You know the feeling when the car rental personnel’s voice in your head is reminding that you shouldn’t use the vehicle on any uncontrolled side roads or on loose gravel, while driving a bumpy and narrow dried creek, somewhere 600km south of Cairns.

Neither did I, but there we were, hoping that the road leads to the right place without any visible damage. We took the road from a small town called Bowen by using the Googles map and pair of coordinates which had arrived 5h ago from Amsterdam (from dear Kylie & Joost). Kids sit on the back while enjoying the movie “Frozen” and Zeynep tries to read the map while phone’s gps gets slower and slower. After we turned right from the paved road I felt confident about the direction, but shortly I wasn’t sure anymore. Then the connection is lost, but we decided to continue.

Everything around us is dry. It looks like the nature is alive only by good will or luck. Dry, dusty, extremely hot, dangerous, but beautiful. Something what we haven’t seen before. We try to take it easy on bumps, but when we come down the steep hill to the bottom of the dried creek I just close my eyes and let it jump. Our camper van is not done for this.

After 30 minutes of disbelief we stand on the yard and are warmly greeted by Normans. We have arrived to Mt. Aberdeen Station, to a real Aussie farm in the hart of bush land. And I am blown away.

This is home and a work of life for this family. It has been for five generations. By time this place has grown to a size which is a bit hard to understand. In total it is 25000 acres (1 acre = 4047m2) which means that the property is approximately as big as 12500 max sized soccer fields, with a mountain in the middle of it! The land is big enough to grow over 4000 mango trees and have over 2000 Brahman Cattles (type of a cow) herd and plus a lot more. It is amazing to think that all this is under a control of a handful of people, 2 thick skinned men and women and a bunch of loyal and devoted herd dogs.

During our stay we were able to experience something, we haven’t really seen  anywhere else. Yes, we were driving quad bikes, riding horses, watering mangoes, feeding cattle, seeing dogs herding cattle etc. It was all as great as it sounds, but there was something else, something which I’m not able to explain and something what I most probably will understand later.

What touched us the most, was the life and mentality of the people living so close to the nature. I mean that it really takes fare amount of courage, determination and pure muscle to be able to work with the nature and make the wilderness work for you, but for the most you need heart, mind and common sense.

We were lucky that we came during the silent season. There isn’t a day without work in the farm. But if we would have arrived during January or February when the mangos need to be picked, we most probably wouldn’t have this much quality time together with our hosts. We tried to start the day around 6, but couldn’t really succeed. Steve was already far with the dogs or back in the kitchen with a coffee in his hand when we crawled from the bed. People in here are early for good reason. Light time is for working and early mornings are much more cooler than under the burning sun at 12 o’clock.

The day is divided between the basic functions. Before brekkie, (breakfast) for example, take the dogs for the run. During brekkie, go through the days plan and distribute the tasks for the day. Before smoko (coffee brake / Smoke & coffee) do half of the tasks. 10 minutes later continue work until lunch. After lunch, keep silent during the hottest time. Start again after a power nap and continue working until you are done. Water the mangoes, feed the cattle, take the dogs for a run, take care of the horses, clean, fix, build… Finish the day with wash up and enjoy some Aussie Barbie (BBQ). Light time is for work, dark time for eating and resting.

Even though their hands are full with running the place, Normans have the energy for much more. The place and its running systems are constantly under development. In addition they play polocrosse, do professional bull riding and tame horses. We are amazed in so many ways.

But from the practicalities back to the mentality. Last time it rained in March, no single drop after that, so you can imagine that dry means literally dry. There are no sign of water other than what the pumps have been able to suck from the ground. So, wet clothes dry in no time, but keeping the trees or cattle alive you need to be creative and find new ways. No time for panic, just believe that after long draught there will come rain.

This straight and honest approach fits to so many things in here. It’s like common sense is the key for majority of the problems and the solutions. The rest is covered by experience and the experience takes time. New generations hopefully join the team to run the business and take care of the property..

We spent 2 full days in Mt Aberdeen. We appreciate how openheartedly we were welcomed and treated and how much we got to experience in this short time. Biggest lesson what I got out of this was whatever your background is, your life depends on nature and you should never loose the connection or respect towards it.

• zeynep and nico
• November 26, 2014
• Uncategorized
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