While working on the fences last week we came up on some wild horses on the other side of the fence. They were some of the biggest horses I've ever seen, and I don't know what it is, but there was something very awe-inspiring about the moment. That's all I'm saying..
The big news of course was the Chillagoe Rodeo that went on last weekend. Now I knew this was going to be an event of about 2-300 people, but somehow I found myself more giddy in anticipation of 'people!' and 'civilization!' than I knew possible. It must have dawned on me that this would be one of the biggest, no scratch that, THE biggest affair I'd be attending in a long time. So I was defintely going to make the most of it.
When pulling into town, I had one of those radically new perspective that turns your world upside down. This was because for the first time in my life, I drove into a town with a population of 200 people (about half my average classroom size in Uni) and the very first thought in my head was 'oh wow, look at all the buildings and people!'. Sigh.
I got to bunk up in the house adjacent to the General Store, thanks to Vicki, the same lady that I met on the plane and who found me my current job. A bed next to an extra laptop with broadband internet.. I was in heaven. It's a blessing I was able to remove myself from the room to go to the pubs and the rodeo.
There are two pubs in Chillagoe, known commonly as 'the top pub', and 'the bottom pub'. The top pub is known to be more of a family-friently environment, heck they even have a little playscape out past the beergarden. The bottom pub is supposed be be a younger crowd, but much more roudy.. and the more the Vicki and other adultstried to warn me of it, the more appealing it became. I was on my own for friday night, so I started off with the top pub, mainly because I was looking for a feed and they were the only ones serving food. After getting my steak and salads fix for the night, I befriended four cops from Cairns who were in town to watch over the rodeo weekend. They were an interesting mob, and once we made it to the bottom pub (and quite some grog later), they did everything in their power to get the bartender to admit she liked me, but no avail.
Now I've been to quite a few rodeos before, but never one in which I was asked so much if I personally would be riding. My classic response was 'there isn't enough tequila in this town to get me to ride a bull this time, sorry mate..' There was some great riding tho, including some great bull rides and cattle drafting by some blokes I know. The real excitment was Saturday evening, when the outdoor bar (3 plastic tables) got busy and the live band showed up to play. I was in the middle of 'the bush', surrounded by a great number of aussie bushman (and 'buckle bunnies') about my age that were ready to have a great time. So I decided 'when in Rome..' and matched them step for step. All I have to say was that I've rarely had better nights than that one. By the time the night was over, most of the people there seemed bent on shouting out 'Texas!' everytime I went passed them. Besides meeting most of the guys around my ages, I made good new friends in two canadian girls that were backpacking and currently employed at the bottom pub. (Yes, one was the same bartender earlier mentioned).
Well, now back to life as normal.. to be honest when driving back to Gamboola on Sunday afternoon I kind of felt relieved, one of those 'ahh HOME...' moments. Speaking of which, I've been putting some serious thought these last few weeks on where I might want to call 'home' next, once I move back to the States. I had always kinda assumed that it would be Texas somewhere, but now I find myself thinking that I might want to try out some part of Southern California, the D.C. area, or maybe somewhere even farther north.. who knows?
The big news of course was the Chillagoe Rodeo that went on last weekend. Now I knew this was going to be an event of about 2-300 people, but somehow I found myself more giddy in anticipation of 'people!' and 'civilization!' than I knew possible. It must have dawned on me that this would be one of the biggest, no scratch that, THE biggest affair I'd be attending in a long time. So I was defintely going to make the most of it.
When pulling into town, I had one of those radically new perspective that turns your world upside down. This was because for the first time in my life, I drove into a town with a population of 200 people (about half my average classroom size in Uni) and the very first thought in my head was 'oh wow, look at all the buildings and people!'. Sigh.
I got to bunk up in the house adjacent to the General Store, thanks to Vicki, the same lady that I met on the plane and who found me my current job. A bed next to an extra laptop with broadband internet.. I was in heaven. It's a blessing I was able to remove myself from the room to go to the pubs and the rodeo.
There are two pubs in Chillagoe, known commonly as 'the top pub', and 'the bottom pub'. The top pub is known to be more of a family-friently environment, heck they even have a little playscape out past the beergarden. The bottom pub is supposed be be a younger crowd, but much more roudy.. and the more the Vicki and other adultstried to warn me of it, the more appealing it became. I was on my own for friday night, so I started off with the top pub, mainly because I was looking for a feed and they were the only ones serving food. After getting my steak and salads fix for the night, I befriended four cops from Cairns who were in town to watch over the rodeo weekend. They were an interesting mob, and once we made it to the bottom pub (and quite some grog later), they did everything in their power to get the bartender to admit she liked me, but no avail.
Now I've been to quite a few rodeos before, but never one in which I was asked so much if I personally would be riding. My classic response was 'there isn't enough tequila in this town to get me to ride a bull this time, sorry mate..' There was some great riding tho, including some great bull rides and cattle drafting by some blokes I know. The real excitment was Saturday evening, when the outdoor bar (3 plastic tables) got busy and the live band showed up to play. I was in the middle of 'the bush', surrounded by a great number of aussie bushman (and 'buckle bunnies') about my age that were ready to have a great time. So I decided 'when in Rome..' and matched them step for step. All I have to say was that I've rarely had better nights than that one. By the time the night was over, most of the people there seemed bent on shouting out 'Texas!' everytime I went passed them. Besides meeting most of the guys around my ages, I made good new friends in two canadian girls that were backpacking and currently employed at the bottom pub. (Yes, one was the same bartender earlier mentioned).
Well, now back to life as normal.. to be honest when driving back to Gamboola on Sunday afternoon I kind of felt relieved, one of those 'ahh HOME...' moments. Speaking of which, I've been putting some serious thought these last few weeks on where I might want to call 'home' next, once I move back to the States. I had always kinda assumed that it would be Texas somewhere, but now I find myself thinking that I might want to try out some part of Southern California, the D.C. area, or maybe somewhere even farther north.. who knows?
2 comments:
Funny, I'm a little jealous of you, too... But, all in good time. I'm loving here, and I'll love there. Our lives ROCK!!
The DC area - YES!!! but Texas and California are nice, too - and we always need someone to visit.
I'm jealous of BOTH of you! Yes, your live do ROCK. ;-)
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