Possum Valley today was ringing to the tunes of large machines rather than the tranquil piping of the birds. First to arrive was the 35 ton excavator which had to come across the neighbouring block to the south and despite having tracks rather than wheels, had some hairy moments of going sideways. The driver had the boom lowered ready to dig in the bucket if required. It announced it’s arrival with the throbbing of a heavy engine and the crackling of smashed vegetation sounding like gunfire as the trees splintered and snapped. It finally emerged from the forest to a crowd of spectators up near Maple Cottage. I didn’t realise there was such a thing as ‘machinery tourism’ before, but my guests including a mob of kids, were faithful followers throughout the day. They did perhaps have another important interest, having been imprisoned for a couple of days, escape! The excavator then smashed it’s way down a steep wooded slope to the dam at the only possible access point to land between the bogged truck and it’s trailer on a bit of nearly level ground. Because the truck was dug in to collapse dam wall on one side and leaning and an angle threatening to tip into the dam, the hitch to the trailer was twisted and under considerable stress. Which meant they could not be disconnected because the pin couldn’t be taken out. A strap was rigged from the hitch point on the truck, over the body of the truck to the excavator boom so it would lift and drag sideways the bogged wheels. With very careful inch by inch movements this was managed.
I always wanted a toy like this
It dawned on me how skillful these guys were, and I realised that these skills took a long while to acquire. Starting in a sandpit at age 2, like my grandkids now, and extending to the truck driver, in his sixties. Another revelation was the amount of halts and discussions there were between the workers, most of whom hadn’t met before. Communication, pooling of ideas, reaching agreement, and again signalling as the work went on. And if plan A didn’t work, a different approach was quickly worked out. Everybody was focused on problem solving. If only our politicians could work in such harmony. Thanks guys, I dips me lid.
The next addition to our heavy metal band was a D6 D dozer. Once separated, the trailer was manipulated by the dozer to the open area near Blackbean cottage. This gave the imprisoned guests a window of opportunity for their dash to freedom. Well done Chantall in the only 2WD on the dozer compromised hill. There were were 3 4WDs after her, but I didn’t expect any problems with them and there were none. The guests spotted me on the way out and offered money for their stay which I declined as I hadn’t exactly delivered the peaceful quiet stay that I advertise. They thrust money into my hands anyway and said they would be back. Dear forgiving guests, thank you.
some members of the heavy metal band
The next addition to our heavy metal band is another dozer. The D6 couldn’t find enough traction to tow out the trailer, so another dozer was summoned to pull in tandem. Just an hour ago I heard them throbbing away into the distance. Once more Possum Valley is returned to it’s tranquility.
All gone now and silence returns. I actually enjoyed the experience and excitement. There are some consequences and damages to repair. My guests responded the same way. Deal with it. I think there is a great capacity in Aussie culture to do just that. In a land of drought and flooding rains. A struggling Top End lady farmer, who won Aussie of the year, said “Don’t wait for the light at the end of the tunnel, stride down there and light the bloody thing”. Wise words in the Aussie shorthand.
Possum Valley now open for business again.
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