TOUR 6 - LAKE EYRE ENCOUNTERTuesday 5 June 2007 Today we waved off the 68 guests who participated in Tour 6 of The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive. There were hugs, laughter, new friendships formed, and even some tears as the guest buses and cars pulled away from the Curdimurka campsite. On her way to the bus, Jill from the UK told us she had a "marvellous time", and thanked all the event personnel for all their hard work. Speaking of hard work, today was a big day for the event team, as moved to our new home: the picturesque Finniss Springs campsite. The new arrivals will set foot on Finniss Springs tomorrow morning, so we spent this afternoon in preparation for the final group of guests for The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive 2007.
Monday 4 June 2007 Clients enjoyed their last day of droving today, with many expressing sadness that their Outback adventure was nearing its close. Adelaide's Chris Collins hung up her hot pink cowboy hat at the end of the day's droving and said: "It's a bit of a shame really, to go home and back to normality." Fellow South Australian Heather Caddick, who was a part of the 2005 event, and holds the claim to being the first person to book for The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive 2007, enjoyed her stay, and says the event is fantastic, particularly for showcasing the South Australian Outback. Tonight's meal had a distinct Indian flair, as the catering crew dished up delicious curries to delighted guests and personnel. John Reed from BHP Billiton gave an interesting talk at dinner about ecology in the Lake Eyre region. Among other things, John told the group that in the warmer months, the area is home to three of the most venomous snakes in Australia… yikes! As Gideon and Matt crooned by the roaring campfire for the last time on this tour, guests reflected on their experiences. We bid farewell to the historical Curdimurka campsite, and another tour, as this brilliant event nears its finale.
Sunday 3 June 2007 We emerged from our tents at sunrise and were greeted by a crisp Outback morning. As well as their second day of droving, guests were able to experience optional tours today, with scenic flights over glittering Lake Eyre very popular this morning, and camel adventures, and cultural tours with Reg Dodd a hit in the afternoon. After a morning of droving, guests were served their lunch in a pretty setting this afternoon, near a picturesque creek and gully. Margaret from Canberra has been eagerly anticipating her cattle drive adventure, and has been a keen reader of our daily diary, to gain insight in to what her experience would bring. Margaret says she was pleasantly surprised by our luxurious hot showers - although in a tired haze from a day's droving she did mistakenly find herself in the men's block! Tonight we enjoyed a hearty dinner of beef and mushroom stew, chicken supreme, and tuna mornay, courtesy of Steve Marcus and the talented catering crew. Whilst we enjoyed the delicious dessert of chocolate pudding, we listened to Bobby Hunter, the Manager of Stuart Creek Station: the land that currently houses our Outback village, talk about the history of the region. Bobby has lived in the area for most of his life, and spoke animatedly about how the station came to be what it is today. Chatter around the campsite is filled with tales about today's droving activities, and anticipation about the stories and adventures that the remainder of this tour will bring. Saturday 2 June 2007 This morning, as the sun began to rise over the historical Curdimurka campsite, guests and event personnel were awoken by the sounds of caterer Steve Marcus' bugle: the signal for them to prepare for the first full day of their Outback adventure Guests from USA, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia, enjoyed their first full day on horseback today, as they continued to acquaint themselves with their horses and droving technique. This tour, the event staff are supported by six students and teacher from Leigh Creek Area School. This enthusiastic group of high school students are learning more about the event from all perspectives. The star of the show today was Leigh Creek student Ryan, who helped out the catering crew. This hard-working youngster rose at 5:30am to prepare breakfast for the hungry crowd, his hard work appreciated by all. Ryan received a big cheer from guests and event personnel at tonight's dinner for his efforts. Tonight we were entertained by the acoustic sounds of Matt and Gideon, who played by the campfire. Gideon is enjoying his first visit to Australia, and his daughter back in the USA is keen for him to bring her back a kangaroo - she may have to make do with a toy one though! We bid our magical South Australian Outback home goodnight, as preparation begin for another busy day ahead as we continue this unique experiece: droving cattle on horseback recreating the droving days of old. Friday 1 June 2007 Again, they arrived. Tour six of The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive began today. 68 eager 'new' drovers descended on the Curdimurka camp site (admiring all of the railway relics) surrounding the area wondering what this adventure really had in store. Leslie, Robyn and Steve (from tour five) saddled up, eager and ready to put their new skills to the test. This tour has seen some old friends from the 2005 event return and many new faces. Daryl Bell and his droving team (like they have on all tours) began the day with a session on droving etiquette and safety prior to matching horse and rider. It is critical that all involved understand what droving really is and why it is a walk and not a gallop. Tonight the Network Ten news screened a story on The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive on its nightly news bulletin - showcasing South Australia as the gateway to the Outback. Thursday 31 May 2007 Since The Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive began (just 12 days ago) there have been no breaks in the program with either guests arriving or departing. Today was a day to put all of the finishing touches on the new campsite at Curdimurka in readiness for the new group of guests tomorrow. |
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