Week 4 21 - 27 April

Sunday 21

Today we went to church with Ben and Nay at the second Ipswich church that meets at the Goodna State School hall. Josh Mansfield attends here so we had a chance to catch up with him. Jason Buddem attend there too but I did not get a chance for more than a hello. After church we when back to Ben and Nays for lunch and then we headed home. It rained most of the way to Toowoomba. There was some water across the road between the Bun and Bell. There has been 3 inches at the farm. Zac and Lou and Cole and Robert came up to visit Dad while we were away. WSBK to watch. Remi Gardener scored his first podium in WSBK. We finish the day with the last episode of Murder in Provence. 

Monday 22

Bit of a slow day today. We did the washing now it has stopped raining. Rang the tank repair man again. Really hope he can come this week. Dad and I took a drive around the farm. He needs me to go with him cause the gates are not all open. To spite the rain the spring is not running. Need to take a walk up it some time. Robyn made parcels for lunch and we had an afternoon nap. Robyn when to Bible Study. And that was about it. I did a plan for my Ironbutt to Darwin SS3000K in 48hrs. Plan is to start in Miles. 

Tuesday 23

Town day today. I met with Andrew Clausen the Pressy minister in Kingaroy and interim moderator for Bell for lunch. It was refreshing to hear his desire to keep small churches open and how he sees the challenges receivership is to this. He seems a good fit for Kingaroy.

Dad went to the physio and got a CPAP machine now the challenge is getting him to using it. His sleep study showed 77 time he stop breathing in a night and oxygen levels getting down to 58%. Catchup with Neville Aspey for lunch and bumped into Bill and Rosemary Moss who Dad has not seen for ages. When we got home from town there were cattle on cultivation at the other place so Robyn took the quads for a ride and shut them down there. See how many we got tomorrow.

Wednesday 24

Today was a farm day. We spent the first part of the morning on the quads trying to convince cattle to go places they dud not want to go. We saw 3 young bulls under a tree near the gate between top spring paddock and the spring end of the hill paddock behind house. Then there where about 20 head behind the other place mill. We convinced only 3 calves to go where we wanted because they became separated from the mums yesterday. 

We then went and repaired the fence near the gravel pit and one near the mill at the other place and then we did a bit of work on the house yard fence near the top house. We had lunch and an afternoon nap. I washed the bike and packed fir a ride tomorrow. Reprogrammed the spot and will give it a whirl tomorrow. 

Thursday 25

Up early had tea and toast and left at 5.30 for the dawn service in Bell. Used my heated gloves for the first time. You look like a Stormtrooper with the lights on the gloves but they are great when it is cold. There was about 100 to 200 people. To guy who ran it muddled a bit but it was good. We spoke to the teacher who organised the school kids to encouraged her. She did a great job with nervous and shy kids. From there I rode to Killarney only stopping for fuel in Warwick. There I meet Zac, Josh Smith, Stu Hoadley and Troy Law. Over and coffee and a pie it became clear there was no ride plan other than Troy and Stu wanted to visit the convict tunnel on the old Glen Innis Road. I suggested we visit the do a tour of the old Challenge Camp sites and I put together a Google Plan of the plan.  Paddy's Flat lunch in Tabulam - Josh and Zac left us here and headed home. We rode on past Pagan's Flat down the Clarence way to Grafton and then out to the third site at Buccarumbi then up the old Glen Innis road to a quick stop at the convict tunnel.  The road was a lot longer than I remember compounded by the sunsetting. By the time we got to the now sealed range part it was proper dark. Thankful for the good lights on my bike. We arrived in Glen Innes about 6.15pm. Booking in got changed and walk down to the RSL for dinner. We have been on the bikes for about 8hrs through twistys and gravel. We were feeling in a little.  Great day of riding and fellowship. Felt a bit special about riding with Josh too.  He is the nephew of my 1980s riding buddy Cam Smith. 

Friday 26

Got up to breakfast in the pub lounge and a chat. I was loaded and on the road about 7.45am. I rode to Warwick about half way for a short break and then home by about 1pm.  The old apple tree (that is what we called it never grew apples) had fallen across the road. It was struck by lighting some time ago and half in fell down then and now the other half tipped out of the ground. Dave was here picking up his bull calves when I got home. He brought up my bike oil too. We had lunch together before he went home. Robyn had a successful time with the cattle while I was away the last of the cattle over at the other place came down and she was able to lock them out of the hill. She also saw 5 head up the back as well as the 3 bulls we had seen the day before. We went for a ride but we to see what we could see. Spotted the bulls but nothing else. We left the cattle down the front at the other place. Robyn is still working on cleaning the garden shed next to the laundry. Finding treasures and throwing out rubbish. 

Saturday 27

Main goal today was to prepare message for church tomorrow fortunately this is adapting one I have done. Next is to wash and third is to move the tree off the drive way. Got the talk sorted and then I when for a drive around the farm with Dad. We did not see any of the cattle that remain up the back. The Cattle we have been get down to the cultivation over the last couple of week have found there way up the lane to the neighbour boundary. I have some anxiety about the fences in this area but Dad assured me they are good. We left the gates open to the mill so they can water there while we are away.  We have set the gates so they can come to the mill for water while we are away. After lunch we took the tractor and the chainsaw and moved the tree. It was a pretty big job in the end and my tractor skills got practiced and improved a little. In the morning Robyn sorted the shed and while we were doing the tree Robyn made use of the in between time to pick up all the bit in the grass on the front gate side of the diary. After the tree we sorted the bottles we are taking up to Anna and put the quads away. I let the cattle we have already processed into the hill paddock before shedding the quad.  We took the clothes off the line and packed for Mackay tomorrow. Have mixed emotions about this trip. Not sure what we will find when we get there and whether we want too deal with it. We are looking forward to seeing Anna.