Ali and Tommy good mates.The Road
The road leading to our property is called a “dirt road”. It winds its way from the
Highway through the bush. Its surface is rutted at certain stretches corrugated. The car bumps and clatters noisily like every nut and bolt were loose threatening to fall out. After a few trips the driver is ready to take on any stock car race. The drivers who use this road are not considerate drivers. In the dry season they drive at the height of their speed. In their wake clouds of dust settling on both sides of the road on shrubs and trees, leaving these breathless, poor ghosts waiting for the next rain to be washed clean.
When we were working near the road we usually laid a small tree over the road. This action brought a lot of swearing from the driver, as he had to slow down, stop and remove the tree. This was the intention of our action so the fine red dust would not suffocate us. Before we took this drastic action we were the ones coughing and sneezing, emerging from a red cloud, fighting for a breath of clean air.
We also had another option, that was by the first sound of a motor to leave our tools and run away from the dust, sit down and wait until the dust had settled, but that was very impractical, because once we laid down our tools, sat down and got used to the rest, it was very hard to get motivated to go back to this sort of work. Regarding our work ethics Peter opted for the first.
In the wet season this road runs with water, has deep ditches on the sides, holes in the middle treacherously filled with water.
I landed ones in a ditch while I was righting the milk bucket which had fallen on its side, While doing this I went a little to the left and slithered into the deep ditch, the car was lying on its side. I had to go and get Peter with his tractor to pull the car out.
When the road is slippery wet, the drivers slow down. This was a respite for all,
especially for the animals, who have the habit to live on both sides of the road.
On my trips to the bus stop to bring the girls to their school bus I saw sometimes a wallaby hit by a car. The mate would linger around for a few days, sit nearby and then disappear into the bush. I made the habit of it to always check if it was a female and perhaps a Joe in her pouch. Mainly male wallabies, mostly curious youngsters were hit. The females were much more cautious.
In the wet season this road runs with water, has deep ditches on the sides, holes in the middle treacherously filled with water.
I landed ones in a ditch while I was righting the milk bucket which had fallen on its side, While doing this I went a little to the left and slithered into the deep ditch, the car was lying on its side. I had to go and get Peter with his tractor to pull the car out.
When the road is slippery wet, the drivers slow down. This was a respite for all,
especially for the animals, who have the habit to live on both sides of the road.
On my trips to the bus stop to bring the girls to their school bus I saw sometimes a wallaby hit by a car. The mate would linger around for a few days, sit nearby and then disappear into the bush. I made the habit of it to always check if it was a female and perhaps a Joe in her pouch. Mainly male wallabies, mostly curious youngsters were hit. The females were much more cautious.
11 comments:
Nice post. The pets in the photo look like I feel in hot summertime.
Sounds like you really DO live in the bush! Peter should get himself elected onto the local council, then tar-seal the road. Cheers, Bill
Thank you Barbee, hope summer won't be to hot for you.
Wilbo, we used to, not any more. Last time in 08 when I travelled on this road it was sealed! Pure luxury!
Oh, how can you manage so many blogs! I never know which one to visit and where to leave a comment!
Your pets in the picture show exactly how I feel when I'm anywhere where the temperature is above 25C!
Laura, you are very welcome to all of them. Our summers are long and hot, sometimes to hot. Now it is autumn and the weather is bliss!
Hallo Titania
Danke für Deine netten Zeilen.
Die beiden Freunde auf der Treppe sehen allerliebst aus, man sieht ihnen das gegenseitige Vertrauen an.
Deine Beschreibung Eurer heissen Piste ist ja weniger angenehm. Ich glaube da muss man wirklich selber für Abhilfe sorgen, so weit man da eine Möglichkeit findet.
Rücksicht ist eben nicht jeder Manns Sache... leider.
Liebe Grüsse Melontha
Hi there. This was very interesting. I sympathize with you in regard to the tree in the road. We have a dirt road on our street and it used to be maybe five houses on our whole block. It's not too too bad but they've never paved the road?? The property taxes have gone up to boot! We have red dirt as well..maybe an Island thing? Austraila is so beautiful. I've only seen pictures. My son visited a few years back..besides the photos I see pictured- Thanks for stopping by-
What a good idea putting the tree across the road to stop the dust cloud. Do you still live there?
It's been a real delight to read about your early fruit and flower plantings and then to see to the results on Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow in my Garden, especially the persimmons and ginger.
Melontha, danke sehr fuer deinen Kommentar, es ist immer so schoen von dir zu hoeren.
Thank you Regina Marie for stopping by and your interesting comment.
Diane thank you, no we do not any more. This is from my diary when we lived there.
Pam, thank you for your visits and comments.
Thankyou Titania for enlisting yourself as a follower of my Helsinki blog. You also inspired me to choose Sibelius as the music for it so thanks for that too.
I've been reading this blog of yours and how you cope as a Swiss born person in such a hostile climate with those extreme droughts and torrential thunderstorms. It makes very interesting reading and many of your stories show how clearly nature friendly you are. That always scores highly in my book. I shall certainly add this one to my list of blogs that I follow.
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