Gloucester in the New Van

The farm gate.

From Coffs Harbour, we were off to the farm. With the coast still swarming with holidaymakers, and caravan sites scarce and crazily over priced, we took refuge at the Gloucester dairy farm of Lindsay & Myrelle. 
You should all recall that Lindsay is my cousin, and I have been coming here since I was a teenager. I absolutely love the country around Gloucester, and thankfully Carolyn does too, though she would prefer less flies! City kids should all take a country break. I was so lucky to be able to have spent so much time here over the years. Milk doesn't come from supermarkets, it comes from cows, and I've seen it first hand, and when you think you work hard, take a thought about a dairy farmer. They start work around 5.00am and work a 12 to 14 hour day 7 days a week, 365 days a year!

Parked at the farm.

We set ourselves up, beside the house. The view is fantastic as we look out over the farm to the river and mountains beyond. The country looks green, but it is really very badly in need of rain. Recent showers have just coloured it a little.It is so different to a year ago, when the paddocks were lush  and full of feed. 
The previous Sunday, a mini tornado had ripped through the area. In 30 minutes it left a trail of destruction, that brought down trees, wrecked fences and dropped a little hail and heavy rain. So as a consequence, after dairying there was plenty of work repairing fences and removing fallen trees.

As always, the hospitality was wonderful. Catching up with family news, and lots of home cooked meals. Carolyn was very keen to try out the oven in the new caravan, so she gave Myrelle a break from the cooking duties a few evenings, and one morning cooked fresh savoury muffins for breakfast, much to Lindsay's shock. He kept saying that muffins should be full of fruit and come with cream, but despite the protests he still managed to demolish three!!

Feeding the calves.

Off to work.

Moving the fallen trees.

Milking in full swing.

Each days starts at the dairy. It takes a couple of hours to milk the herd, feed the calves and clean up the dairy. After that, the cows are put out to pasture, and we all have breakfast. After breakfast, there is plenty to be done around the farm, moving the irrigation, and tending to those broken fences. There are a number of cows in calf, and there is a daily search for new born's in the paddocks away from the house. With quad bikes and tractors at the ready, the days work is underway. Another regular event is checking on the neighbours to have a chat  and check on what is happening around the area. It is a great social event, and it always amazes me how much there is to talk about.

Campers at Glory Vale Reserve.

Unique way to beat the flies!

Not far from Lindsay's are two terrific free camping areas, that are really popular with caravanners and campers. Lindsay and I took a drive to each on different days, for a chat with the campers. First stop was the Glory Vale Reserve that adjoins the farm. It is a delightful spot along the river, and the locals are always ready for a chat, especially if you arrive around happy hour with a beer in one hand. The prime spots are right beside the river, which is the Manning River, and it is clear and clean. The regulars have small pumps set up, and take their fresh water from the river. We spent an hour or so solving the world's problems. Lindsay had a great time chatting to a guy who had been coming up here for years. They even had some relatives in common!

Storm Damage at Bretti Reserve.

Next day we took in the Bretti Reserve, about 10kms up the road towards Nowendoc. This is a huge area, and there are quite a few people camped in the area that is situated where two rivers meet. As we drive down the track, we can't believe the number of trees that a down or damaged. Talking to the locals, reveals it is the result of the mini tornado. Many campers literally had their tents blown away, and some caravan annexes were badly damaged, and caravans moved metres from their sites. It took them all by surprise, with its speed and ferocity. Here Lindsay also found some  regulars with common interests. Seems that when you visit the area you just keep coming back. We also came across some genuine Aussie ingenuity. Seems that the local cattle come down to the reserve during the night, and make a mess of anything left outside. So this guy went into town and bought a portable electric fence and surrounded his caravan. He also told us how stupid people are. He said you can't believe how may people touch the fence to see if it is turned on!! If it is on, they only do it once. Oh, and by the way fellas, never pee on an electric fence - water is a wonderful conductor of electricity!!

Another hard day over.

Sunday evening we had a lovely family day. The whole family turned up for dinner. Margo with hubby Adam and their two kids Alby and Ellie, and Michael with wife Wendy and their two kids Andrew an Sam. They are all great mates, and their boys were born only months apart, and their daughters weeks apart. We all cooked up a feast of roasted chickens and vegetables, Carolyn had made a lasagna, and what looked like a feast for twenty of more was demolished in no time. Margo's New York baked cheese cake finished of the night just right. 

Carolyn with a new friend.

The next couple of days were much the same, which sums up life on a dairy farm. Lindsay and I did visit a neighbour Phil and his wife Sally, who live in Sydney and have a small property up the road. The house is in a wonderful position, perched high on a hill with beautiful views up the valley. Would you believe, that they are Truffle farmers! Seven years ago, they planted rows of specially grown American and French Oak Trees, whose roots are impregnated with the spore that produces the truffles, It takes seven years for the trees to be ready, so when truffle season starts around July this year, they should get their first truffles. They will soon be training up the special truffle dog used to sniff out the delicacy.

It wasn't long before our week was over. We had had another great stay. I think Lindsay & Myrelle will enjoy a rest. All those late nights chatting and watching the tennis, have had them sleep deprived!! Off to Nambucca Heads.