We managed to find Bill in Surat. We arrived just in time to get an invite to the pub for dinner. At 5.30 the next morning, Cooper, one of Bill's drovers, staggered back into camp, saddled the horses and Maddie and Sally started the first day of droving. It was an 'easy' day finishing at 5.30 in the afternoon.
To put the drove into context. Sally and Maddie were helping to push 2500 cattle. Bill had 18,000 cattle to deliver to Hay in NSW. The mob were split into 6 herds. It is the largest drove in Australia's history.
Ten hours in the saddle. Both were a tad tired at the end of the day and fell into bed after dinner. The sunset that evening was just amazing.
There were no showers so a wash was had at the cattle trough after they had had their drink.
The next two days followed a similar format. Up at 5.30am, breakfast, onto the horse and then 10 hours chasing up the cattle before corralling them in the evening, dinner and bed.
Max and I halped with the pack down and saw them off before cranking up the campfire and cooking ourselves some eggs and bacon for breakfast.
After three days, both Maddie and Sally were sad to say goodbye and head further south. We arrived at Lightning Ridge this afternoon and headed straight to the artesian hot bath for a long soak. Tomorrow we will explore the opal diggings and all the other sights at Lightning Ridge. This avo its time to relax.
Bill Little doing a media interview.
Max and I having breakfast after the herd had left.
A wash in the cattle trough.
Maddie driving the herd
Max on horse back
Sally pushing them up from the back.
Another amazing sunset
Watering the cattle
Bill Little doing a media interview.
Maddie driving the herd
Max on horse back
Sally pushing them up from the back.
Watering the cattle
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