darling River floodplain.
* in 2008 they added "New Chum" to their holdings
* and last year "Mt Mulyah" and "Pelora" - bringing the total area to just over 320,000 acres.
* Gary and Liz have run the properties without permanent staff till recently - but now have a couple now living at the "Mt Mulyah" homestead (which is approx 65km from Triiby Homestead, through the paddocks.
* The West Trilby shearing shed is 95 km from the Trilby Homestead.
* they currently carry around 21000 merino sheep
* Due to the size of the station they have 4 shearing sheds - each with its own Shearers quarters.
* During the floods of 2011/ 2012 they were completely surrounded by water, as they have big levee banks around the homestead, for 3-4mths. They could only come and go by boat or plane.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent getting in the washing, tending the fire and relaxing reading in the warm winter sunshine by the river at our campsite.
We ramped up the fire late afternoon so that we could get enough hot coals to have a camp oven dinner. As usual it was a great meal enjoyed by the warmth of the fire - with a wine - or two.
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