MUD MAPS

Fitting in well......

2010-04-06T12:15:00.002+08:00

Just wanted to update my bloggie friends that Charlie Critter is fitting in very well.

In fact that little Cat is such a delight, everyone loves him and he love, loves Bella to bits.

Wanted!!

2010-03-21T12:54:00.002+08:00

Remember in a post ages ago i said I found a push bike? Well my latest thing is taking the dogs for a walk and I ride my pushie....it seems to be the only way i can keep up with them.

For a treat i thought we might go somewhere new and find us some new tracks.

Now that is good in theory but when you have two bogan dogs like mine not such a good idea.....and here is why.......

It started off nicely, found a cool track, I'm happily peddling away until i see something to take a photo of, so i stop get out the camera and before you know it....gone.

They spotted a rabbit and off they went.

I think no prob....I'll catch up on the bike, find them, give them a smack and head home.....oh if only it was that simple.

Two hours later i still hadn't found them and I was starting to worry.

I rang the shire and asked could I drive into the tracks....you see they are locked but i could see a place I could squeeze my car in. I figured i can cover more ground in the car than on foot or bike.

As I was speaking to them a resident drove up and said there was a big dog wandering around the bottom of the street....ahhh, Bonnie. Phew...i had found one.....now to find Bella.

Bonnie was exhausted and there was no way she was going to help me look for Bella.

So I decided to drive into the bush. To do this I had to go out onto a road then sneak off into the bush. As I was driving along the road....who do i see sitting in the passenger seat of a car going in the opposite direction........yep you got it....Bella.

I swear she saw me as well because she jumped into the drivers lap and nearly jumped out the window.
I pointed at the lady and she stopped. She had found Bella in another street that led to the bush and was on her way to the pound.

I was so happy to have them both with me again...I was mad but i thought we'ld talk about it later.

We get home all seems to be well. Mmmm seems to be well!!!
Bonnie isn't moving or eating which is strange because usually after a big run they whoof down their tucker.

Anyway, Bonnie is laying out the back and I go sit with her and she is freezing cold, I check her gums...blue and she is starting to convulse......holy crap!!!!

I quickly googled up what blue gums means.......once i read that i rang the vet and said I'm on my way up.

You try getting a 40 kilo rotti in the car on your own. We managed and got to the vet.

The Vet seems to think she was either stung by a bee or she was in shock through pure exhaustion. I would put my money on the pure exhaustion.

All worked out well....Bonnie came good and is now after 2 weeks back to her normal self.

Visual Distraction.......

2010-02-21T10:48:00.003+08:00

I think my blogging attention has shifted for a few reasons one being, I am alot busier at the moment but mainly because since I started my new job visiting old people and having copious amounts of tea, coffee and slice i am mentally worn out and the last thing I feel like doing is thinking.

I have started up a flickr account where I post photo's and my attention goes to there as it is a non thinking visual thing where I can escape everything.

The whole idea of looking and offering a few words appeals to me at the moment.

It's interesting how at one stage I needed to write to feel relaxed where now my down time is through photography and messing round with photo's .

I must say I have many stories to tell about my clients.....humans are funny creatures.

Charlie Critter

2010-02-20T06:44:00.003+08:00

I didn't realise how much time my animals take out of my day.

It is so hard to show the same amount of affection to each and everyone....how do people with kids do it.....argh!!!! Critter has settled very well into the family and is becoming stronger and bigger everyday.

He loves, loves Bonnie and Bonnie loves, loves him :-)

Between dogs, horses, cats and blogging.......I have let my affection for blogging slide...for now.

Meet Critter

2010-02-10T06:46:00.004+08:00

He isn't officially ours yet because he hasn't even meet Es but this is the cutest darn kitten I have ever seen.

When I was visiting one of my clients this little guy was at there front door......me thinks, "they got a new cat"....wrong!!! Critter here lobbed on their doorstep hoping for some food.

A stray that they didn't want to feed.The rest of the litter didn't survive as they were killed my neighbourhood dogs.

I needed to get this little bloke out of there so I brought him home with every intention of taking him to the pound. Yeah right!!!

He is adorable. These pics are 15 mins after meeting my dogs, not a hiss, no hair standing on end.....nothing.

Bonnie is completely taken by Critter and wants to mother him. Picture a 45 kilo rottweiler trying to pick up a little kitten by the scruff of the neck....hehehe

Hopefully we will keep him but if not he has been given a good start. He is much stronger now, has more energy and is putting on weight.

Where does the time go?

2010-02-08T18:21:00.003+08:00

I have no excuse....I am slack, not proud of it but this is what I am.

Maybe you can forgive me knowing I've been doing this :-)Maybe????

Promise to catch up soon :-)

el' donko'

2010-01-12T18:51:00.004+08:00

Nicknames.....

Cisco's latest is el..donko'...which I think suits him fine.

One of the guys I used to work with at the sale yards called him this and I just laughed.

Other nicknames.
Old boy
Old Man
Mr Moo
Moo ....what I call him all the time.
Mule
Donkey
Tiger
Aw Cisco.... in a spanish accent...hehehehe (Remember the tv series the Cisco kid)
And the latest 'el donko'...

Back in the saddle ......2010

2010-01-12T07:50:00.002+08:00

Cisco and I went for our first ride in 2010.

I was getting to the point that all I needed was to jump on my pony and go but with the weather being hot, hot, hot and me being busy and a tad lazy I hadn't been for a ride in over a month.

Since we moved the boys as well I wasn't too sure how Riley would go me taking Cisco away from him but I left him hay and some pellets and he didn't even know we were gone.We didn't go for long....long enough to sctach my itch :-)

I wanted to suss out a new track. I walked Cisco along the road first then walked up a narrow track which takes me out to the hills.

Will go for longer next time.

I didn't take the dogs along, as sometimes they are far too manic to handle and for my first trip out on a new track I thought best to leave them at home.

Notice in every shot the old boy is eating hehehehe

Will catch up on every one's posts, sorry I've been slack.....

'tis the season'

Best of Friends ............

2009-12-24T07:23:00.002+08:00

New Home .....

2009-12-21T06:35:00.002+08:00

We moved the boys yesterday into there new home and they LOVE it!!

I wanted them to be out in a paddock and be like real horses, I felt they were becoming institutionalised being kept in such a strict stable environment.

I went on the search for, shelter, trees and room to roam and I found it, 5 doors down from where they were.

I did a door knock on the same road they were on...the location is great, access to riding trails and 3 mins from home.

The people we are now agisting off are more than happy to have the boys there.

We were able to walk them both to their new home and as soon as we put them in the paddock it was like they were home.......

With the good, come the bad ........

2009-12-16T05:38:00.003+08:00

It had to happen.

I stumbled across my first pain in the ass client.

I had a vibe about this guy on the phone and knew he was going to be trouble. You know when you speak to someone and they just rub you the wrong way or you don't get their humour or you just feel they are going to be more trouble than what you care to deal with???

Well this is my story.........

When I got to the job, the house and garden were pretty run down. I could obviously see this person wasn't house proud.

There were 2 old car bodies in the driveway and grass all through what appeared to be a garden.
I figured I had my work cut out for me but I can handle it.

The guy directed me to where he wanted me to weed. A row of roses about 10, they were lined up against a 8 high brick wall and the lawn went to the wall and grass was growing around the roses.

He wanted me to remove the lawn to a mark he had spray painted ( I know...freak) without tools. No shovel, no fork, no nothing. OH....I was allowed to use the hose to moisten the area first.......by this stage my eyebrows were raised and I'm thinking, this guy is a whack job.
So I had to use my hands and he also asked that I not wear gloves....'because I won't be able to feel the roots' I politely said no, I will be wearing gloves.

I should of said no there and then and not take on the job.

Then other rules came out like.... under no circumstances touch the brick wall or come onto the front yard. Do not put any sand on the yard when you pull the weeds out....pretty impossible task.
He estimated it would take me 2 hours.....I estimated it would take me 4-5.
I also had to be very careful of the roses roots and was not allowed to expose any of them. These weren't prize roses, truth is, they were nearly dead and should of been dug out but he thought they were the best roses in the street....(whack job)

Anyway, I started, thought to myself, this has got knobs on it, walked up the stairs and said...' can't do it'..... got in my car and left.

So the moral and the lesson I learnt was....
Listen to my gut.

Garden Girl.......Part 2

2009-12-08T05:23:00.003+08:00

Before I got the brain-wave of starting my own little garden business, I had applied for a job with our local shire (government) as a Support Worker.

Now I have no experience in this area but why let that stop me from applying.

So I rang the lady and asked about the job and whether or not they would consider someone with no experience but a can do attitude?

I found out what a support worker does and decided then and there this was the path I wanted to take. They were willing to train me....so I sent my resume and applied for the job.

A support worker goes into people's homes, mainly the elderly who need a hand cleaning their house. Most want to stay in their own homes but need a little assistance with things like vacuuming and mopping floors. Truth is, I think they love the company as well.

In the meantime I started Garden Girl and was happily weeding gardens.

Little time passes and guess who is now a support worker?

I asked to only work 3 days because in the world according to Amanda....'one shall not work more days than they rest'...hehehehe

So I get my roster and clients....my own clients.

I go see about 3 people a day, clean their house, have a coffee, tea, a chat and then my work is done...I really love it.

Alot of these older people want their gardens weeded and in the conversations they often ask what I do in my spare time. I tell them about Cisco, the dogs and that I do little gardening on the side.

Now this is where I said last post....I started a job and then all of a sudden I got more jobs.....

My clients whom I clean house for want me to go and do their gardens as well.

I will probably get in trouble for this from the Shire because their is a strict policy about giving out our phone number and becoming too personal with our clients but another world according to Amanda is.....'what they don't know, won't hurt them.'

So I have my 3 days working for the shire which is great and now my days off and weekend I'm busy doing my little garden girl run.

I have picked up other garden clients through my flyer's and also by going into businesses that have an over-grown garden and asking to tidy it up and once finished there they then want me to weed their house garden.

As much as I am busy it really doesn't feel as if I am working because I am loving both jobs and getting so much enjoyment out of them.

Garden Girl .....

2009-12-01T16:58:00.003+08:00

Last time I told you guys about my work I was working at the Equestrian Centre, cleaning stables etc.....well it didn't work out. I didn't get on very well with my supervisor. He yelled alot and I just didn't think it was worth it.

So I was unemployed and trying to work out what I wanted to do.

I thought I wanted to work with horses, so I got a job at the racetrack, early mornings, tacking up, cleaning stables...I lasted a week, my heart wasn't in it. Truth is...I love Cisco but horses in general can be obnoxious.

So I then thought I would try...a plant nursery. I had worked in one for nine years but nah...wasn't my gig.

At this stage you could say I was being fussy or maybe lazy but no neither...I just couldn't figure what I wanted to do.

So like any normal person I took some time off to figure it out.

Then it dawned on me....why not start your own business doing people's gardens!!!
I can pick my own hours, can take the dogs and still pop in and see Cisco during the day :-)

Not mowing lawns but doing the stuff people didn't want to do, like pull out weeds.
To the computer I went, whipped up a few flyers and Bob's your Uncle...I am now working!!!

Now these pictures are from my garden, the clients I get do not have flowers but weeds they need, pulled, plucked and preened and I am the girl to do it.

Then a funny little thing happened....I got a job, well another job.......

and that led to more garden jobs

but that is for another post........

Road Trip .........

2009-11-23T18:18:00.006+08:00

Woohoo!!!

How happy does Cisco look??

With the float completed and the weather 30+ what better place to take the maiden voyage in the muletrain (float) then to the beach.

Cisco had a ball and loved the wind in his mane.

Once at the beach the old boy just wanted to lay done.

I was a little surprised he didn't go out deeper than what he did. He was happy to splash around in the water but wasn't keen on going out too far.

I think he is a bush horse at heart but he sure does look handsome at the beach......hehehehe

He was completely exhausted after his little day trip, he could hardly keep his eyes open and kept on coming in for a smooch.
Cisco only smooch's when he is tired or sick.

The highlight was seeing how happy he was in his float.

A carrot a day ...............

2009-11-17T07:52:00.005+08:00

..........keeps the vet away.

Guess whose feeling better ?

Does Size Matter.........???

2009-11-15T15:31:00.004+08:00

Apparently not!!!

Now Cisco comes in at 15'3 and I always thought he was a big horse, well that was until Riley.

Riley comes in at 16'2....and let me tell you that 1hand difference is massive when you get on his back.

When I look at the both of them together I always for some reason see Cisco as bigger.

Maybe it's the attitude, I don't know.

Riley comes across as a little pony actually no....a puppy dog...that is his persona...where as Cisco comes across...yep here I am, I know what to do, I don't need anyone else...I'm the man...hehehehe...well maybe not so arrogant but he comes across secure and confident.

Riley's size is daunting....he is a really big horse and Cisco looks like such a pony beside him.

Riley overshadows me when when I walk him around, whereas Cisco seems manageable.

Seriously....no I don't think size matters. Sometimes the biggest and scariest are just like teddy bears and the little ones like Shetland ponies seem to portray 'small man syndrome'.

I am happy with my two even though Cisco does look like a bit of a junior burger beside Riley :-)

More beach shots ... ....

2009-11-11T07:44:00.003+08:00

Horse Beach without a horse ...... ...

2009-11-11T06:14:00.003+08:00

Now that the horse float is finished and ready to go, we decided to check out the horse beach.

Neither of us had been there before and wasn't quite sure where it was or what it was like and didn't want to rock up with Cisco in the float and be surprised or get lost, so we loaded the dogs on the ute and did a practice run.

It was beautiful.....the water was so clear and there were no waves.......a perfect horse beach.

The dogs had a great time.

And so did I.

The beach is in an industrial area.

We had the place to ourselves.

I can't wait to bring Cisco here...he is going to love it.

Saturday Saleyards .......

2009-11-10T06:34:00.003+08:00

Saturday mornings at 6.30 I head to the Saleyards, where I used to work to catch up with an old work mate, have a coffee and get some hay.

I really do miss working at the yards, there is something about the smell of cow poo that I love.

The whole atmosphere of the place.

The trucks.

The cattle

Sunny Days .....

2009-11-10T06:09:00.002+08:00

How much do you love sunny days??

Summer is less than a month away but the Spring weather has promised a very hot summer to come.

Making the most of the perfect days.

The cat came out for a sunbake as well.
And the dogs have found a new summer treat,
Watermelon

November Ride .....

2009-11-03T16:44:00.005+08:00

Once I woke Cisco up from his siesta, I saddled him up and took him for a ride.

The day was too good to waste, the sun was shining, there was a slight breeze and I was itching to get out and about.
We did our usual track finishing off for a swim in the dam on the way home.

The picture does this hill no justice, it is really steep.

Cisco is fine going up hills but coming down is another thing. I usually get off him and walk him down.

And this time of year there are heaps of wildflowers out.

Our track home.

Sunbaking ..... ....

2009-11-03T16:20:00.003+08:00

I turned up at the stables to go for a ride and this is what I found.

The old man putting out Zzz's.
He seriously was out of it.
Riley was also having a sunbake but when I went to sneak up on them Riley woke up.

If only they could talk.......

2009-10-29T07:06:00.004+08:00

....and tell us where it hurts!!!!

What a weekend we had.

Friday morning at 7am we get a call from the where we have the boys agisted. Riley is down (again) and not looking to well. We jump in the car and get down there as quickly as we can.

He is standing when we get there but he looks miserable....something isn't right. We assume he has colic ...he had no gut sounds but he did do a poo...which is a really good thing.

He also was twitching, like he was cold but he wasn't, it was like he was having muscle spasms.

We call a vet and keep walking him around so he doesn't lay down again.

The vet doesn't think it is colic but thinks he may of been stung by something and had gone into anaphylaxis shock and maybe it has brought on a form of stress colic.

He drenched him, gave him an antihistamine type drug and a pain killer, told us to keep an eye on him and if he isn't better by the afternoon he needs to go to the horse hospital.

So I sit with him drugged up to his eyeballs till lunch time, he started to look for food so I gave him some hay then put him out the back with Cisco.

I get back at 3pm....he isn't any better. I would say worse. He is breathing really heavy and his heart rate is through the roof.

I wait till 4pm because Es was on her way down as she had a meeting in the city and was only just back. We call the vet and he tells us get him to Murdoch ASAP.

Murdoch is the 24 hour emergency clinic and the Uni where all the vet students study.

So we hook up the float and load him on.

Can you believe other than an elevated temp and heart rate, he is perfectly OK.

They are baffled and can't explain why he looks and by all rights is very sick but they can not find a cause.

They ran so many tests but each one came back.....100%.

They kept him overnight to monitor him.

Saturday afternoon we were told we could go get him.

They believe he has a viral infection and in a few days it will simply go away.

He is back home, not completely well but getting better.

He is a mystery that horse. To me he seems to be really emotional and I wonder if at times he makes himself sick.

Maybe it is for attention....as he always seems to be sick when Es gets home.

Country and Western ..... ....

2009-10-21T16:57:00.003+08:00

The last couple of days I have been riding Riley, yesterday I used my stock saddle and today I thought I would go western.

Seriously, how much does that suit him? He so doesn't look like a dressage horse anymore.

Es has ridden him and now so have I.

The girl that gave him to us was really scared of him and used to put potassium bromide in his feed a couple of days before she wanted to ride.

Now potassium bromide, apparently calms nervous horses but in my humble opinion I don't agree with using it. I believe if you are so scared of your horse and you need to drug it, it's the wrong horse for you. That is just my opinion.

She was a good rider but not confident on Riley.

The first time Es jumped on him he as waiting for her to give him instructions of what to do next. He arched his head and was ready to work. After a few laps of the round-yard he worked out we really didn't want him to work but to relax.....and he loved it.

He dropped his head and let Es do whatever she wanted.

You have to remember Es isn't a horse person or hasn't ridden a horse in over 15 years, so well done to her and well done to Riley for knowing that.

He was really good for me as well. I'm kinda the crash test dummy. I jump on him and do the basic's and most important I wanted to know if he understood the word....stop! And he does but he seems to think 'good boy' means go faster hehehehe.....we'll have to work on that one.

He is completely different to ride to Cisco. Cisco is very laid back, he neck reins which I love whereas Riley has been educated in the proper way, Cisco the busy way :-)

I thought the shot lended itself to a sepia look....what do you think?

Roadside Junk ...

2009-10-19T16:33:00.005+08:00

I was good,

I didn't throw them into the back of the ute but what I did do was drive all the way home to get my camera so I could get this shot.

How classic are these bikes?

Three of them have sissy bars, now that is old school.

If only they could talk, can you imagine the many childhood stories they could tell?

Yes, I am tempted to go back and salvage maybe one, two ok three....

Mmmm....will I or won't I??

Creatures of habit......

2009-10-16T06:38:00.003+08:00

Every afternoon I head down to the stables anywhere between 1 and 3pm, clean their stables and bring them in. The boys have gotten so used to this routine that they actually get a bit restless if I am late and Riley usually comes off second best, except for yesterday.

What is funny they hear my car coming along the road and before I even turn into the driveway Cisco is watching me and ready at the gate.

Sometimes I will get Cisco out first and ride him but usually get them both together. When I do get Cisco first, Riley chucks a wobbly. First he tries to walk out the gate so close to Cisco that I won't notice he's following, then he paces up and down, bucks, pig roots and has a tantrum because he was left behind.

What is even funnier is when Es is home, we get them together and Riley knows that his human comes to get him. The first day after she leaves again Riley runs to the gate but when he realises it is just me (Cisco's human) he drops his head and moves back. He is soooo disappointed.

From about 2pm on the boys are naughty and want to come in for a pamper and the old herd hierarchy comes into play.

Cisco being older and wiser keeps Riley away from the gate with little nips, showing Riley he's boss and deserves respect.

Most afternoon's Riley will come in mssing some hair and skin where Cisco has exerted his authority. Riley dishes out his fair share as well and yesterday was a prime example of that.

I think he managed a good boot into Cisco's leg. I first thought it may of been
caused by something else but Riley had a few nicks off his belly, so I say fairs fair in the herd.

Riley 1

Cisco 0

And talking about being creatures of habit......

.... my afternoon ritual once the boys feeds have been made up, I drag my stool in Cisco's stable, sit and have a beer :-)

Lone Rider.....

2009-10-15T06:36:00.004+08:00

Not much different to my September afternoon.

I had planned to go for a big ride, the weather was nice and other than our little adventure home I haven't ridden for ages, well two weeks maybe.

I got down to the stables and a few of the girls were there and they were heading out the back for a ride.

Now I do like riding with others but I much prefer going on my own with the dogs in tow.

Nearly everytime Cisco and I go out we take it easy and plod along, stopping to look at flowers and lizards, find new tracks or look for a new spot to just sit. Riding is a very personal thing to me.

When people do join us they can't believe how cruisey it is and how much they take in.

The two girls I have been riding with before but not together. Their horses are both standardbreds and one is flighty and the other is spooky and very needy. When we have gone out they can't believe how good and quite their horses are with Cisco around.

I always take the dogs and this doesn't even bother their horses.

I hear stories of them going out together and how badly and how flighty their horses were.

I cannot rave enough about Cisco and how calm he is. He is called down at the stables many names like.....old man, Sensai, oh wise one. I am so proud of him. A horse can gallop past him and he doesn't budge. I think he thinks, 'why run when you can drop your head and eat.'?

Getting back to my story....... Knowing the girls would hoon around, I decided to just go to the dam and take him for a swim. I didn't want to be out the back of nowhere and round a corner and run into 2 galloping horses.

Because I let the dogs run free I always have to kind of pre-empt things. If I do come across other riders I usually jump off and put Bonnie on a leash and call the little dog to my side.

So I didn't saddle or bridle up, we went as we were and it was perfect. Bonnie and Bella loved the time out and Cisco didn't want to get out of the water.

It was much deeper this time, sitting on his back the water came up to just below my knee.
It was a lovely afternoon.

Float Update .....

2009-10-10T06:15:00.003+08:00

Great progress has been made on the float.....

The inside....like I said before doesn't look pretty but it does the trick.

The inside is all good to go. Painting in progress.

Nearly finished.....

One man's trash is this girls treasure .....

2009-10-08T05:58:00.003+08:00

Some people call it cheap, frugal, tight, me I call it thrifty.

Every six months or so our shire has a roadside pickup of junk, where we are allowed to throw all our unwanted items on the gutter and they will get rid of it for us.

I love when these times come around because you find so much stuff.

This is just what one day produced.....

A bike, yep and it's in good working order.

Ahh....the trolley.

This used to be one of those old lady shopping trolley's, I took off the basket bit off and converted it into a hay and chaff bag carrier.

Makes it so much easier to get my hay and chaff out of the car and wheel up to the feed room instead of struggling.

A chair....but look how funky and comfy it looks!!!

With a sand and some wood stain this chest will look awesome and will take pride of place in my shed along with my funky, comfy chair.

So call it what you will but I am very proud of my thrifty junk finding efforts.

Guess who is in my backyard??

2009-10-05T06:10:00.004+08:00

I did it!!!

After months of talking about it I finally rode Cisco home. Where I have him agisted is probably a 7 minute drive so I figured a half hour ride, easy.

My intention for this little adventure was to bring him home for a sleep over. I was going to sleep outside with him and the dogs then ride him back in the morning. As we all know, nothing ever goes to plan........First I technically didn't ride him home....I walked him. I live in suburbia so we rode a fair bit of the way but our path was more of an obstacle course.

First we had dogs barking and lunging at us, kids on bikes who wanted to pat the pony, a building site with scary looking electrical coils and a whole new world for Cisco to see.

So I decided to lead him when it all got a bit much. Cisco is a super calm horse and he wasn't really any different but I thought it a smart idea to walk him as I didn't fancy coming off in a main street and having then to find a horse lost in surbrbia.

We get home, the saunter took us about an hour.

I rolled the roller door up and the dogs were so excited to see us Bonnie was trying to talk she was that excited.

All was good....I let him mow the lawn and put some hay out for him. He was good, then instinct took over and I think he knew what time it was.

He wanted out. He knew he came in the roller door so he stood staring at it to leave. He was starting to get anxious not doing anything silly but I could sense he was not a happy pony.

So when he started looking through the window and huffing, I decided to take him back to his stable. No sleep over tonight.

I saddled up and headed back. It took us 30 minutes to get home at a trot and 10 minutes of that was in the dark.

Me being a human and not thinking like an animal, didn't take into consideration Cisco's need for routine. Him living in such a controlled enviroment by being stabled and amongst his herd is far stronger than spending time with his mumma and his dog sisters.

All in all it was fun and I did something I said I was going to do.

Saturday .......

2009-10-03T17:49:00.006+08:00

Because of the rain and the fact I tend to be a bit lazy, I haven't touched the float for months, so today the sun was shining and I had no excuses.

I sanded the wood and put on a clear varnish.I didn't take photo's of the inside but trust me I did some work in there as well.

I put foam around the bars so Cisco doesn't hurt himself when he leans into a corner. It looks rather ugly and my handywork leaves alot t be desired but it does the trick.
Hopefully, we will be roadworthy for next week, fingers crossed.

Grand Final weekend.......

2009-09-29T06:55:00.002+08:00

This weekend past was our AFL Grand Final, the Australian equivalent to the Superbowl. I'm not really a footy fan but when it comes to the grand final it is a must-watch if not for the atmosphere.

So with camp chairs in hand we made our way to the stables. There is an old tele there which we dragged out and sat in the shade so we could watch it whilst spending time with the ponies.

Our half-time entertainment was a quick buzz around the round yard and a hose down for both the boys.

This photo was taken after half-time.

Beer in hand, partner to my side, sun shining and Cisco resting right behind me.

Does life get much better?

Waiting, always waiting.....

2009-09-28T06:01:00.009+08:00

I park my car in our back yard under the carport and usually I leave a window open and this is what I find......

Two dogs waiting, always waiting.

Bella and Bonnie jump in the thru the window and wait for me to take them somewhere.

Now, these dogs don't ever get left at home....I take them everywhere with me, to the shops, stables, work, out riding, you name it they come but it seems that is not enough.

Sometimes after we have been out all day, they don't even get out of the car. It is like their domain and wishful thinking that I will jump straight back in and drive them to their next adventure.

I am sure this is how they think.........

car + mumma = fun

ruff, ruff, woof woof!!!!

My September Afternoon Part 2......

2009-09-27T06:47:00.005+08:00

As none of my riding companions (Bonnie and Bella) have thumbs I need to rely on whatever I can find to take photos of me on Cisco, so please forgive the quality of theses pic's as I have cut them from a video.

I told you last post of my bareback attempt out in the bush, well here it is.

Not only are we bareback but we have no bit or bridle, just a rope halter and a piece of rope.

I had to climb onto a log which also acted as the cameraman to show that I did it!!!

Yahoo :-)

We were just about to trot then canter up the hill.
I had told myself that I would ease myself into the whole bareback thing in the bush.
First start off with saddle and a rope halter, then next time, bridle but no saddle but ahhh!! what the hell, we went full monty first up.

A September Afternoon.....

2009-09-24T07:22:00.003+08:00

Cisco, the girls (Bella and Bonnie) and I went for a walk out the back. I purposely didn't saddle Cisco as I wanted to see how we would go with no bridle and no saddle. I didn't jump on straight away we kinda of wandered, stopped, looked, grazed, took photo's and basically enjoyed the afternoon. Once we got past the grazing, the looking and taking photo's I did jump on and all was good.

Bonnie having a break .

Cisco found his twin :-)

Reading Cisco's mind....

2009-09-23T09:38:00.003+08:00

This is an old video of Cisco but I have only recently put music to it.

I think it describes what Cisco is thinking to a tee.

Bareback fever....

2009-09-22T10:25:00.005+08:00

Back to Basics and lovin it.

For the past month or so I have been riding Cisco everyday in the arena or roundyard bareback and with just a rope halter and rope.

I hate the arena and Cisco isn't a fan either but I needed to practice my balance and I thought, let's get back to basics. Would you believe we both enjoy our time in the arena now. He is so much more responsive and I am so much more confident. That I don't understand.

I jump onto the fence and launch myself onto his back. It seems very natural for both of us so I am going to go out the back bareback and see how confident I am in the wide open.

I trust Cisco heaps and he doesn't do silly things, so why not? And it's no hassle to ride. I can be lazy at times and the thought of putting on a saddle for a 10minute plod just turns me off before I begin and Cisco wonders why as well but now we are both happy and enjoying it.
When I read Kuntry Girl's post on her bareback attempt, I wondered if something was in the air as we both were going bareback at the same time. Think we caught the same bug :-)

Hat's off.....

2009-09-21T11:47:00.004+08:00

Was cleaning up my shed yesterday and came across a few of my old hats. Anyone I have ever met who wears a hat can tell you some story about their hat and what they have been through together. Here in Australia a person's hat is like a rite of passage and you wear your hat with pride. This is my assorted collection.

Truth is I am a more of a 'wanna-be jillaroo'...Australian for cowgirl and I have only been on this path for 5years, so there will be no great stories from me and my hats just yet.
I was given this hat for my 36th birthday from a friend in Canada and although we have not travelled many miles together yet, I am positive there are stories waiting to be made.
It is an Akubra, Rough Rider.

OK now I was also given this hat by one of the guys I used to work with at the saleyards. He was throwing it away for well...obvious reason so I snapped it up.

It is a really comfy hat and despite it's looks and the fact it needs to be thrown out, I kinda like the worn look. It feels as if it has lot's of stories to tell.

This was my first hat. Again I didn't buy it but found it. It's a Stetson and I wore it everyday for six months when I was working on a farm-stay and it didn't even come off my head when I went to the pub.

I call it my hillbilly hat and it will always remind me of the day I found out who I was and what I wanted to do with my life.

Cisco

2009-09-06T07:14:00.004+08:00

Now Cisco's winter coat has gone I have just one more reason to love him and I always forget about this little spot in winter because I don't see it. The right side of the X on his brand is a small brown dot of hair on the white.....I love it, I don't know why but I just do.
So much has been happening here lately that I haven't had much time for anything, so when the day turned out to be sunny I saddled up the old man and went for a ride. Obviously this is Cisco psyching himself up :-)

Another B&W shot

My afternoon....

2009-08-25T17:29:00.002+08:00

Is there really a need to say anything??

The New Job ........

2009-08-24T06:50:00.004+08:00

These were all the photos I could manage from the new job.....I am supposed to be working, you know !!!! We have had some wet and miserable weather her the last 2 weeks so other than everything looking green it looks quite dreary.
This is the tractor I am learning to roll and prepare arenas with. I love driving the tractor but as for doing the arenas not my favourite thing to do....too much pressure to get it right........I'm not good with pressure. The stable block. I could lose myself here. There are 150 stables to clean and look after....the stables are like Zen to me.

Our outdoor arena which floods after rain.....it is also called 'Lake International'.
The warm up arena.

Hopefully the ran will pass because we have a huge dressage event this weekend.

Riley....The verdict is in....

2009-08-19T11:00:00.004+08:00

Riley is now an official member of our family.

Welcome Riley.

They say things happen for a reason and you don't realise what you have until it is gone. Well do I have a story to tell........(hence why the decision was made)

Saturday lunch we were heading down to the stables to pamper the boys when not long out of our street we get a call..... "Riley is down, he has hit his head and is laying on the ground having a seizure." OMG!!!!!

We get to the stables and he is standing but very wonky and looking totally dis-orientated leaning on Cisco. We believe he gave himself a concussion.

The picture below is the outside effect of him hitting the wall.....not bad at all but the worrying factor to us was, what has happened internally to knock a 600 kilo horse out and down for 3 minutes?????

We get a vet out as soon as possible....which being a Saturday was 2 hours later. In that time we tried to comfort Riley, well Es comforted Riley. His nose started to bleed and he just wasn't steady on his feet.

The Vet turned up, they ran some basic tests and said he is probably concussed and to keep our eye on him. He was given a pain killer and we put him in his yard. He ate, did a poo and wee so we figured he is going to be ok.

Three days have passed since it happened and he is pretty much back to himself.

During the time of the phone call and the vet turning up was pretty intense and I think my partner realised how much Riley meant to her. She nursed him and held his head for 2 hours, with his blood running on her. He needed her and truth is I think she needs him.

The bond is there now.

So last night she made the decision to keep him and call Riley her own.

Sunday Stills...Clouds

2009-08-17T11:30:00.003+08:00

How different the sky can look.

Looking West.....Same location, looking East.
The day turned out to be grey and miserable.

Popeye.......

2009-08-13T05:47:00.002+08:00

I have no idea what Cisco has done to his eye. I turned up Tuesday afternoon and it looked like this. I figure he has walked into something like a twig or there is a hay or grass seed stuck in there somewhere. He has let me flush it out. Going as far as letting me put the hose right to his eye. I have been told, cold tea is the trick. So I have been bathing it in cold tea twice a day. Soon as I have finished bathing it with the tea it goes down and he can open it up.
I'll head down before work and check on him.

One good thing about Cisco being sick, is he sure does love his mamma. He is so sooky and just buries his head into my chest.....awhhh!!!

The other side....

2009-08-11T16:30:00.003+08:00

Isn't it amazing when you look at things from a different angle. This tree is where Cisco and I went for a splash.....

I have never walked around this side of the dam before. How surprised was I when I saw how beautiful this looked.
There's a lesson in that.......

A work in progress....

2009-08-10T08:00:00.002+08:00

The work done so far on the float. Still a long way to get but we are getting there.

At least all the structural issues are finished, now it's just down to making it look better.

The life of Riley ... ...

2009-08-08T17:18:00.005+08:00

For the last 11 months we have been looking after Riley. His owner is a uni student and ran out of time for poor Riley. Every afternoon I would see how sad he was and just wanted to look after him. So my partner and I leased him for 3 months. We were down at the stables anyway looking after old man Cisco, how hard can looking after another horse be.After the 3 months we realised how financially a burden it was having 2 horses but we still wanted to look after Riley. So, we do just that, feed him, clean his yard and give him heaps of TLC and his owner pays the bills. Works well for all of us and we are all happy.....especially Riley.
The kicker is....... ...she has asked, would we like Riley, to keep, for good, to call our own.
Now I love Riley he is a lovely horse, saying that though I would never choose him as my own as he is pretty much everything I don't like.....thoroughbred, 16.2 , hot, dressage pro. Not my type of horse at all.
(My type of horse is that lovely little pinto you see in all the pictures)

Now my partner knows nothing about horses and until I entered her little life had never had anything to do with them. She loves Cisco but he is my horse and doesn't feel she can interfere.

The whole reason we took Riley on was so that Es would have something to do when she came down to the stables (instead of drink beer and wait till I'm finished with Cisco....hehe)

Riley loves Es....he has become her horse and they have an understanding, one Riley and I don't share.
He mucks up on me but not her. I think he knows she knows nothing and he lets her do whatever she wants to him....it's funny to watch.

Because of this connection she wants to learn to ride him.
I have some reservations but I also don't want to discourage her so I am leaving the decision of keeping Riley completely up to her.

Cisco and him are BFF's ....

that's another plus to keep him!!

Goodbye Saleyards...

2009-07-31T06:24:00.003+08:00

In an earlier post I told you guys I work at the saleyards....well no longer.Tuesday was my last day.

So this is goodbye saleyards....

goodbye sheep,

hello Equestrian Centre.

Yep....can you believe I got another job already at the Equestrian Centre.

I start next Thursday.

Water Rats....

2009-07-25T15:39:00.005+08:00

Forgive the quality of the first few pics, they have been cut from a video.

Camera was perched in the fork of a tree...I go riding on my own so I never have anyone to take pictures or video of me but where there's a will there's a way...I did it!!

Yesterday we went riding in the hills and because of all the rain we have had the little dam has filled up. I decided to take Cisco for a swim and he loved it.

As you can see.....

he thought it was very amusing.

Bonnie kept on swimming after him...

and Bella was being the little water rat that she is.

Cisco splashed his way checking the depth every few steps.

You would think all that water would make him clean....
Nope, still dirty.

I smell a rat.....

2009-07-16T06:43:00.002+08:00

I am sure every stable complex has a rat problem. We have a small stable cat called Meg to keep the population down but some of these rats are as big as the poor little kitty. She does her best but she can't keep up.

So as you can imagine the smell of rats is in the feed room and inside the stables. My two dogs love coming down to the stables to smell and possibly chase a rat.

The rats are far too smart for my pooches (shame) but they do have fun running round trying to find them. The rats have been getting into the stables and Bonnie has been obsessed with this one stable across from Cisco's.
She keeps, looking, looking, looking.......

Oh, I see it.......

Ah....there you are, you pesky little rat.

OLD MAN LEGS.....

2009-07-12T07:12:00.004+08:00

I can't help but laugh at Cisco's old man legs everytime I see him. Truth is I don't think they are really old man legs but more like character lines.Similar to the wrinkles we get on our face, you know each one tells a story about some phase in our life. I have only owned Cisco for 5 years so his history is pretty much unknown. He was 16 when I bought him and will be 21 this year.
The lady I bought him off bought and sold horse by the truck-load or in this case the train-load.
she bought Cisco and another 15 horses off a cattle station (ranch/farm) at Charters Towers
and had them delivered to her property by train.

I didn't originally go to see Cisco but rather a thoroughbred called Flame. We didn't get on, Flame wouldn't walk in a straight line for me and sitting on him just felt wrong.

She showed me this battered pinto and said she has only ridden him once and went mustering and said he was an awesome horse. She had only had him a week and wanted to fatten him up and then sell him off.

She told me to have a ride we rode in the bush not the arena. The moment I jumped on his back I felt at home. I knew this horse was for me. (Cisco is my very first horse)

He wasn't very affectionate, not really liking me to touch his face and very stand offish but I knew it was right. I was so smitten. I tried to get as much info about him as possible. She told me she bought him and all the other horses on the property from a station. She believes Cisco would of been a working horse for most of his life.

Staying on the station so long because he was good at his job.

So back to the character lines......I can only assume on closer inspection the lines on his legs are from wire. I think and I don't know how but he must of been cut because underneath the hair are old scars.

They do not affect him just a comestic thing which I love because it shows character.

From the day I first could call Cisco my own I thought he was the most magnificant creature I EVER layed my eyes upon and now I think I am so lucky to have him.

For a first horse he has taught me everything. No longer is he that strong independant working horse but he is now a sooky retired old man.

I think I have ruined him.

Stables...

2009-07-10T16:16:00.002+08:00

When I grow up all I want is a place to call my own.

A place where I can live with Cisco.At the moment these are the stables I have him agisted.

There are 6 outside yards and 16 stables.
I do like where he is and for the time being it is practical. What I don't like is that I have to see other people and deal with their drama's when I am down there.
To me the stables are a haven. I go clean it, do up his feed and more often than not sit in the stable and hay a beer with Cisco.

Yeah, yeah it's nice to say hi to everyone and have a chat but and that is a big BUT....I would prefer I didn't see a soul.

It feels like they are interfering with my quailty time with Cisco .

And as we know.....anyone who owns a horse has an opinion about your horse. I like listening to all sorts of advice but sometimes I wish people would mind their own business and keep their thoughts, opinions and boring life details to themselves.

Ok, ok.....I'm in a cranky mood...

So what!!!!

Tomorrow I'll be fine

I just needed to vent.

Done

A Mushroom Kind of Day...

2009-06-30T06:53:00.005+08:00

I don't mean it was the kind of day I was keept in the dark and fed bull s**!, rather it was the kinda day wherever I looked I saw mushrooms. Now I don't go to many places so these first two were at home the others at the stables. Trying to be creative.

These were massive, I couldn't get over the size of these mushrooms.

Zoo Exhibit

2009-06-29T16:44:00.003+08:00

Every afternoon I clean out Cisco's stable and give him his afternoon feed. Hay, pony pellets, chaff and a few little extras. I read someone once, that stabled horse get bored etc.....and to put some hay in another corner other than their hay bag. So I started putting it all around his stable.

The method in my madness is simple.......Horses naturally are not stabled and it is bad for a horse not to graze for like 22 hours of the day, so I figured I lay hay everywhere and that will encourage him to walk and eat, giving him a little more exercise and something to do
It works but now he waits for me to lay it all around for him. One spoilt pony.
He loves it. I will hide some near his water bucket and up high but every morning it's all gone.

Country Road

2009-06-27T16:35:00.002+08:00

YORK

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

2009

Meet the neighbours....

2009-06-16T06:53:00.005+08:00

The horse in the background is an old gelding and is used to seeing us ride past. He used to share the paddock with an old mare who must have passed onto horsie heaven as I haven't seen her for a little while.
The two mares at the front have just moved in and are intrigued to see us everytime we pass. The little black arab prances up and down the fence line, showing off in true arab, tail in the air fashion.

Cisco seems to be quite taken with the bay mare.

"Hello ladies...."

....... and she seems to be quite taken by him.

Cisco's attention span for the ladies seems to be short lived....mmmm....I wonder why that is ??

Cisco

2009-06-13T09:50:00.002+08:00

My favourite photo

Camping Pics

2009-06-10T16:38:00.003+08:00

Camp Fire Misty Morning
Moon

Moon through the trees

Sky View
These were all taken on a recent camp trip.

Charlie's Flat - Dwellingup

2009-06-01T06:21:00.001+08:00

We went for a day trip to Dwellingup and found this awesome little camp spot.

Name it.....

2009-05-29T17:38:00.003+08:00

Ok here it is, my 'new' horse float!! I know what you're thinking and believe me I have heard it before. "That's not a horse float, that's a water tank." Ha ha ha...laugh all you will. Although it looks like a piece of scrap metal I think it is the best float ever!!!!
I had passed this little beauty for the past 3 months and knew one day it would be mine and now it is.
I see so much potential. Yeah, yeah it is a little rusty, a little heavy and bloody old but it is my first horse trailer and I can't wait to do it up. I have ideas so many ideas.

Now.....once it is complete I am going to name it.

I want to call it..... Cisco's....... Simple, plain and well it will be Cisco's. I have had friends offer there opinion and one wants to paint it silver and call it the Silver Bullet another friend wants to call it The Mule Train, others think I should paint a windmill on the side!!!!!

So any suggestions???????

What The.!!!!

2009-05-18T05:45:00.005+08:00

Have you ever had one of those What The!! moments???

Well I did on my little visit to South Australia. Driving along checking out the sights, we go over a bridge still in surburia and along one of the main rivers in Adelaide here are these horses!!!

It was a weird sight because this is the middle of a city and these horses, who to me look like residents, were grazing along the river.

It was fenced of both sides of the river but it wasn't behind a particular house or anything. They had set up holding yards and hitching rails.

There was nobody around for me to ask....What the???

Mac - Horse Drawn Tram

2009-05-17T06:31:00.003+08:00

Victor Harbour - South Australia

2009-05-14T17:07:00.004+08:00

On a recent visit to South Australia I went to little coastal village called Victor Harbour. It was beautiful. I wanted to just stay there but maybe my desire to stay had more to do with the tram ride than the actual place. I was only gone 4 nights but I missed Cisco more than I wish to admit.
This is a major tourist attraction. A horse Drawn tram. It was amazing and the horse that carried us was called Mac. He was 15 and he loved his job so much.

It was incredible to see these creatures work. I was in awe and had so much respect for them.

The trip over the jetty took 15 mins and at wach end Mac was given a carrot. He trotted most of the way not because he was asked to but because he wanted to.

Althought he tram looks heavy, the horse is only actually pulling 80 kgs of weight when it starts moving.

This tourist attraction has been going since the late 1800's.

New Track

2009-05-06T06:34:00.003+08:00

Yesterday I ventured off my well ridden track and explored another section of the hills. To get to the new track Cisco and I had to climb this impossible hill. I swear as we were reaching the top, it felt as if he was rearing up but he made it. Not bad for a 21 year old. I swear Cisco was a mountain goat in a former life and he has just evolved into a horse!!

This is a much prettier part to ride, little rock pools and a change of scenery was a welcome change to us both.

Now you may think they are rocks on the track but they are what West Australians call 'honky nuts'........they are like marbles to ride or walk over.

Mr Moo...

2009-03-24T16:35:00.003+09:00

This would have to be the cheapiest, nastiest beer EVER but it is a WA beer so I will support my state like any good Australian. Most afternoons I manage to have a drink or 3 with Mr Moo. I am responsible, notice it's mid-strength :)

I love Cisco's markings. I can stare at them for hours.

This is his right side.
Left Side

And this looks like the map of New Zealand. Left hind.

Working Wednesday.....

2009-03-18T12:30:00.007+09:00

Can't write, working......

Midland Saleyards

Yep, this is what i do for a crust.....

...... perfect, isn't it?

You can take the girl out of the country.......

2009-03-16T18:02:00.002+09:00

........but you can't take the country out of the girl.This swimming hole used to be an open cut coal mine in it's day.

The water is so slear.

Black Diamond, Collie, WA about 2.5 hours from Perth. This is a great camping spot, we only went for the day but plan to go during the week sometime and stay for a few nights.

Bob or Blue

2009-03-14T06:06:00.003+09:00

I am originally from the Eastern side of Australia and have been living in Western Australia exactly one year today....yahoo!! I love it over here and don't miss home at all. What I do miss I guess is the familiarity of everything over east. Here it is like I'm learning all things over. As much as it is still a part of Australia, things are very different. Plants, animals, the country side, pretty much everything I had taken for granted over east is different.
Over east we don't have these, we have blue tongue lizards which are grey and black and obviously with a blue tongue. I was told this is a form of blue tongue but called a bob tail.
They are everywhere over here. I see at least one every time I am out riding. The dogs and Cisco don't even notice them.

Stable Day

2009-03-12T07:36:00.003+09:00

I am not blessed to have a piece of dirt I can call my own, yes that's right I live in suburbia.....eekkk but at least there is some great bush riding out the back. So I agist Cisco not 5mins from my house. It is a great little agistment centre, they about 25 horses there and the owners have a very relaxed attitude. We are allowed to take the dogs, which is virtually unheard of for agistment places. The stables are basically my home away from home, my down time, the place I go if I don't want to go anywhere else.

My little routine has changed a little bit but that is a blog in itself, I will fill you in later. Yesterday I cleaned the stable in the morning and put in the feeds, so I didn't have to go down in the afternoon. I needed some Cisco time, so I thought I would spend a few hours with him.

This is Cisco and Riley waiting for me............
Riley isn't my horse but I look after him for one of the girls at the stables. He and Cisco are BFF's, Cisco has 10 years on Riley and it shows in everything they do. I can imagine Riley saying at times......" When i grow up I wanna be just like Cisco."

We had a pedicure...............
and a body brush.

Can you believe this is his summer coat?

My boy is one hairy pony.

It was a great day and therapy I think we both needed.

After a hard day.......

2009-03-07T18:51:00.003+09:00

After a hard day we all need to cool off. It surprises me how Bonnie can contort her 42kilo Rottweiler frame into the smallest of spots. Seriously that water bucket isn't big but where there is a will there is a way. She gets 10/10 for trying.

Plenty of room for Bella. This dog should of been born underwater.

We found Water!!

2009-03-06T21:03:00.000+09:00

The creek which I thought had all but dried up so I took along a canteen for the dogs....

Dogs water and canteen.......we didn't need either, we found water!!

It has been a dry hot summer and whenever I have been out riding over the last few months I have noticed the creek and dam have dried up, meaning I have to take water not just for me but the dogs as well whenever we go out.

I usually ride with a camel-back so I'm ok......but have you ever tried to teach a dog to drink from one of those, I usually end up either digging a small hole and dribbling some water in or just squirting water into their mouth from mine........disgusting I know but hey, what's a girl to do, they are thirsty?

I was given a canteen for christmas, so yesterday was the first day I took the canteen out and wouldn't you know it, we found water.

More Fire Pics

2009-02-13T13:51:00.000+09:00

Fencing supplies. These were hidden and if it was not for the fire they would of never been found.

My thinking is that this is maybe a well. Used to be a well. Again I have ridden past this twice a week and would of had no idea it was there

Fire!!

2009-02-13T07:44:00.000+09:00

It seems to be that fire and devastation is on everyone's mind at the moment. I can only begin to imagine what country Victoria is experiencing, beyond my comprehension.
Here are a few photos of The Hills where I go riding, this was a tiny fire nowhere near the scale of what we are seeing in Victoria but the aftermath is no doubt the same.

These photos were taken a week after the fire, the intensity and the heat coming off the ground was like it just happened. The dogs were on sensory overload and Cisco was happy to be off a track and exploring a new area.

Mud Maps Posse

2009-02-08T09:58:00.000+09:00

Cisco - 20yr old pinto gelding
The strong silent type, good at his job, loves his food. A no nonsense type of horse, able to navigate any terrain along as there is grass to stop and build his strength. Happy to lead or be a follower, able to carry heavy loads but doesn't! Built in GPS can find home or a pub within minutes.

Bella - 5yr old Border Collie x Cocker Spaniel

Faster than a speeding bullet, this little dog is fast!

Able to cover long distances without exhautsion, loyal, checks road ahead and recon's with other posse members covering three times the amount of ground. Can find water anywhere, creeks, rivers, dams or just a puddle she will find it. Can follow ground scents for miles. Ability to climb trees with no purpose other than, she can.

Bonnie - 5yr old Rottweiler

Bodyguard. Bonnie tries hard to keep up with Bella but her mere size slows her down. Often walks behind making sure we are not followed. Can sniff out any animal, anywhere by lifting her nose to the air. Will chase anything that runs but will whimper like a baby if confronted.

Nurse Pud (Cinta) - 11 yr old torti-tabby

Of no real use on any trail ride. Best left at camp.

Mud Map 01 - The Hills

2009-02-05T17:45:00.000+09:00

What is amazing about this track is you can be in 'the bush' but the moment you hit a high point you can see the city of Perth.

You can be lost in amongst the black boys (Zanthorrea), plodding your way along the red dirt track and find a small waterfall and from the top of that waterfall Perth is right there.

The best of both worlds.
7/10 horseshoes U U U U U U U U U U