It's a Bonus

The sign said “Quarantine Area, Private Property, Entry by Appointment only , No Vehicles past this Point”, the gate was locked and the open entry via the cattle grid did not look suitable for a caravan of our size.  So we continued on a little further hoping to see another entry to Bonus Downs,  a cattle property come farm stay that we had booked for the night.

Found nothing that looked like an entry so we returned to the gate. I checked the lock on the main gates only to find the chains were  just hooked together  so we opened them up and drove in.



The Entrance to Bonus Downs



There’s something about country people – quiet, unassuming , friendly,  that makes you feel instantly at home. Madonna greeted us at the second gate and showed us to our site. Despite the lack of grass due to the drought, we could not have been happier – shady spot, concrete path to an ensuite, a view of the historic homestead, camp kitchen to name a few.

Bonus Downs is a 33,000acre working cattle property about 50km south of Mitchell, along a narrow bitumen road.  Madonna and Lyle have owned it for 25 years saving the 100 year old homestead from being demolished, lovingly restoring it and the surrounding buildings to their former glory.



The Smoke House

Over a glass of wine at happy hour, Madonna and Lyle Connelly enlightened us with the history of Bonus and many stories of their journey as owners of the property – centenary celebrations, drought,  fights with bureaucrats  over the use of the land, the section of Ooline forest on their property which dates back 1.6 million years and tales of interesting people who have come to stay.

It’s a bonus to come across such a wonderful place to set up camp for the night. Bonus Downs has really set the bar high for the rest of our journey. Thank you Madonna and Lyle.  We’ll be back.

www.bonusdowns.webls.net   

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The Homestead



Eagle Hawk Nest in the Ooline Forest

Pete in the Ooline Forest



Succulent growing at the Homestead





Picnic Spot in the Ooline Forest

The Rottie Pup

The breeder

It was Sunday and chaos continued as we prepared to depart for a 6 week trip to the Flinders Ranges via Birdsville. Hilary had arrived to cat sit Ollie, Ari, Claes and Bradley  were still there after the big birthday celebrations of the previous week, and then the Rottie arrived. The breeder delivered her along with her papers, some food and a container for water. We had made a little “kennel”  for the back seat of the car, consisting of some towels in a plastic container and a couple of chewy things. What were we thinking???? But she was so cute. Ari took her for a “wee” walk whilst the last minute check of the van happened, then we gently placed her in her “kennel” and drove off.

The "kennel



To our surprise, she promptly went to sleep, only waking when we stopped near Ipswich to check that all was well with the new tyres on the van. Took the opportunity to give her a “wee” break but nothing happened.    Another “wee” stop about an hour later was also not necessary.  The rottie pup had a little chew on a bone before going back to sleep.

The Pup

We planned to stop in Dalby and had organized with my cousin Ian and his wife Yvonne to park the van at their house for the night. The Rottie pup awoke just as we pulled up. I carefully picked her up out of the “kennel” and delivered her to her new Mum and Dad. Hugs and smiles all round.