The Big Cattle Muster

Episode Transcript

(00:35):
The big cattle muster.
The morning sun was alreadyblazing over the rolling hills
of the Aussie farm as Jack andBonnie pulled on their dusty
riding boots.
Today was gonna be a big one.
Mitch had promised they couldhelp muster the cattle on their
dirt bikes.
You kids ready to move somecows?
Mitch called out sitting on hisquad bike.
Two Kelpies, rusty and blue satat his feet panting with

(00:57):
excitement.
I'm ready to ride.
Jack Shouted, pulling on hishelmet and adjusting his gloves.
His blue and green jersey wasalready speckled with red dust
from previous rides.
Bonnie in her pink and blackriding gear grinned.
Let's go get these cows.
She shout.
Their dirt bikes rumbled to lifeand the dog started barking with

(01:19):
excitement.
Rusty, the older dog hoppedstraight onto Mitch's lap.
He's paws resting on the tank asif he'd done this a hundred
times before.
Blue ran alongside Jacks andBonnie darting ahead and barking
as if to say, hurry up the farmstretched out before them.
Paddocks as far as they couldsee.
Dotted with cows grazing lazilyunder the morning sun.

(01:41):
The long grass swayed in thebreeze, hiding all kinds of
surprises, rocks, sticks, andeven wombat holes.
But Jack and Bonnie were tooexcited to worry.
Mitch led the way, kicking up acloud of dust alright, team, he
shouted over his shoulder.
We need to keep the cows moving,but nice and steady.
If we push too hard, they'llscatter.

(02:01):
Watch the dogs, they'll help usout.
Jack sped up riding alongside agroup of cows that were starting
to wander off.
Come on, girls.
He called revving his engine toguide them back.
The cows snorted and turnedreluctantly.
Joining the slow moving herd,Bonnie followed close behind
This is harder than it looks.
She said.

(02:22):
Weaving through the cows to keepthem together.
Don't forget to pace them.
Mitch reminded too much pressureand they'll bolt.
Jack's nodded.
Keeping a steady speed.
The heat was intense and eventhe cows seemed to feel it.
Mitch stopped the herd by alarge dam so the animals could
drink the water sparkled underthe sun and a few cows waited in

(02:42):
up to their knees to cool off.
I'm about ready to jump in theretoo.
Bonnie said, wiping sweat offher forehead.
Not a bad idea.
Mitch laughed.
Rusty hopped off the bike andtrotted straight into the dam,
splashing around to cool offwhen the cows had their fill, it
was time to get moving again.
Jack's noticed one cow start towander off, heading for the far

(03:02):
corner of the paddock as one,making a run for it.
He yelled, we'll go and get her.
Mitch called back.
Jack's twisted the throttle andsped after the runaway cow.
His bike bouncing over theuneven ground.
The long grass was so thick hecouldn't see what was beneath
it.
Suddenly his back wheel hit ahidden log.

(03:23):
Boom.
Whoa.
Jack shouted standing on hispegs to keep his balance as the
bike bucked him all over theplace.
Careful in the grass mate.
Mitch called catching up withhim.
It hides all sorts of surprises.
Jack's finally caught up to therogue cow riding just wide
enough to turn her back towardsthe herd.
Gotcha.

(03:44):
He said grinning is the cow.
Joined her mates again.
Bonnie was weaving through thegroup, keeping everyone together
when her bike hit a muddy patchnear a dam.
Woo.
Splash.
Mud sprayed up and splatteredall over her jersey and goggles,
gross bonty groan, wiping themuck off.
That was cow poo.

(04:04):
Jack's laughed so hard, healmost fell off his bike.
You are covered in it.
It's not funny.
Bonnie said shaking her head,but she couldn't help but giggle
too.
As they climbed higher into thesteep paddocks, the ground
became rockier and the traildisappeared.
The bikes bounced and joltedover rocks and loose dirt as
they followed Mitch down into adeep gully.

(04:25):
This is where the tricky cowshide.
Mitch said the gully was full ofthick blackberry bushes.
Their thorns reaching out likeclaws.
Bonnie's bike got close to theedge and scratch.
A branch caught her arm.
Ow, those thorns are sharp.
She said wincing.
Blackberries are everywhere inthese gullies.
Mitch said, keeping his paceslow.

(04:45):
You just have to push through.
Watch out for holes.
The dogs barked ahead.
Flushing out a group of cowsthat had wandered down to hide
in the shade.
Mitch revved his bike, nudgingthem forward.
Alright, girls, time to headback.
Jax and Bonnie worked togetherto guide the cows up the steep
hill, dodging thorns, andkeeping a steady pace.
Jack's engine roared as heclimbed the back wheel, spinning

(05:07):
for grip on the loose dirt.
Come on, come on.
He mudd leaning forward to keepthe bike steady.
Bonnie followed, bouncing overrocks and clumps of grass, but
suddenly thud her front wheeldropped into a hole hidden by
the long grass, and the bikestopped dead.
Ah, Bonnie Yelped as she tumbledforward onto the ground and into

(05:27):
the hole.
Bonnie sat up brushing dirt offher jersey.
What was that?
Jack's pointed into the hole.
It's a wombat burrow.
Just then a chunky wombatwaddled out, staring at Bonnie,
like she'd interrupted his nap.
He's looking happy.
Bonnie whispered the wombatsnorted and turned around and

(05:47):
disappeared back into hisburrow.
Jack's burst out laughing.
I think you scared him more thanhe scared you.
Bonnie couldn't help but laughtoo.
I'm glad he didn't decide tochase me.
With Mitch's help, Bonnie pulledher bike outta the hole and got
back on her bike.
I'll watch out for those nexttime.
She said shaking her head Afterhours of riding, they finally
pushed the herd toward the yardsat the bottom of the paddock

(06:10):
we're almost there.
Mitch called.
Nice and easy.
Now, Jackson and Bonnie Roadwide, making sure no cows tried
to sneak off as they guided theherd through the gate.
The dogs barked and circledkeeping the cattle in line.
The sound of who's on dry dirtfilled the air as the cows
shuffled into the yards.
Mitch rode up to the gate andswung it.
Shut the loud, clung the jobdone.

(06:31):
He said.
Smiling proudly, we did it.
Jack's cheered parking his bikenext to the fence.
Bonnie wiped sweat off her faceas she climbed off her bike.
That was hard work.
I'm so tired, but it was so muchfun.
Mustering cows isn't easy.
Mitch said padding Rusty who hadreturned to sit on his lap, but
you two did an awesome jobtoday.

(06:52):
You kept the herd moving, dealtwith the runaways, and even
dodged a wombat.
Jack's laughed, barely.
Bonnie grinned and I smell likecow poo now for a week.
Mitch laughed as they leaned onthe fence looking out over the
herd of cattle.
The sun was starting to sinktoward the horizon, turning the
sky, shades of pink and orangeriding dirt bikes and mustering

(07:15):
cows.
It can't get much better thanthat, Jack said.
Stretching his arms.
Bonnie nodded.
Smiling.
Well, any day on a dirt bike isa good day.