We discover the identity of the real suckers.

Property number six is beyond steeply undulating. The agent slows to put the Toyota into '4 wheel drive' and we are barely past the front gate. We push up the track, sliding sideways on the loose gravel. My high school study of geography tells me that the contour lines are getting so close they are blurring into one solid line.

Some time in the past a 'pioneer of the area' cleared this land, probably before the invention of chain saws and bull dozers. Now mother nature is getting her own back, tree ferns, bracken and good sized eucalypts are reclaiming their hills, contour by contour.

We nudge carefully down the track, the view is unforgettable as much for the vertiginous descent as the outlook. I file property number six under 'memories of trekking in Nepal, without snowy peak backdrop.'

Note to self - research mountain goats or research farms with fewer contour lines.

Back at at a lower altitude, the conversation in the Toyota turns to livestock, as the urban would be farmers interrogate the agent about options on farms aspiring to be cliffs.

' The run of suckers is late into market this Spring' we learn. ....

The run of suckers!! ... are we that obvious!!

' Yer, this has been bad -there's a 48% drop compared to last year'

The ramifications of the GFC are clear, yet here we are in the back of the Toyota being confronted with our sheer naivety.

'Yer, the new season lamb market is way down this year.'

The would be farmers both breathe a sigh of relief - another lesson learned - keep your mouth shut and all will be revealed.

Later I quietly google 'sucker' ..... "A lamb still sucking the ewe and ready for slaughter. The most succulent lamb of all."

Are we suckers?

Wandering along the main street of country towns window shopping for a farm is an interesting way to while away a morning and it's clear everything is for sale. 'ultimate country living' -- 'for the equine enthusiast' or ' secluded acreage' feature strongly in the widow displays , my favourite... ' steeply undulating' ... left me wondering if climbing gear was not optional or at the very least mountain goats will be the only stock worth considering.
And what story lies behind - ' 120 ha, 2 bedrooms, no bathroom, mortgagee sale, DA approved for stunning home.'

But back to the suckers. In the back of the 4 wheel drive I shuffled the files over to the other seat as we bounced over the cattle grids. The agent explained that he was more into the 'stock' rather than 'station' side of the business.

At the first property there was a problem with the gate, -wrong keys or wrong property? Not a promising start.

Next stop was 'Lost Hope Farm', a sad and sagging house with a good crop of dust taking hold, possibly sadder was the dog chain at the back door with collar still attached - do I even want to know that story?