Simba - 15. Simba Ch 15

When we arrived at Port Lincoln Airport, Uncle Nat went ahead to meet the farmer – Peter Drysdale, before introducing him to Aaron and me, and we headed out of the small air terminal to the waiting twin cab vehicle, with uncle Nat sitting in the front passenger seat.

“The lease ends on the 1^st of July, so I am wondering, if you are interested in allowing me to continue with the lease,” Mr Drysdale asked as he turned onto the highway heading north. “I see no problem with that, but you will have to discuss it with Uncle Nathaniel, as he manages the trust,” Aaron replied.

“I too see no problems, but there will be a few conditions put on the new lease, which we will speak about in more detain before the lease needs renewing in July,” Uncle Nat said to Mr Drysdale, as the vehicle turned right off the highway, and was now heading east.

“This is Sullivan Drive, with the airport on our right, and your property located on the left, and in a moment you will see the end of the main runway. This farm, is called Todview Farm, with the main house, your father’s house Aaron, on the left just past this first lot of trees, and we just use this farm for grazing, because of the close proximity to the airport,” Mr Drysdale said to us.

A few minutes later, we turned left onto a gravel road, and stopped just a few metres short of the waters edge. “This is the Spencer Gulf, Adelaide is 235 kilometres dues east of here, and this is your south-eastern boundary,” we were informed, before we turned around and headed back the way we came.

Back on the highway we headed north until we came to the township of Poonindie, “We only have a population of about two hundred people in and around Poonindie, so it is fairly quiet place to be, although we do get the occasional idiots driving stupidly on the main highway,” Mr Drysdale stated.

We ended spending about three hours looking around the three farms, including the place where the farm boundary in the north-west last has contact with the Tod River, which is more like a semi dried creek bed than a river.

Once we had thanked Mr Drysdale, and Uncle Nat informed him that he would be in contact soon; we headed into the airport terminal to wait him two hours until the next flight back to Adelaide.

“I don’t think that the Tod River would be suitable for a canal boat, as there is too much work required to get the river deep enough to handle canal boats,” Aaron commented as we sat in the boarding lounge, and waited for our flight. “Yes, that was my thoughts as well,” Uncle Nat, commented.

“Is there any other small rivers that may be suitable for canal boats?” Aaron asked, “Apart from the Murray River, which is the biggest and longest River, and already has a few paddle boats that go up and down the river, there is really only one other that I can think of?” Uncle Nat replied.

“I thought about what he said for a few minutes, trying to picture all the rivers that are located in our state, and then I remembered the one at Port Augusta. “You are thinking of Port Augusta, from the town up to Yorkey’s Rail Crossing?” I asked Uncle Nat.

“Exactly, and there are three bridges there, but all of them are high enough o get a canal boat through, except for maybe when there are extreme high tides,” Uncle Nat replied.”

“How far do you think it is up that river, to this crossing?” Aaron asked, “Not sure, but since Jacob here has his I-Pad, maybe he can look it up for you,” Uncle Nat replied. “Where would be the best starting point?” I asked.

“I think there is a yacht club just below the main bridge at the south end of town, near the old main wharf, that would be the best place I think, it has been a while since I was last there, but from what I remember, it is quite a large wharf, and it has a jetty at the southern end of it,” Uncle Nat replied.

After a bit of searching I found a leaflet online from a canoeing group, who had kayaked up the river as far as the rail bridge, where there is a weir just beyond it, and it indicated distances along the way, starting from the yacht club at the south end of the wharf.

“I have found something, and it says that it is 10 kilometres from the Yacht Club up to the rail bridge and weir, and that at 4 kilometres per hour it takes four hours to get up there, with a couple of salt works barge wrecks, the old salt works and three bridges to pass under, all of them high enough for a small boat to get under,” I informed Aaron and Uncle Nat.

“Well it looks like we will be doing a road trip, once we have Aaron’s big party out of the way, and I believe it is about 3 ½ hours drive from Adelaide to Port Augusta, so we can either do the trip in one day or have an overnight stay in Port Augusta,” Uncle Nat said.

“Overnight please,” Aaron responded, and I just nodded my head in agreement. “Good, I will make the arrangements for the weekend after Aaron’s birthday then,” Uncle Nat said. Once we had arrived back at Adelaide, Uncle Nat drove us home, where we rested for the rest of the afternoon, until the lads returned, and we had a few games of tennis.

On the Monday morning, Aaron and I remained at home, so to allow the tradesmen to work of the window shutters, which were completed just before lunchtime. Once we had eaten, Aaron suggested that we go furniture shopping for the project, and so after a bit of searching we caught a taxi to our first of three locations in nearby Mitchell Park.

After checking that they do deliveries, we walked around, Aaron seemed to know what he wanted for us, and he ordered four cube-shelving units, plus two 2-seater sofas and four side tables. I was a little shocked at how much that it all came to, for the small amount of furniture that he bought, but Aaron payed it on his debit card without any concern, and arranged for it to be delivered to our new office base at 4 pm.

At our second location, which was a lot better quality furniture, Aaron ordered four very sleek looking desks, and four very comfortable office chairs, two sideboard tables, which cost nearly double the amount of our earlier purchase, and once again Aaron asked for it to be delivered at 4pm.

Lastly, we went to an Officeworks store, were we filled up a trolley with two computer printer/copiers, six reams of copy paper, plus two dozen ring binder folders, a stack of note pads, boxes of pens and pencils, four steel rulers, pencil sharpeners, four desk lamps and a dozen document wallets.

Aaron hadn’t finished yet, as he selected a small fridge, a sandwich press, kettle, tea, hot chocolate, six coffee mugs, a workplace first aid kit, four column heaters and four large white boards and markers. Going back to the stationary area, he selected four business diaries, two-year planners, an A4 laminating machine and laminating pouches, before heading to the checkout counter.

Aaron was able to arrange for all of this to be delivered by 4pm, so we just called for a taxi and headed to the office base, to be there when the deliveries arrive. While waiting, Aaron suggested that we get a fencing contractor in to get a quote to build the fence between the main building and the sheds, which I agreed to, and after a little bit of research, we selected a well-known business name and gave them a call.

We were surprised to hear that he had a cancellation with a job, so he would be able to come out now to do the quote, so we gave him the address in Flagstaff Hill, and he said he would be with us in twenty minutes. When the fencing contractor arrived, he informed us that he used to attend scouts at this hall when he was a teenager, so he knew the buildings well.

After explaining that our business is in the area of science research as well as wildlife care, and that we needed a secure outdoor area, he recommended a wooded paling fence, which can include a lockable gate. Retrieving his catalogues, he showed us the type of fence that he recommended, and we were very happy with that style of fence, as long as it is at least two metres tall, and that it have a concrete footing below the fence to stop any digging in or out of the yard area.

With the other job being postponed for a while, the fencing contractor said that he could start work in two days time on the Wednesday, and that the job would take approximately five days to complete including the concrete footing at a depth of two feet on both side of the fence. He recommended that the fence be 2.5 metres high, since the place involves animal rescue and recovery services.

Aaron and I were happy with the quote amount, and asked him to go ahead with building the fence, which I think will look good with the surrounding bushland around the area. Opening up the front double doors to the main hall, ready for the deliveries to arrive, it was not long before the first small truck arrived, with all of the supplies we had bought at Officeworks.

The second truck arrived before the first load was finished, and Aaron and I were kept quite busy assisting with unloading all of the supplies and furniture that we had purchased, which was all just placed inside the hall for now. Once the last truck had left, we closed and clocked the doors, and headed home, for a bit of a rest.

It was only about twenty minutes after we arrived home, that Will and Chris arrived from their day of studies at University. “We have been very busy buying supplies for our new base, and it has all been delivered and temporary stored in the main hall, so you guys could come and check it out and help to set it all up,” Aarons said excitedly.

“Well in that case, give us a few moments to get changed and grab a bit to eat, and we will all head over there,” Chris responded. Will nodded his head in agreement, since he is the only one amongst the four of us who currently has their own vehicle, although I do have one, but it is in Tanzania.

A short while later, we climbed out of Will’s car, parked near the back door, and I unlocked the single back door. “We may need to look into security of this place, since it is a bit out of the way,” Chris suggested, “Ok, we will look into it tomorrow. By the way, we have arranged for a fencing contractor to build a 2.5 metre fence between the main building and the sheds, so we have a secure outdoor area, and they will begin work in two days time,” Aaron announced to Will and Chris.

For the next two-hours, we moved things around, until we had everything in its place, and everyone was happy. Will and Chris who have the biggest office space, where very pleased, and when everything was done, including setting up a stationary cupboard, and putting the entire kitchen appliance in the kitchen, we sat down in the sofa chairs, which are currently in the conference room.

“I actually like this lounge meeting room setup, I think we might start a new style of office meetings,” Chris commented. “Yes, it is quite relaxing too, now before we get too comfortable, we need to discuss a few things. Firstly we need a company logo, so we can make up some signs and business cards, so let’s start some brain storming on some ideas,” I announced, as Aaron stood up and retrieve a note pad and pen for each of us, before sitting down again.

Will insisted that the logo should include a picture of a lion’s head, and although I was a little reluctant on the idea, everyone else agreed, so that was one decision made. Apart from the name of ‘Kuishi Project’ and under the main name are the words – ‘To Survive’, it was decided in the business card and the signage, to include – “Native Flora & Fauna Research, Recovery and Surveying’.

With me bringing my I-pad, we looked at setting up an email address, and after doing some searches, to make sure that the web address was not yet in use, we came up with a simple email address and web address, which Aaron began working on setting up.

Will, Chris and I had heaps of photos that we had taken when working at Taylor Island, and we emailed them to our new email account, so they can be added to the website. Chris mentioned that he had a friend who is a great Graphic Artist, and that he would talk to him about creating an idea logo for us.

When we arrived back home, Uncle Nat was already home, “Hello boys, where have you all been?” he asked us as we all entered at the same time. “Well, Aaron and I went shopping for furniture and stuff for the project, and when the lads arrived home, we have been at the project office setting up everything that had been delivered and discussing a few things, like project logo, website and email address,” I replied.

‘Sounds good, I look forward to seeing what you have done with the place, now you haven’t forgotten that we have a big party to finish organising, how is that progressing?” Uncle Nat asked. “No, as you see the shutters have been completed, and Colonel Hammond has agreed to bring his BBQ over on Friday, so we have plenty of cooking facilities, and Aaron and I will be doing the lawn mowing on Thursday, so it the back yard is looking good,” I replied.

“I have a question in regards the main hall of the project, your know how the house at Marangu, has those giant wall hangings in the main lounge, would it be hard to get some of those for the walls of the main hall of the project?” Aaron asked.

“I think that is an awesome idea, and maybe get some large prints made up and framed of some of the animals that we photographed when we were on Taylor Island,” I added. “Ok, I will have a chat with Afya about the wall hangings, and I will leave the other idea for you lads to organise,” Uncle Nat responded.

“I have a question too, where is Marangu?” Will asked, “Tanzania, it is the village, where our family holiday home is located at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, and just twenty kilometres from the border with Kenya, we spent a week there on the way back from the UK, that is why Aaron knows about it,” I replied.

The following afternoon, Uncle Nat was home early, so we went for a drive to the project office, and he was pleased with how they place was looking on the inside. We informed him of the plans for the enclosed yard at the back, and the planting of a lot more native trees and shrubs, especially along the inside of the access track, that runs long the side and back of the property.