Sunday 16 September 2012. On my way back to Sydney I stopped early morning to stretch my legs. It was warm and bright, the air still.
I stood looking back up the road - the southern end of the New England Tablelands is little known but very pretty. Turning round, I found that I had attracted interest from a group of curious cows.
I stood there and watched. As I did, the herd began to move towards me. They had obviously been attracted by the sound of the car stopping. Hand fed stock learn to associate motor vehicle noises with food. The countryside was reasonably lush, but the effect still held.
Getting out my camera, I moved to the front of the car and down the fence a little to see if I could get a decent photo. As I did, the herd moved with me. I watched them, they watched me. 
I couldn't stay long. Getting back in the car, I drove on. It had been a curiously satisfying experience.
8 comments:
Beautiful looking country Jim! Every time I see one of those cattle grids it takes me back half a century, and I can smell the gum leaves, and hear the silence. Thank you.
kvd
Thanks, kvd. Smells, sounds and light really can be evocative. The smell of the shearing shed, the rumble across an old wooden bridge, the faster sound across the metal grid, the lonely sound of a crow and so on.I find that I have been using short descriptions a lot more in recent writing to try to bring things better alive to the reader. This ishttp://newenglandhistory.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/aboriginal-new-england-to-1788-1-story.html an example on the history side -
I love unfenced dirt roads. Great pictures and imagery Jim.
Hi Jim
Your newenglandhistory reference is quite riveting; Makes me immediately hungry for more.
Whoever suggested the fella couldn't write? Oh, that would be you ;)
kvd
Thanks, kvd. So you and Joanne both.
Thank you, too, Rod. For some obscure reason that I can't explain, I didn't see you comment at first. I love those roads, too. I need a photo!
Speaking of brilliant, small, writing - do have a gander (or contemplation) of Denis Wright's five-sentence effort:
http://deniswright.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/five-sentence-fiction.html
I've been following him for some time now thanks to you Jim, and it has been an awful and an awe-full journey, bringing back some memories for me.
kvd
Denis is just so good, kvd. And those five sentences!
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