Another day in Bourke

Another fine day in Bourke with a bit of cloud- weather forecast is 11 to 22 degrees. After breakfast we had another go at sorting out the wiring in our trailer plug. Eventually sorted it out by trial and error - but concluded that the wiring colour code used in the van does not match the standard adopted by the plug manufacturers. We tested all tail lights, side lights, indicators, brake lights and most importantly the electric brakes on the caravan - all are now working properly.

Shortly after 10:00 we drove into Bourke for newspapers, then drove to the Back of Bourke Exhibition Centre for the Outback Show. Luke Thomas put together a show that demonstrated how to handle camels, how the pacify a recently broken horse before riding it, how to assemble a team of three Clydesdales to drag a log into a nearby paddock, then how to assemble a team of eight bullocks to drag the log back again and load it onto a timber jinker. As part of the show he also used three cattle dogs to move the stock around as they responded to his calls and whistles.

Luke Thomas arrives riding a camel to start the Outback Show

Two camels

Riding the frisky horse

Preparing the Clydesdales

Clydesdales harnessed together

The lead bullock

Second lead bullock

Bullock team dragging the log into the arena

Bullock team dragging the log onto the timber jinker

Log loaded onto the timber jinker

After the show concluded we went back to town to visit the supermarket, and the bakery before returning to the camp for lunch. After lunch we drove back to town to check out the dump point, check out the weir and the first lock to be built in Australia, then we drove to the Bourke cemetery to find Fred Hollowes Grave. On the way back to camp we filled up with fuel as we will be going to Cunnamulla tomorrow and there is no fuel on the road.

The weir and the first lock to be built in Australia

Water cascading over the weir on the Darling River

Fred Hollowes gravestone at Bourke Cemetery

At 6:00 pm we headed over to the camp kitchen for the Poetry on a Plate Show, with a slow cooked dinner by a campfire with genuine Australian poetry and music. Dinner was a delicious slow cooked beef casserole, with a flavoursome vegie and lentil dish served with rice. A desert of lemon-curd tart with whipped cream followed. The show was presented by the Bard of Bourke - Andrew Hull who delivered a mixture of poems and songs about the surrounding area. The poems were delivered with guitar music.

Stoking the fire

At the fire pit

Stoking the fire with a long handle shovel

Looking up into the coolabah trees

Poetry on a plate at Kidmans Camp