The Weekly Wrap-Up 14
Days 110 -118, 1,190 -2,065km Port Augusta to Kimba
HALF WAY ACROSS THE CONTINENT! Go team!!
Wow, Kimba. You are an amazing town. I have never felt so welcomed to a place. It seemed as though the whole town was out there wishing us well, from encouraging messages as we ambled along the highway after leaving Port Augusta to the constant stream of kids coming down to say hi to the boys after we were set up at the pony club grounds. I really can't thank you all enough for your kindness - it really means so much 💗💗
We were sent off from Port Augusta on Saturday night with fireworks - literally. There must have been some kind of festival down by the gulf, but all I can say is the boys were NOT impressed. Poor Mr Richard gave himself a nasty ropeburn, and Mickles spent a good hour making his brumby ancestors proud by snorting like some trumpeting hell-beast. Definitely ruined an otherwise perfect camp.
But we survived, and Sunday we were off to Nutbush Retreat along the A1 towards Kimba. Quite a long but pleasant day following a dirt track beside the highway in lovely sunny weather... and the next day in to Iron Knob was the same. What a great little free campsite in Iron Knob! I had already driven Brian (Brian is my van!) to Kimba, dropping off feed and water at our camps along the way, so the boys were happy to have light packs and ample tucker, even in saltbush country. Not long out of Iron Knob on Tuesday, that helpful little track gave out and we were soon smashing our way through the scrub along the side of the highway - much preferable to being taken out by a roadtrain.... which are big, if anyone is wondering.
Wednesday night we hunkered down in the mallee, psyching ourselves up.... At least I was psyching myself up. The forecast was for 55km/h winds on Thursday, and we had 30km of highway without much verge to get in to Kimba. It was a tough ol' day, that's for sure! The GGs always behave like lunatics in the wind, and the traffic on the highway goes from being irritating to downright dangerous, as neither the horses nor I can hear vehicles coming up, and the horses can get super spooked when suddenly a road train is overtaking them. But we hadn't been on the road long before a car pulled over and Anne jumped out with a thermos of tea for me and some treats for the boys. Anne has been my original Kimba champion, reaching out months ago and showing us nothing but kindness. Sipping that tea by the highway, I decided it didn't matter how wild the day was, we were gonna make it in to town and everything was going to be fine.
And it was.
A long day of scrub-bashing later, having had my hat blown off THREE TIMES, and feeling rather exfoliated from the dust being blown into our eyes, we arrived in Kimba - officially half way across the country!
Just as we walked into the club grounds, Katie, the pony club's president, was just coming out of the shed, and oh wow, what a total legend! She had stocked the fridge with food for me, including home-made soup, even leaving a little blowy heater so I could get warm in the Antarctic blast that was sweeping the whole country - such a kind soul! And the day just got better! Legend Amy had dropped off two bales of hay, and Anne popped down too with some more feed for the boys, so before long we were snuggled up and feasting to our hearts' content.
We had the whole weekend off in Kimba. Saturday was the 30th anniversary of the footy club, and the whole town was down on the grounds. I lost count of how many kids came up to say hello to the boys, feed them carrots and give them pats - they felt like quite the celebrities! Mel donated the use of her equissage (an equine massager), which Micky really enjoyed... although Richard remained unconvinced! That evening poor old Tickles came down with a bit of colic, pawing the ground and loooking very sad and sorry for himself, the poor little baby. Luckily after a few hours of walking around, he was fine again and ready to tuck into dinner - I think it was just too much hay and being kept in a small stall for most of the day. Huge thanks for all the kind offers of assistance from Kimba residents, if he had of gotten worse.
On Sunday, my amazing aunt Cindy arrived, coming all the way from Melbourne just to visit and help us out for the stretch of ground from here to Wudinna. This morning was a quick van shuttle, a bit of a photo shoot by the famous Kimba silos and the Half Way Across sign, and then back on the road with two very well rested and rather fiesty ponies!
Thankyou from the bottom of my heart, Kimba. You have been amazing, and your hospitality and generosity will stay with me forever 💛💚
And now it's off to Wudinna! We should be there on Thursday, everything going to plan 🤞🐎🐎
Riding into Iron Knob
The wheatfields near Kimba
Half way across!