Erik Skye Travel Blog

13 Jan 2012

For the map, click here: Google Maps – Wizard of Oz

Car’s trip odometer: 5,950 clicks (km)

Angie loves men, and I was no exception. She’s got slanted eyes, a long narrow face, and a heavy body the shape of a miniature barrel carried by stubby legs so short and spread so far apart that she bobbles as she walks. Angie came after me with a huge grin, slobbering red tongue, and wagging tail.  She pressed up against my legs between feeble attempts to heft her massive body and head up to mine.  Angie had so much joy that it wasn’t possible for her to contain it, and it was one of the sweetest yet hilarious events that I’ve witnessed in some time.

I returned to Orroroo to visit with Sarah and Kathy again, and to see the little homestead they purchased a few years ago. There were timid sheep being raised for meat (not for wool), a tall old race horse, alpacas (known to spit), chickens, lorikeets, and an English Bull Terrier named Angie. We walked the grounds and drove through the back paddock, inspected dilapidated facilities like the old farm cabin, piggery, and slaughter house. The piggery was a rusted shell of corrugated metal, dark except for rays of light intruding through pinholes and cracks, and full of cobwebs and debris (I let Sarah go first). We stood silently looking at the pens and then commented on the inhumane conditions that must have existed for the pigs therein sequestered for life.

You can judge the size of the town by the number of pubs it contains. Orroroo has two, and we visited them both. The beer and food were excellent and so was the company. I walked up to the first pub with Sarah and began talking to a group of four were sitting outside under the covered walk. ‘Where are you from?’ asked one. ‘Guess,’ I replied. ‘Finland,’ he said. (I’m thinking ‘what?!’) ‘Ah, no. Try again,’ I replied. A woman beside him exclaimed ‘Overseas?” ‘Now you’re getting closer!’ I exclaimed. I left the small group to put something away in my car, and as I did I turned back and declared ‘and don’t be talking about me when I’m gone!’ Sarah says they’ll be talking about me (the new guy from ‘overseas’ hanging with a local girl) for a while. That’s a small town for you, and I think its charming.

For song of the day, click here (let website load briefly, then click orange "play" next to title):  The Ashton Shuffle - Won't Get Lost 

For access to archived Erik Skye Travel Blog articles, click here: Archive

To receive notification of future articles, send e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with “Subscribe” in subject line.