Bucking Bulls & the Cowboy Hat Heist, Gympie

Day Two of the Gympie Muster… and after another late night dashed our plans for an early rise we all slowly emerged, dusted off our cowboy boots from the night before and ventured back into the Muster.

Nina was keen to do a clogging lesson (a form of boot scooting), so we watched on as she kicked and dosey-doed her way around the dance floor. It was very cute…

Nina has a clogging lesson

The kids with the Veggie Man

We then wandered towards the main arena but got side tracked along the way - when the kids saw the bucking bull competition.

Jack, Harry and even Nina all gave it a go and it wasn’t before long that Richard was also being bucked off the bull.

Jack is the first to give it a go

Harry tries his luck

If the boys can do it... so can Nina

The youngest bull has a go

After some cajoling by Richard,   I was also up on the bucking bull, being jolted from here to kingdom come.

A natural... haha!

What would you know… I beat Richard and the kids and sat at the top of the leaderboard in the competition for the day. 

There I am, at the top of the leader board - who would have thought

If there’s a criteria for being officially feral, I think I’ve ticked that box haha!!!

The kids and Richard were all thrilled to see me at the top of the leaderboard (they had already spent my prize, a $500 RM Williams voucher) but they were also slightly mortified that I’d beaten them all. 

I suppose you can take the girl out of Pickering Brook...

Anyway, after all that bull bucking… we moved on (with a limp) to the main area where we watched WA girl Chelsea Basham perform on stage.

Cheryl and Graham Kent, who we are at the Muster with, have known Chelsea since she was a kid and the day before Cheryl had employed Nina to make a sign to hold up for Chelsea in the crowd,… the sign said “WONGAN HILLS”,  Chelsea's hometown.

She spotted it straight away and was blown away by it… she was then more than happy to sign autographs for the kids after her amazing show…

Chelsea Basham with Harry, Nina & Jack

We then headed back to the campsite for a few hours before getting ready to head back to watch a couple of golden oldies, Brian Cad and Russel Morris… the kids again managed to get their autographs on their hats…. Which were looking very full.

Kasey Chambers then took the stage with her husband Shane Nicholson and it was while we were all bopping away that Nina & her friend Elkie had their hats stolen. They came back to us distraught… and instantly everyone was on the search for two pink cowboy hats.

After talking to the police and the word spreading through the crowd, we gave it away - while Nina sobbed herself to sleep.

Beccy Cole then took the stage and had everyone up and dancing and in stitches with her comedy skits… she really is an amazing performer. When it was time to get Beccy’s autograph, Richard brought Nina and Elkie new hats so Beccy could sign them…

Beccy Cole with Jack, Nina, Harry & Elkie

Just before it was time to pack up for the night and head back to the caravan, word got to us that the hats had been found. Two grown men (aka losers) had stolen them when they saw the girls put them down, hoping to sell them on e-bay.

They were spotted by some friends of Elkie’s Mum and ended up a little worse for wear after one of the men refused to hand the hats back… thank heavens for karma – it really does exist.

Only moments earlier Richard and I were chatting about this amazing experience and how the only thing that had tainted it so far for was Nina having her hat stolen but all was again right in our world.

It remains an awesome experience. We were blown away how complete strangers took it upon themselves to be on the lookout for the pink cowboy hats of  2 little girls that they didn’t know. 

The whole experience has restored my faith in humanity.

By around 11pm we all headed back to the caravan, only to be joined around the campfire by Ian, our next door neighbor, who played his guitar as we sang along into the wee hours… another neighbor also joined in with his guitar. It was priceless!!

Our own neighbourly muster

This morning, Saturday the 25th of August you will be surprised to hear that  - again, it was a very slow rise 'n' very dull shine.

Richard headed off to buy brekky and a strong coffee and before we ventured over to the Muster.

We didn’t stay long, it was really hot, so we went back to the caravan to chill out – a rarity in the last few days.

Nina’s hat was brought back amid cries of relief and gratitude....

A happy chooky gets her hat back

The kids then ventured off to get some more signatures from Tania Kernaghan and Lee Kernaghan.
They finally managed to get Lee's signature after an hour long wait. They came back very excited.

Late afternoon we headed over to the Muster, taking in the many sights along the way....

A makeshift bar in the middle of the campgrounds

A busker plays the guitar while balancing one on his head  - go figure!

Our first stop was to watch Chelsea Basham again, the West Australian girl from Wongan Hills and then on to the main arena where the Sunny Cowgirls were playing - also WA girls....

The kids meet the Sunny Cowgirls

I thought it was cute when Jack decided that the girls should know the football score. He was very proud to tell them that the Eagles were beating Collingwood... they both laughed.

The kids eat a pizza and watch the show

Richard, Mike & Graham

Richard & I

We then gathered in the Main Arena again to watch Lee Kernaghan, Jack's favourite country music singer. We all headed down to the mosh pit and Jack, on Richard's shoulders for most of the  performance, was thrilled when Lee gave him the thumbs up a couple of times.... The show was amazing.
Walking home - I felt so happy and privileged to be able to be giving my kids  such amazing experiences which they will always remember, I know Richard felt the same way.

We arrived back to the caravans to find our trusty next door neighbours, TWO cops from Tenterfield in New South Wales, had lit our campfire for us and were ready for another late night jam session.
After a few huge days, and one more to go... I am thinking I might sit this one out. No doubt Richard will stumble in - sometime much later :-)