Howdy!
[This post is about Sunday, March 29th, 2009 - read the March 28th post before this one!]
So everyone one else was waking up at about six to go and see the cattle herded onto a truck to be sold off. Jess and Ellie tried to wake me up to see if I wanted to go, but I guess informed them that I was staying right where I was. I don't remember any of that - I was sleeping! I did wake up about five minutes after they climbed into the ute to go see the cattle. I really wasn't too keen to go and see the cattle herded onto a truck - I've seen it before and have seen other animals done the same way. It's hard coming from a farming community to not have seen something like that before you know? Sleep was of the essence anyway or I would have been one growly bear the rest of the day. Plus I was achey from horse back riding the day before and knew if I didn't get more sleep there would be a giant black bear growling around the farm and the countryside of Australia.
I ended up getting up and making beds and getting my stuff around to leave for the day. I chatted with the girls and Emil when they arrived back and while I had brekky I talked to Maren. Maren is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota and has been in South Australia for 29 years. She talked about the differences she noticed between Australia and America. Strollers are called prams here and there are a lot of other words associated with babies that differ. After the chat, I went to shower and got ready for church. We road to church in Amil's car and got to see Mt. Gambier in the daylight hours. It is a small country town with 33,000 people. It doesn't feel any bigger than Dysart really.
We went to a church that was/is located in a school. The service was held in a big gymnasium with chairs set up in rows. I could tell that many of the people in the congregation are farmers because the sermon, songs, etc. were geared towards harvest, growth, seeds, etc. It was a really good service and I enjoyed it. The only downside is that the projection screen was used a bit too much for my liking, but what can you do? After the service there was morning tea and conversations. I met many people and the food was delicious. I couldn't get over how good it was and I had to stop eating before I ate it all.
I ended up ducking out a little bit early so that I could call my mom since it was her birthday in the States. I was hoping to catch her since she had tried calling earlier and I had missed it. I was practically in tears because of it. I have a very good relationship with my mother and it gets hard when I can't talk to her for weeks at a time. I was able to get a hold of her (she was on the other line with my sister) and chatted with her for a bit. She said that the entire family was together last night and tried calling me, but since I was on the farm and had NO reception, I didn't know that they were calling. I cried a little, I haven't talked to my brother or sister since I came to Australia. Only on facebook, but that's not really talking you know? Anyway, after that I got up on all my Dysart knowledge and was back in fullswing. I chatted some more with my mom and then hopped in the car to go and order some fish and chips.
We ordered our butterfish and chips and then hopped back in the car and headed off to some quick sight seeing before coming back to get the food. We saw the Valley Lakes, Lady Nelson, and the Blue Lake in daylight. We went back and got our food and then headed to the Gardens. There I met Amil and Marty's oldest brother Philip. His wife and daughter were there as well as a couple who were expecting their first child. It was a really good lunch conversation and the butterfish was AMAZING! We got more fish and potato chips than we ordered, but hey that's okay. Marty ended up finishing what Amil couldn't eat.
Then we journeyed down to the sinkhole with the garden in it. It was quite extraordinary. I've never seen anything like it before. There were 100 ft. palm trees, giant ferns, a cave and a shit-load of kudzu just hanging down from the top of the sinkhole. There was a man-made waterfall and all kinds of flowers. It's unreal. We took our time in there and then we headed back on up to ground level. We said our goodbyes and went back to Amil and Marty's to pack-up and head to the Naracoorte Caves.
We ended up not going to the Naracoorte Caves and instead played a game of cricket. Ellie and I learned how to bat correctly and then we took our turns bowling and batting. It was a fun (and sweaty) afternoon. I think cricket was the best way to end our time on the farm. Before we left I went and saw Phoenix, Honey and the other horse (I can't remember his name for the life of me) and bid them farewell. Phoenix was being a pain and wouldn't let me touch her so Amil and I got some oats and then I fed the nameless horse, Phoenix and Honey. It was a good way to top of the weekend. After that we loaded up and hit the road for Adelaide.
On the way back I said I wanted to stop and look for the St. Hilary vineyard. I don't think the other two believed me that I had seen the sign, until Ellie yelled from the front seat - St. Hilary!!! So we stopped so I could get a picture with it. Glorious! We stopped at a truck-stop place for tea and then headed back out on the road. We scooted into Malvern at about 10:30pm. I was off to bed after bidding Jess good-bye and thanking her for driving to Mt. Gambier. I must say, the city air was quite depressing after having fresh farm air all weekend long. Gosh I can't wait to get back to Iowa! :)
Enjoy the photos of the day.
[This post is about Sunday, March 29th, 2009 - read the March 28th post before this one!]
So everyone one else was waking up at about six to go and see the cattle herded onto a truck to be sold off. Jess and Ellie tried to wake me up to see if I wanted to go, but I guess informed them that I was staying right where I was. I don't remember any of that - I was sleeping! I did wake up about five minutes after they climbed into the ute to go see the cattle. I really wasn't too keen to go and see the cattle herded onto a truck - I've seen it before and have seen other animals done the same way. It's hard coming from a farming community to not have seen something like that before you know? Sleep was of the essence anyway or I would have been one growly bear the rest of the day. Plus I was achey from horse back riding the day before and knew if I didn't get more sleep there would be a giant black bear growling around the farm and the countryside of Australia.
I ended up getting up and making beds and getting my stuff around to leave for the day. I chatted with the girls and Emil when they arrived back and while I had brekky I talked to Maren. Maren is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota and has been in South Australia for 29 years. She talked about the differences she noticed between Australia and America. Strollers are called prams here and there are a lot of other words associated with babies that differ. After the chat, I went to shower and got ready for church. We road to church in Amil's car and got to see Mt. Gambier in the daylight hours. It is a small country town with 33,000 people. It doesn't feel any bigger than Dysart really.
We went to a church that was/is located in a school. The service was held in a big gymnasium with chairs set up in rows. I could tell that many of the people in the congregation are farmers because the sermon, songs, etc. were geared towards harvest, growth, seeds, etc. It was a really good service and I enjoyed it. The only downside is that the projection screen was used a bit too much for my liking, but what can you do? After the service there was morning tea and conversations. I met many people and the food was delicious. I couldn't get over how good it was and I had to stop eating before I ate it all.
I ended up ducking out a little bit early so that I could call my mom since it was her birthday in the States. I was hoping to catch her since she had tried calling earlier and I had missed it. I was practically in tears because of it. I have a very good relationship with my mother and it gets hard when I can't talk to her for weeks at a time. I was able to get a hold of her (she was on the other line with my sister) and chatted with her for a bit. She said that the entire family was together last night and tried calling me, but since I was on the farm and had NO reception, I didn't know that they were calling. I cried a little, I haven't talked to my brother or sister since I came to Australia. Only on facebook, but that's not really talking you know? Anyway, after that I got up on all my Dysart knowledge and was back in fullswing. I chatted some more with my mom and then hopped in the car to go and order some fish and chips.
We ordered our butterfish and chips and then hopped back in the car and headed off to some quick sight seeing before coming back to get the food. We saw the Valley Lakes, Lady Nelson, and the Blue Lake in daylight. We went back and got our food and then headed to the Gardens. There I met Amil and Marty's oldest brother Philip. His wife and daughter were there as well as a couple who were expecting their first child. It was a really good lunch conversation and the butterfish was AMAZING! We got more fish and potato chips than we ordered, but hey that's okay. Marty ended up finishing what Amil couldn't eat.
Then we journeyed down to the sinkhole with the garden in it. It was quite extraordinary. I've never seen anything like it before. There were 100 ft. palm trees, giant ferns, a cave and a shit-load of kudzu just hanging down from the top of the sinkhole. There was a man-made waterfall and all kinds of flowers. It's unreal. We took our time in there and then we headed back on up to ground level. We said our goodbyes and went back to Amil and Marty's to pack-up and head to the Naracoorte Caves.
We ended up not going to the Naracoorte Caves and instead played a game of cricket. Ellie and I learned how to bat correctly and then we took our turns bowling and batting. It was a fun (and sweaty) afternoon. I think cricket was the best way to end our time on the farm. Before we left I went and saw Phoenix, Honey and the other horse (I can't remember his name for the life of me) and bid them farewell. Phoenix was being a pain and wouldn't let me touch her so Amil and I got some oats and then I fed the nameless horse, Phoenix and Honey. It was a good way to top of the weekend. After that we loaded up and hit the road for Adelaide.
On the way back I said I wanted to stop and look for the St. Hilary vineyard. I don't think the other two believed me that I had seen the sign, until Ellie yelled from the front seat - St. Hilary!!! So we stopped so I could get a picture with it. Glorious! We stopped at a truck-stop place for tea and then headed back out on the road. We scooted into Malvern at about 10:30pm. I was off to bed after bidding Jess good-bye and thanking her for driving to Mt. Gambier. I must say, the city air was quite depressing after having fresh farm air all weekend long. Gosh I can't wait to get back to Iowa! :)
Enjoy the photos of the day.
The Valley Lakes
Taking a picture with a giant fern
The garden in the sinkhole 
The view from the bottom of the sinkhole
Playing some cricket in the driveway 
This is Phoenix - isn't she beautiful?
Giving Phoenix (as well as Honey) some oats 
Me with the St. Hilary vineyard sign 
401 km left to Adelaide!
The sunset on the way home Cheers!
Great pics! I love the garden!
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