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A Trip to Lawn Hill in Western Queensland

2010-10-30T20:39:00.000-07:00

Sunday, 28th March 2010
Peter, Deanne Rowland and I finally departed for LawnHill after months of preparation. We were heading for Broken Hill to visit Neno Savich on the first leg of the trip. We struck a dust storm just before Redcliffs which engulfed the car and surrounds and upon arrival there we visited 'Big Lizzie' amid grit,dust and a lot of wind. We had a stopover at Mildura for fuel and then continued northwards to arrive to a Chicken Schnitzel dinner prepared by Neno.
Monday, 29thMarch 2010
Waking up in Broken Hill and planning our day was easy so we headed off to the shops including a drovers shop that sold R M Williams gear and visited 'The Big Picture' and then up to the 'Line of Load' where we we had a coffee.The view from this hill over the surrounding area is sweeping so we were able to take some snaps of the city. We came home a little weary but excited about what was to follow.

Ride to Mt Clay with Liz, Peter, Eva and Perry

2008-10-12T16:42:00.000-07:00

I get a wave!

Bear shows the way at Right

A Fun Day!

Peter, Perry and Eva in the cart pulled by Mickey

Eva at Bridgewater Bay on Sept 24th, 2008
Perry and Liz below at Bridgewater Cafe

Wednesday 24th October 2008 at Bridgewater

Eva arranged to visit us in Portland with Perry during the 4th week of September and school holidays. They arrived by train and coach at Narrawong on Tuesday 23rd evening and were picked up by Peter in his car. We decided a good place to begin was a coffee at Bridgewater Bay. It was a beautiful day and the beach was splendid. A plan for Eva to cook a vegetarian meal that evening culminated in sampling Lentil Dahl and Bean Ratatoulle that evening which was simply delicious.

Peter was determined to take Eva on a cart ride so that evening we planned to head off from The Sawpit and on our return we would have lunch at this glorious spot. I saddled up my trusty pony, Beauty and led the way on a couple of lovely tracks radiating out from the picnic area.Laden with alcohol and no other supplies,the three set off in the cart pulled by a very honest Mickey । The reins were soon given to Perry, who, though inexperienced, managed driving the pony most of the way while the revellers became 'slightly' inebriated. On return to camp, a fire was lit and a lovely lunch was prepared amid bird whistles of the bush.It was a glorious day weatherwise and speaking for Peter and I, a fabulous day of cameraderie.

Eva had planned to return to Queensland on Saturday morning so Peter drove them back to Melbourne on Friday afternoon.

Cattle Drive from Breakaway Creek

2008-04-25T02:37:00.000-07:00

Above: Laddie ridden by Brendon Bell

Above: Leggs dairy cows heading homeward

Above: Donna

Right: Laddie trotting on

Left: Laddie preparing to trot

Right:Donna Rowland on Claude

Above: Ella and Karen Mizzi with cattle ahead

Liz on Laddie with Karen on Reno

Sunday, 20th April 2008

We picked up my horse, Laddie, from Brendon Bell's, on Saturday, after four weeks away at Frank's place. Brendon tacked up, mounted and showed us how he was going. He cantered and halted him a few times and said he was always going to be a little arrogant and going to have a mind of his own. I planned to ride him the next day on a long ride to see how we would get on.

Karen Mizzi let us know about a cattle drive of about one hundred dairy cows from Breakaway Creek to Haines Lane at Heywood, a distance of some twenty three kilometres for a dairy farmer called Andrew Legg. Our day began early when Donna and I met everyone who participated at the Shell service station at Heywood at 7.30 am. We arrived at a property bordered on one side by a a creek with running water. Karen and Ella Mizzi, Donna Rowland and I rounded up the cows while the other riders and two carts waited for us. With the cows on the move and through the gate we set off on the long journey back to Heywood.

What a beautiful day with no wind and not a cloud in the sky!

As midday approached the weather grew warmer and Donna, Chris and I had our lunch on the side of the road. We remounted and caught up to the mob, settling in for the second half of the journey taking in the lovely scenery. It was uneventful and the cows made good time and Laddie, though green, went very well. Though a quiet horse, he has a real personality and needs a little patience.

We arrived back at the the Legg's farm at around 2.30 pm. I pulled up remarkably fit but Donna had a few aches and a shocking headache because of her neck which otherwise spoilt a perfect day.

An Afternoon Ride at Mt Clay

2008-03-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

Beauty

Donna on Claude

Claude

Liz and Beauty

Saturday, 29th march 2008
Donna Rowland and I floated her stockhorse Claude and my pony Beauty to the Golfcourse at Heywood and set off for what turned out to be a fabulous ride heading south. The tracks were great and mostly sandy and we happened upon one which was freshly graded sand. With hardly any wind and no rain we rode through one section of the bush which was really quite dark where the canopy was quite dense.
News of Laddie at Frank Bell's is that he gave Brendon a few bucks which nearly unseated him down the driveway during his first week. Brendon says he has a fair bit of spirit.

Riding at one of our favourite beaches,Narrawong Victoria

2008-03-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday 22, March 2008

Bridget and I went riding on Dom and Prince at Narrawong Beach. We had difficulty at first to get along the sand as the horses prefered to stay well up on the beach. After a while we were able to ask for a trot and canter and the two obliged. They were not going down near the water under any circumstances this time unless we dismounted. Next time will be better.

Bridget is pictured on Dom

Grape Picking at Doeven's Vineyard, Drumborg

2008-03-26T20:17:00.000-07:00

Left:Elizabeth Novotny

Right: Clyde Aley

Above: Karen Mizzi

Left:Graeme Burch

Right: Jack Doeven

Right: Lois Doeven

Above: David Walter and Elizabeth Novotny

Above:Rosemary Anderson

25th March 2008

After picking grapes at Doeven's, we all enjoyed a delightful luncheon to wind up the harvest. Beer and Pinot Gris Wine was served with nibbles and a lovely barb-e-cue and salad lunch.
One of the pickers,Karen Mizzi was celebrating her birthday, so we sang Happy Birthday to her with the grapevines providing a backdrop to a great time among friends.
I travelled to Drumborg on the days we picked with Graeme Burch, David Walter and Clyde Aley.The grape bunches were first class with very little bird, water,sun mould or wind damage so the job was very pleasureable and rewarding

Ride at Narrawong Beach, Victoria

2008-03-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

Kelly on Luna leading Beauty

Today was unseasonly hot for March so Kelly Edwards and I headed down to Narrawong to ride along the beach through the shallows. It was a glorious morning and we had the beach to ourselves apart from Danny Ross from Heywood who was surf fishing. We trotted and cantered through the water for five or six kilometres

27thFebruary 2008 Bridget's Birthday at the Swiss Club in Melbourne

2008-03-09T01:41:00.000-08:00

Bridget, Tim Suhr, Peter and Liz respectively

Our very small family celebrated Bridget's birthday at the Swiss Club. We headed off from Allestree at 5 AM and drove down to Melbourne and arrived in time for breakfast. Peter had booked the Swiss Club Restaurant for a special evening as a surprise but we were soon sprung when we headed down Russell St., We invited Tim, who shares the flat with Bridget and soon pulled into the Grand Hyatt car park. She guessed where we were going almost immediately.

We arrived at this very quiet exclusive little eating place and perused the menu.
I was going to order one dozen snails for entree and venison for main and sat back to listen to the others discussing their options.

Bridget and Peter decided on the Cheese Fondue for main and Tim ordered the Pork Schnitzel
and what a delightful meal it was with Swiss Club members playing cards on some of the other tables.