Beyond the black stump…or in the ‘burbs?
It’s all a matter of perspective I guess… as to whether we are ‘remote’ or (in fact, as my Dad claims) actually “practically living in the suburbs” here at Granite Glen.
…
I mentioned last post, that we get a tad busy socially ’round here. Now that doesn’t mean too much, until you take into account some of the distances we cover to Get Somewhere.
Some rural road facts to digest:
GG to closest shop (Town A) – 45km or half an hour drive*
GG to closest big supermarket/Target (Town B) – 120km or almost 1 1/2 hours drive*
GG to closest “city” with a shopping mall – 260km or 3 hours drive*
GG to closest Big City – 450km or 5 hours drive*
(*each way)
(*each way)
This means that anytime I want milk or bread or when TLW attends kindergarten, it’s almost a 100km round trip to Town A.
When I need something a bit specialised, it’s three hours out of my day spent travelling, to Town B.
…
And when I need to do a Big Shop (i.e. to get stuff in bulk at half reasonable prices, or specialised parts for various machines, etc) it’s option 3, with a sleepover with my beloved sister. Which is nice, and we get the bonus of catching up, but it’s still two days gone from my week.
…
And if we ever actually gird our loins and head to the Big Smoke (aka Brisbane/BrisVegas) to say, see a concert or visit Ikea (shudder!) or take in some Serious Retail Therapy, then it’s a Big Deal involving suitcases. (You should note that my only trips to Brissy since moving here were for A) a wedding, and B) to Ikea (double shudder) and purchase a new lense (oh delight and joy!). It hasn’t exactly been a regular outing. Ten hours of driving. Hmmm.
…
To some this might seem a long way and a lot of driving – I’m getting used to it again (after being a city chick for a couple of decades and taking the old corner store – usually five minutes walk away – and museums and concerts and shopping malls, sadly for granted).
To some this might seem a long way and a lot of driving – I’m getting used to it again (after being a city chick for a couple of decades and taking the old corner store – usually five minutes walk away – and museums and concerts and shopping malls, sadly for granted).
…
I make a much better list than I did 18 months ago, when I first arrived, that’s for sure! Nothing more frustrating than arriving home in a cloud of dust after being “in town” the majority of the day, and unpacking over $400 worth of groceries, only to discover the most important ingredient for tonight’s dinner is still on the shelves at Woolworths. The air has been know to turn a spectacular shade of cyan. The list is vital. I like check boxes on mine. I’m a first-born control freak.
However, there is always a story to add some perspective to your situation. My brother has a mate who lives in the ‘Territory (for Americans, the Northern Territory is to Austalia as Texas is to the US of A… everything is bigger!). Their sprawling cattle property is (you ready?) about 600 km from the nearest town… you heard me. Six hundred flamin’ dusty clicks… to the nearest shop. Of any kind… geez Louise! Imagine running out of cornflakes at a vital moment? Or (worse) getting a flat tyre an hour into the drive, with little kids on board? Makes us look like we are – well – in the ‘burbs. Bloody softy that I am… what’s a mere hour’s drive?
Nothin’…
So I remind myself of that 1200km round trip to the supermarket, whenever I’m up to here with sitting behind the wheel. I put Keith Urban or Robbie Williams (well I am half-breed city and country!) on the stereo, pump up the volume… and DRIVE!
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Of course, it’s always great to get home again.
The view is usually a sight for sore eyes…
11 Comments
Pencil Writer
Gee! Great sun rise/set?!! I know a little of how you feel! I do ACTUALLY live w/i the “town limits” tho I have virtually at my back door. The “town limit” sign is–as the crow flies–about 1/2 mile or, .8K. Not bad and I have 2 grocery stores w/i 2.2 miles. However, if I need a doctor, it’s 45 minute drive for the closest, or 1.5 hours north or south for the “specialists” IF traffic isn’t bad.
To visit my oldest daughter–1.25 hours, youngest daughter 3.5 hours, son–walk up/down stairs, middle daughter, sil, and 3 precious grandchildren, Mom, and about 13 of my siblings (6 natural/6 living of the 7 step)–1500 miles/2-3 days–one way, and one brother (natural) lives in Germany, so I haven’t calculated the distance/cost/hours/days to see him.
Being 6 hours drive from a grocery store? Ooooooooooooh!!! Do they have a huge garden, milk cows, chickens, pigs–in addition to the beef cows? That would be a challenge. Sounds like the Wild, Wild West (US) in the 1800/early 1900’s.
I guess Houston/New Orleans would be the two largest cities that are closest to us. Well, make that Baton Rouge (now bigger population wise than New Orleans since Katrina) and Houston. Can reach either of those in about 4 hours, give or take.
We DO have a lot of those dusty/muddy roads in our neighborhood, but also have to claim that several roads are being/have been constructed that make those distances much more amenable.
My hat’s off to you and yours for the distances/difficulties you face daily. You’re probably better off than city folk if a huge crunch comes (economically). City folk always have to rely on farmers/cattlemen (and women) etc., etc.
Best to you this morning–and every day! Thanks for helping me appreciate your circumstances more!
Leigh
BB-
Oy vey! And to think, I get annoyed when I get home from the store and found I’ve forgotten something…but mine is 1/2 block away. I drive my 2nd grader to school every morning, there is no subway stop close by. It takes 20-25 minutes to drive 3 miles (4.8km according to my converter), then its 25 min. coming back, and no pretty scenery either. You’re a lucky woman! BEAUTIFUL pictures, as usual.
(How do you get that red dirt out of the kids’ clothes?)
Peace & Strength
Anonymous
Oh my, I’ve got it a lot easier than you do. 20 min. to a town with a Walmart Supercenter. Only an hour and a half to a big city. And in case of real emergencies, there is a gas station two miles down the road.
Okay, now I feel like a sissy city girl.
My kids want to know what your weather is like today?
Anonymous
Whoops, that anonymous is me. I hate not being able to use blogger correctly. Anon seems so rude!
Remudamom
debby
I live in the country, but am a mere 15 or 20 minutes from a grocery store. I try very hard not to forget things, because gas costs so much. What do you do for your gas out in the middle of no where? Do you have it delivered for your farm equipment, etc?
Jenni
I’ll think of you the next time I have to make a run into the tiny Jack and Jill grocery two miles away from my house. Sure, I have to pay a little more for that milk, but at least I don’t have to drive the 25-30 minutes it would take to get to a real grocery store. Wichita is just about 35-40 minutes away and has most of the shopping choices I’ll ever need. If I can’t find it in Wichita, I’ll look online. I guess I really am in the ‘burbs rather than out in the country;o)
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen)
PW – good grief… how many siblings??? My head is spinning! That was a sunset over our yards near our house. I will post again on our NT family – they are totally interesting and incredibly tough.
Leigh – thanks hon! I am going to post on my traffic jam days (and there were many when I worked in the city) soon. Red dirt is interesting (I gave up wearing white immediately upon arriving back here!) and still not totally mastered. All hints gratefully accepted!
Remudamom – you’re no sissy … I have one word for you: triplets! Gads woman, you have my eternal respect!
Debby – gas (or fuel as we call it) does get delivered to our tanks here on the property. We also have a 180 litre tank (please don’t ask me to convert!) on our Prado so we can do from here to Brisbane easily with no stops for a top-up. But you still need to plan well and CHECK THE GUAGE every time your drive somewhere.
Jenni – it’s all relative, isn’t it? I’d still be more likely to forget something from somewhere close by, because it’s easier to get there. Go the list!!!
🙂
BB
alice
MUCH nicer drive though. I can spend that many hours in the car heading to and from the shop too – spending it all stuck at lights or in traffic jams. A nice, much-less-traffic ride for you. I like to drive to loud music too!
(I have to drive 5 days to see my family. And that’s just with sleep stops).
dykewife
i see you measure distance in time as well. my dad doesn’t live 250 km away, he lives 2.5 hours away. 🙂
you know, it sounds like having a bush plane would be an excellent idea for some people in the territories.
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen)
Alice – Our drive CAN be pretty… however it can also be scary and lonely (esp at night) and depressing and dusty during drought. At the moment, I am soaking in the green like a sponge!
DW – as Jeanie will tell you, I drive pretty quick. Some of our roads are dirt and therefore slower than the bitumen on which 100 km/hr is easily attainable. The time gives you a better idea than distance, if you know what I mean? And yes, many properties have planes up north. However they have been known to fall out of the sky (!), you still need a car when you get to town and insurance is so astronomical it’s unviable. So they think long and hard before buying one!
🙂
Bb
A Novel Woman
Spectacular last photo. And the roads look red, like our roads in Prince Edward Island on the east coast of Canada.
I did laugh when you mentioned “dusty clicks” because on the black background, I read the “c” as a “d” and thought well, there’s one more funny Aussie expression. There’s an Australian pawn broker who regularly describes his jewelry like this – “well, it’s not a big stone, but it’s no bee’s dick either.” Never fails to make me laugh.