In March it was nearly all work and no play. However we did manage one weekend off, and Mary and Steve took us for a drive around the local area. This was good as we were able to see things in the bush that we never would have found ourselves. They have lived and worked here all their life. One of the most interesting things is how they gathered and stored water for the little settlements in the early 1900s. 
We stopped to wander around old farms, seeing dams, wells, windmills, even thought this old farm bike was cute for a mailbox. We are amazed that nothing gets thrown away from these farms, even today, most farms have a dead machinery paddock. Brings back memories for Chris, and photo opportunities for me Steve also knew where to look at some old sheep dips, took awhile to move on from here as he and Chris pondered over their sheep dipping days.
Some of the sheep dips are still in reasonable condition.
Mollerin Rock was a huge catchment area for water. So much work was put into stone edges around the outskirts of the rock, so the rain water would run down into drains that led into big water tanks. These are mainly on common land so the drovers had water for their travelling stock. 
They even went to the trouble of building rock walls around the scrub areas and holes in the rock, so they didn’t lose any water and kept it as clean as possible, before draining into the tank below.
Some of the old tin covers have deteriorated over the the years, but to me this makes them more original, and interesting to climb up and look in. Can be a bit creepy looking into the depths of there now slimey contents, due to lack of use. 
Most of these big flat rock areas are quite accessible by 4 wheel drive.
So Chris just had to !! Note I got out, before he came back down !! 
And for those interested in old machinery, here is some we found laying around in the paddocks.
Another large water tank is not far out of town, at Xantippe. Locals were thrilled at the end of last Year, that Channel 7, Sunrise team came and featured Xantippe. A town starting with X, as they filmed, and featured towns of the alphabet.
Also came across these vintage bikes somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. 
We went for a drive out to Xantippie to see an old ute, lit up for Christmas. Well done to one of Chris’s work mates, who ownes the farm. 
I also have put some lights in the trees beside our van and some decorations in the van. Just love Christmas, no matter where we are. 
The old saying of it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, came to the fore, the last week before Christmas. Chris was carting out of the farm, that his boss’s daughter and husband’s family own, so he organized for me to go out to the farm and go for a ride in the header. What an experience, and I now know a bit about grain farming. A win win ! This family are just so friendly and good to us. Here are some photos of my time on the farm.
The young cattle dog was determined not to give up his seat in the tractor to me, so was eventually was escorted back to the ute, so I was able to get in and be taken out to the paddock that was being harvested. 
Uncle Robin, was the header driver and showed me all the workings, so high tec these days. 
The drivers just set all the computers in the cab, then it’s all remote control. 
Drivers can then just sit back and watch the screens. The bin chasers follow the harvesters around, and without stopping the grain is transferred to the bin, and taken back to other storage bins.
Then the truck drivers, like Chris, fill their trailers from them, and take it into the co operative, storage areas in town. 
This day was certainly one of my highlights this year.
Here is a couple of photos of the old tractors still being used.
This harvest season, has been one of the best ever, so the farmers are saying, in both price and quantity. Storage facilities are almost full to capacity.
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