Monday, May 28, 2012 at 21:22
This story sounds like utter BS, and unbelievable - but I'll swear on a stack of Bibles it's true, because I was there!
We were camped at the Ida H mine, just a few kms from
Burtville (just SE of
Laverton, W.A.), re-treating the tailings from the mine in the late 1980's.
We had two 28' Viscount vans with annexes set up for a camp, along with some seatainers for a workshop and other equipment.
The eldest nephew had a little blue heeler called Rocky (because he was about as tough and mean as Rocky Marciano).
Rockys favorite stunt was to sit inside the nephews ute, watch for people coming past, then duck down - then launch himself through the window, going GRRAARRRRRRR!! - SNAP!! - right in the persons face!
People used to utterly crap themselves when he did it, and he got me several times.
There was a big Bungarra that used to hang around the camp, and look for food around the campfire. He was a decent size, probably about 1.3-1.4M from nose to tail.
He got pretty bold and would sit under one of the vans, and come up to within a few metres of us.
However, any time Rocky spotted him, he'd be off, barking at him and chasing him. The Bungarra would normally zip off at speed, and shoot down a nearby burrow, leaving the dog barking and frustrated.
Then came the day, Rocky spotted the Bungarra out in the open, away from the 'vans and his burrows. Rocky took off at light warp speed, barking in excitement - and so did the Bungarra.
The Bungarra made for a low
hill about 200M from the camp, where there were some stunted Mulgas.
The Bungarra made straight for a Mulga, shot straight up it, and ran out onto an overhanging, spindly limb, that bowed under his weight.
Rocky parked himself under the Mulga branch, that the Bungarra was hanging off, about 2.5-2.8M up, and commenced barking excitedly for about 5 or 10 mins., trying to get the Bungarra to jump out, so he could chase him again.
Well, the Bungarra jumped, alright. He waited until Rocky was taking a breather from barking and was looking back at us (we were all watching to see what was going to happen) - then he took a neat leap, and landed right on Rockys back, like a jockey in the
Melbourne Cup!!
What got even funnier then, was that the Bungarra stayed there, in that "jockey" position, by digging his claws into Rockys back!!
Well, Rocky went berserk! He yiked and yelped, and took off running through the low scrub, like a horse let out of the barrier at the start of the Cup!
And the Bungarra rode him like Damien Oliver on the winner in the Cup! It was absolutely hilarious, watching this Bungarra hanging on for grim death like a jockey, while the dog barrelled at full speed through the scrub, yiking and yelping, and trying to dislodge the goanna!
We were rolling about killing ourselves with laughter! It was unbelieveable how this Bungarra parked himself and hung on!
Finally, after about 20-30 seconds, the Bungarra decided he'd had enough, so he bailed out and jumped off, and tore off through the scrub.
Rocky turned tail for
home and crawled under the caravan, looking decidedly stupid and embarrassed!
He never chased any Bungarras again, I can tell you that much!
I would not have believed a Bungarra would jump onto a dogs back so neatly, and actually stay there. I've heard stories about them running up people standing still.
I know how fearless they can get, I've seen them act like little crocodiles, huffing and puffing, and standing up aggressively, and even attacking and biting people on the boots. They can bite and scratch and kick like fury.
However, I wouldn't have believed a Bungarra would hang on and ride a dog like a jockey, like this one did.
It was one of those moments one wished one had a camera on hand, to record it for posterity.
AnswerID:
487046
Follow Up By: Member - Dirt Princess - Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 19:45
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 19:45
Funny story Ron, reminds me of Henry Lawson's great story "The Loaded Dog". Life is definately like a box of chocolates full of surprises.
FollowupID:
762451