27th September 2008

Another cool morning even in Goondiwindi as it was down to around 12 degrees. The best part was that the day soon became warm and reached about 29 degrees.
I started the day with a ride around the town of Goondiwindi. Quite soon, I realised that I may have missed a southern winter but it is spring here and the magpies have not missed an opportunity to swoop me.
Prue went for a walk into the Botanic Gardens which are not far from Andrew’s home. She arrived back a little later than me.
Washing was done here and it was a change not to have to put around $3.00 in the machine to get it working as happens in the caravan parks. Sheets and blankets were washed and hung out. Everything dries quickly in the breeze and warm sun here.
Later in the morning, Andrew with Prue and I did some shopping. We had a phone call from Mick, Jen and Sam Booth who had overnighted at Nindigully after we had left a message on their phone the previous day. It was arranged for them to visit us and have a BBQ at Andrew’s home. So that was all done and the shopping taken back to Andrew’s home.
Then we went with Andrew to the Airport where he refuelled his Piper Cherokee 235 aircraft. We then took off from the Airport in the plane to deliver a bag of sorghum seed to one of his clients, Warren. He had arranged with the family to meet us at the airstrip on Warren and Lynelle’s farm. They had invited us for lunch. It was nice chatting to the family. Andrew and Warren went for a fly around the farm and a little more. On their return we then boarded the aircraft to fly a bit further north.
We flew over the Moonie Oilfield, which is a little west of the village of Moonie. It is quite amazing to see the extent of it from the air. I drove past it last year when I was looking after Killawarra farm near Moonie. It has large evaporation ponds to contain the water that comes up with the oil. The oil is transported by 3 trailer road trains towards Dalby.
Soon after, we arrived overhead the Killawarra farm. I was able to recognise the farm and its landmarks. After a circuit over the farm, we landed beside the home of Andrew and Jaimie Hirst. They were the couple who were married last year in the UK and the reason I was asked to look after their farm. It was so nice to see them again and especially to see the farm looking so good. The two Andrews went for a fly around the area while Prue and I stayed and chatted to Jaimie. She had back packed through quite a lot of the areas we have travelled through.
Later, we returned to Goondiwindi. We enjoyed the flight with Andrew who is a very competent pilot. He is so good to fly with as he knows so much about the district. We think his clients appreciate his interest in their farms and his dedication to them.
Later in the early evening, Mick, Jen and Sam Booth arrived for the BBQ. It was a really lovely evening with every one chatting along with a bit of reliving of our travels to the west. It was even better as Andrew had flown with his partner, Lucy, and good friends, Wayne and Jenny, through the same areas that we had driven through.
For all of us our big trip is getting close to the end. We will all be home by the middle of the coming week.