We packed the whole show into the truck and trailer. Horses, working dogs, goats, merchandise, sound equipment, lighting, instruments, stockfeed, buckets and fencing gear plus more. It was a solid month of packing and repacking to make everything fit like a never ending game of Tetris. We got there in the end. Pulled out of Katherine with the crew, and just like that we were officially on tour. The Country Boys, Cowgirls and Horses run through the west had begun.
Steven Jones, a True Territory Legend
We pulled up at Timber Creek and met a local legend, Steven Jones. Now here’s a bloke with some yarns. Former ringer who used to swim cattle across croc-infested water. Let that sit for a second. Crocs. Cattle. Him in the middle of it. These days he drives a grader on the local roads, keeping them in shape for the rest of us to enjoy. Real Territory character, the sort you only meet out here. We could’ve sat and listened to him all day but we needed to get to Kununurra.
Fingers Crossed at the Border
First hurdle was the WA border. Quarantine. Anyone who’s crossed with horses and caravans knows the feeling. You check and triple check you have completed the paperwork and liver fluke testing correctly and removed all fruit, veg and nuts from every cupboard and drawer of every vehicle but still it’s always a little nerving pulling up at quarantine and having the officers go through everything with a fine tooth comb. We rolled in just on sundown and got the all clear. Big relief for the whole team. On we went.
Meet T-Bone. Three weeks old, riding in the aircon in the ute, living his best life. He might just be the crew favourite.
First Show Under the Lights at Kununurra
Kununurra Rodeo Grounds gave us our first show of the tour. It was a phenomenal facility, the locals have done a super job and we are looking forward to seeing the new cattle yards. Horses were switched on, dogs were sharp, and the crowd got right behind us. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off the first show for the tour. Nights like that are why we do this.
Cheering On a Bloke Riding Around Australia
Down the track near Fitzroy Crossing we pulled over to cheer on Irish comedian Ian Dowling. Ian’s riding a pushbike around Australia to raise money for Orange Sky, the organisation who help folks doing it tough with free laundry and showers. He’d already clocked 6,000km from the Gold Coast. On a bike. Tremendous effort, and all for a good cause.
While we were fuelling up we got chatting to fellow Irishman Johnny ‘Irish’ Gavigan, a road train driver for Mitchell’s Transport. We had a great yarn about his truck, the cattle, and life out on the long paddock of bitumen. The people you meet at a fuel bowser out here. You can watch the video here.
The Great Roadhouse Sausage Roll Debate
Now I’ve got to talk about Sandfire Roadhouse. The sausage rolls. Alongside Dunmarra back in the NT, Sandfire puts on a ripper of a sausage roll. Which raises a serious question for the country – Where’s the best roadhouse sausage roll in Australia? I’ve got my contenders. Let me know yours.
Fish and Chips on Cable Beach
We rolled into Broome and did it properly. Fish and chips on Cable Beach while the sun went down over the water. If you’ve seen a Broome sunset you know words don’t do it justice. We kicked back while the kids played in the white wash and watched the sun go down.
We had another super show in Broome with what felt like the whole audience singing along to Speak Up. It was one of those goose-bump moments.
Through to Port Hedland and Karratha
We pushed on through Port Hedland and then Karratha, ticking off the kilometres and enjoying the generous hospitality of locals including a swim in the the biggest (and deepest) private pool we have ever seen.
Trevor’s Yarn and a Ride on Ningaloo
Exmouth gave us one of the best yarns of the trip so far. We caught up with Trevor Clarke, who took a phone call from a mate about going halves in a supermarket and enjoys helping out mates mustering cattle in his spare time. That’s how it goes out here. He talked about Ningaloo Reef right on the doorstep, and the spirit of the community after Cyclone Narelle tore through. There’s something so special about this community. They are so isolated and really get behind things that come to their town.
We called into the Whalebone Brewery for a cold one with the horses, and took the horses and kids for a ride along the beach. It was the first time Harry and Lottie had ridden on the beach and they loved it.
A Quick Pull-Up in Carnarvon
Carnarvon was the next show on the road. We had a couple of nights there and were lucky to enjoy some spectacular weather.
The Road Keeps Going
From here we’re off to the Gin Gin Campdraft, then the tour keeps rolling south through WA. More towns, more shows, more yarns with good people along the way. That’s the best part of it.
Come and See the Show
We’ve got a big run of WA shows still to come. Come out and say g’day.
Walkaway | Badgingarra | Bindoon | Pinjarra | Narrogin | Northam | Waroona | Bridgetown | Guildford | Serpentine | Mandurah | Collie | Capel | Albany and more.
After WA, we head over to South Australia — shows and dates coming soon.
