Easter at Cotton Tree

Four weeks fencing is enough for me. My motorhome part had arrived from the states and the MH is good to go again. Easter at Cotton Tree and pick up the mail then head south again is the plan.

This photo is of a burnt gully fence we were asked to replace. No was our first thought. Then the challenge of it kicked in when talking about how we could get the materials out and the new in.

Photos never truly show the steepness of the terrain, Himalayan sherpa comes to mind :)

Hard Going at Bundarra

Bundarra progress:

18 properties registered

11 started

23km cleared fence

29km rebuilt fence

When the low flat paddock fences are done the next bit is the high country and Bundarra has its share.

Before and after photos.

The bulldozer has done a great job. Pity he couldn't level the hill for us as well. Looking forward to being on top of this one.

 

Early morning scoping the job.

About 200m down and another 200 up.

End of the day it's done.

400m of new fence including strainer post stays, not bad!

Cotton Tree and Bundarra photos

Late I know but here are some photos of Cotton Tree and fencing a Bundarra.

Regular readers will know my obsession with sunrise at Cotton Tree and might recognize the Eastern Osprey I have been able to snap before. Here it is with a fresh catch early one morning before I departed.

At Bundarra since arriving I've been working the same farm. We have been helping the farmer build new fences and replace burnt corner fence and gate assemblies. Yep, that tractor is still in service.

Breakfast is served.

Sunrise at Cotton Tree.

An oldie but a goodie.

Welding and concreting fence and gate assemblies.
The quad bike has 20,000km on the clock but has never left the farm.

Bundarra NSW

After more than two weeks loitering in Maroochydore, I'm pleased to be on the road again! I've been waiting for a break in the weather. It's been hot, humid, windy and at times very wet in south-east Queensland, and very hot and dry farther south. South is where I want to be, but cooler weather is preferable. The destination this time is Batlow by mid-April, all being well. Can't imagine destination fixation being an issue here with that amount of time to do the ~1700km.

So cruised down the Pacific Hwy stopping at my usual haunts on the way to Lawrence, on the Clarence River, to catch up with friends. Then west inland via Grafton to Inverell via the Gwydir Hwy and up over the Gibraltar Range. Driving above 1000m was all cloud and mist, different from other time I have passed this way and very different from the conditions on the coast. Finally at Inverell turning south and then arriving at Bundarra, a small town on the Thunderbolt Way.

I've decided to fill in some time doing a bit of BlazeAid. Fencing after a fire ripped through the countryside from Bundarra toward Bingara in late January. It seems a beekeeper's smoker inadvertently started the fire that resulted in nearly 12000 hectares of burnt farm and forest.

The BlazeAid camp is comfortable with power and water and nice facilities for meals and muster meetings each morning and night. It's an enthusiastic group of about 16 volunteers going into the field each day pulling up the old burnt fences and rebuilding with new materials.

Murgon BlazeAid

Cut 'em up and drag 'em clear from the paddock fence. Build a pile. One farm is much the same as another, then sometimes a bit of variation. It's usually paddock fences that cope it but not in this case.

This cattle yard is a work of art. Must have been built many many years ago and it's still good today. Well, it will be when we get all the tree out.

Lucky technology has moved forward with solar pumps and these windmills will not need to be replaced. Lots of them laying on the ground wherever you look.

Before

After, well nearly finished.

Yet another!