With gear packed and horses loaded it was finally time to head off to PT Welshpool, the night before Amy, Erin and I ride to Snake Island with the Snake Island Cattlemen. With Mick and Kev arriving in fine form, after several pub stops, it was going to be a great weekend. With horses yarded for the night it was time to set up camp. Kev was in charge of cooking dinner, garlic marinated steak, ½ hr each side, on low, bloody hell this is going to take forever and boy are they going to be tough and dry. With several beers and a bottle of Bailey’s later, the steaks were finally cooked and to my surprise, tender and juicy and tasted good. Kev was ready for bed straight after dinner, but he had some unfinished business. Maybe he should have left the bottle of Bailey’s in the esky until he had ridden to Snake Island; he would have enjoyed the ride and definitely felt much better.
With several other riders arriving early the next morning and Kev not feeling any better, it was time to pack up and be ready to ride out. Leaving just after 7.15am, we headed towards the beach and 120 head of anxious and flighty cattle to muster to Snake Island, awesome. We finally got them out of the paddock and headed towards the beach, we were on our way into the water. Following behind the mob of cattle in the water, was a fantastic experience.
We arrived at the huts, tied up the horses and had some lunch. After lunch, the Cattlemen were taking the cattle to where they will spend the next couple of months grazing, I decided to go along for the ride and see more of the Island. Back at the huts it was time to settle in for the night and kick back after a long day and catch up with the other riders over a good meal and a couple of drinks.
Waking Sunday morning to breakfast being cooked, some riders were going for a ride, Amy, Erin, Kellie, Sarah, Melinda and I decided to go for a walk and check out the beach. Erin, true to form, had to go for a swim, clothes and all. After lunch, I went with a group of cattlemen who were going out to check on the cattle. Back at camp, after a hot shower, a good meal, a night of great laughter and good company was to be had by all. The boy’s were in fine form, Kev was feeling much better after going to bed early Saturday night.
Monday morning arrived, after much snoring, by others, it was time to pack up and head back home. After a great trip through the water, with Erin trying to splash Mick, and Mick trying to push Erin off her horse into the water, we were back at the floats. With a couple of hours to kill we went to the pub for lunch. Once the tide came in and Chappy turned up with our gear from the Island, it was time to go home.
This was an awesome experience. One ticked off the Bucket list. Hope to get another chance to do it again.
Thanks Mick for organizing this ride and a sincere thank you to the Cattlemen for their hospitality and making us feel so welcome and part of the family.
SNAKE ISLAND 2013
With gear packed and horses loaded it was finally time to head off to PT Welshpool, the night before Amy, Erin and I ride to Snake Island with the Snake Island Cattlemen. With Mick and Kev arriving in fine form, after several pub stops, it was going to be a great weekend. With horses yarded for the night it was time to set up camp. Kev was in charge of cooking dinner, garlic marinated steak, ½ hr each side, on low, bloody hell this is going to take forever and boy are they going to be tough and dry. With several beers and a bottle of Bailey’s later, the steaks were finally cooked and to my surprise, tender and juicy and tasted good. Kev was ready for bed straight after dinner, but he had some unfinished business. Maybe he should have left the bottle of Bailey’s in the esky until he had ridden to Snake Island; he would have enjoyed the ride and definitely felt much better.
With several other riders arriving early the next morning and Kev not feeling any better, it was time to pack up and be ready to ride out. Leaving just after 7.15am, we headed towards the beach and 120 head of anxious and flighty cattle to muster to Snake Island, awesome. We finally got them out of the paddock and headed towards the beach, we were on our way into the water. Following behind the mob of cattle in the water, was a fantastic experience.
We arrived at the huts, tied up the horses and had some lunch. After lunch, the Cattlemen were taking the cattle to where they will spend the next couple of months grazing, I decided to go along for the ride and see more of the Island. Back at the huts it was time to settle in for the night and kick back after a long day and catch up with the other riders over a good meal and a couple of drinks.
Waking Sunday morning to breakfast being cooked, some riders were going for a ride, Amy, Erin, Kellie, Sarah, Melinda and I decided to go for a walk and check out the beach. Erin, true to form, had to go for a swim, clothes and all. After lunch, I went with a group of cattlemen who were going out to check on the cattle. Back at camp, after a hot shower, a good meal, a night of great laughter and good company was to be had by all. The boy’s were in fine form, Kev was feeling much better after going to bed early Saturday night.
Monday morning arrived, after much snoring, by others, it was time to pack up and head back home. After a great trip through the water, with Erin trying to splash Mick, and Mick trying to push Erin off her horse into the water, we were back at the floats. With a couple of hours to kill we went to the pub for lunch. Once the tide came in and Chappy turned up with our gear from the Island, it was time to go home.
This was an awesome experience. One ticked off the Bucket list. Hope to get another chance to do it again.
Thanks Mick for organizing this ride and a sincere thank you to the Cattlemen for their hospitality and making us feel so welcome and part of the family.