Road block on the Gibb...by a cute El Questro Cowboy

Who said shopping isn't interesting! Due to our lack of food situation, we decided when we got to El Questro we would take the hour plus trip into Kununurra to stock up.  Little did I know our trip back would be more exciting than expected!

About half an hour before arriving back at the station we saw an old beat up car stopped in the distance.  When we got closer it reversed back and parked across the Gibb blocking the road.  I remember saying to Scott "I don't like the look of this!" Then a cowboy stepped out of the car.....he had the Hat, bandanna, dirty jeans and a cheeky smile. Suddenly I felt ok.

It turns out El Questro were at the end of a long days muster. The helicopter was up ahead skillfully manoeuvring the 3000 head of cattle down the Gibb towards the Station.  The Cowboy (we did ask his name but it was so unusual none of us can remember it,) politely explained what was happening and told us we could either stay in our car or stand on top of his to watch the action.

For the next half an hour we witnessed the amazing aerial acrobatics of the helicopter pilot mustering the cattle.  At one point a stray came towards us, the Cowboy instructed us to get back in our car, and we watched as he burned off in his chase down the Gibb.  When the cow went bush so did he,  no wonder his car looked like it did.

It was really interesting listening to the Cowboy talk about life at El Questro, how they muster and some of the action he gets up to at work and in his time off.  He and Scott got talking about fishing and he drew us a mud map in the dirt to one of his favourite spots.

It must have been a long day for the station hands as two turned up in a 4wd buggie and ran out of fuel just as they got to us. So when it was all over they hopped in The Cowboys car and  drove off into the distance.

Our drive home was hair raising. We don't normally drive on dusk and were reminded why when a big bull stepped out onto the track without notice.  Scott hit the brakes and time stood still while we skidded towards the bull who eyeballed us the whole time until we came to a stop with the bull bar 5cm from its face.  With the adrenaline pumping we carried on (around the bull) only to have another couple of close encounters one with a roo and the other an owl!  So at the end of the day it was definitely one of the most exciting shopping trips we've had.