Took a couple of older mates for a drive and a recce around some abandoned gold
mine sites today.
We were surveying some
ruins when a Suzuki 4by Ute approached, driven at a rate of knots. Stopped in a cloud of dust and a little fella(almost half my size) in Army Uniform jumps out and wants to know who the hell we are and what we are doing there.
I introduce myself as the vehicle owner. He introduces himself
Declares that it is Private Property. Yours?.....Uhmm. There are lots of us who own land around here!
OK...Unaware of boundary demarcations. Apologise. This takes wind out of attack.
"Property Owner" states that he reports all Tresspassers to Police, has my number and will do so. I say No worries...Go Ahead.
PO says once you go through a
gate you are on private land. OK.....but what if the
gate is on a stockroute....Uhmmmmm And road to
mine site is gazetted road...Uhmmmm.
Anyway, we part on friendly terms and carry on our travels. Much discussion by old mates.
Call in on another
abandoned mine site along the stockroute. Later we settle down for some lunch under the shade of a large Mallee tree.
Hear a vehicle passing in distance but do not see it. Then Bang! Bang! B .........six shots are heard and one shot whizzes over the top of the
hill and over our heads. My non 4x4, old mates, have a very worried look on their faces.
Stay calm
We finish our lunch and beers in leisurely style and move on along the track.
No sign of shooters...... only wheel tracks.......Suzuki width.......
See no one till we get back in to town some hours later.
Hope this is not a precurser to all my adventures coming up this year LOL