Off to buggerup. Oops Ongerup

[EmeraldSue]

Here are some photos of the shearing

Some before and after photos of the sheep. After shearing the sheep are sprayed blue to keep away lice.
Have more photos, but about to run out of signal...........

[EmeraldSue]

Thanks everyone.
We have spent the night with friends at their farm near Cleve. We have no phone coverage on the farm, so I'm sending this on a quick trip to town. Last evening we drove through rain and spectacular lightening, but the day has dawned on sunshine. The farmers here really need some rain. We have been fortunate to arrive on the farm during shearing, so the kids have got to see some real farm work.
The farm we are staying on is one of the oldest in the district and there is heaps of old farm machinery and old cars on the property
I have taken lots of photos but have to be careful of the number I post as I will run out of mobile phone download if I'm not careful!

[Emme]

Thanks for the wonderful photos ES, really enjoying your journey.

Marie 

[cookie1]

Enjoy ES.

[Very Happy Jan]

I've been thinking your trip must have been coming up ES. After you telling us ( at the retreat weekend) what you were planning I have smiled and shaken my head more than once. 
Hope you have a fun, safe trip. 

[goldfish]

This is a trip TDF!!!  Good on you!!  Safe travelling - and have the time of your lives.  This thread will be a great record for you!!

[EmeraldSue]

Yesterday afternoon I spent some time helping in the shearing shed with a special broom to sweep up stray bits of fleece. I had a great time and was really impressed by the shearers. They work really hard and are really skilled. A big brown merino sheep is bought in and in no time at all, a skinny white sheep goes out. I was surprised at how big the fleece is once it's thrown onto the table. They have just finished the first week of shearing and have more to go

[EmeraldSue]

When I was posting this earlier, I lost coverage. I'm tethered to DH's phone now, so this will be a quick message with no photos.
We are sitting at the null arbor pub enjoying a cold Coopers Pale Ale.
We did another long drive today, broken up by lunch in Ceduna. Tonight will be the first in the van which could be interesting. We had a debate as to whether we should choose a site near the toilets or one away from the highway. I lost.
Tomorrow morning we will see the whales and then head across the boarder. I will post more when I have phone coverage.

[achookwoman]

Thanks ES,  Ral and I are enjoying every bit of your adventure.  Keep safe.

[Cornish Cream]

Thanks ES,  Ral and I are enjoying every bit of your adventure.  Keep safe.

Me too Chookie.I'm following ES travel diary on Google Earth.

[Shazzy]

Sounds like you are having fun ES. We travelled around Australia with our kids in 2010 for 9 months so still remember the trip over the nullabour quite well!!
My sister and her husband have a farm in Ongerup Just wondering why Ongerup - do you have family there?

[cookie1]

ES this is wonderful to hear. It sounds as though you are all enjoying yourselves. We hope to go and see the whales when we go in a couple of weeks so I'll be interested to read what it's like, we've never been out to see the whales before.
Drive safely.

[Halex]

All kids & dh still alive, toes, fingers etc all in tact,

Well if this is true ES you are doing well, ;DLOL

H

[dede]

ES it sounds like you guys are having a wonderful trip so far. Enjoyed reading your posts and photos

[judydawn]

We had a debate as to whether we should choose a site near the toilets or one away from the highway. I lost.

Not sure which one you would have wanted ES, handy to be near the toilet but so much quieter away from the highway.  Which one got the nod?

This is a great experience for the kids, especially if they have never seen sheep shearing before.  Got to take your hat off to those guys, it must be back breaking work and surely they suffer in later years because of the job.