The Joy is in the Journey

22nd Oct The drive to Echuca was trouble-free and we reminisced about the many times we drove the same stretch as far as the Kyabram turnoff when we went to either Maryborough for Smith family occasions or to visit Bendigo. We also visited Echuca regularly as the port history, in particular, makes it a very picturesque town. There always seemed to be something on; the Jazz and Blues festival for instance.   Our caravan park is right on the banks of the Murray and we are backed onto the boundary fence so we have a fabulous outlook from the shade of the awning. The shade is important as the temperature is rising. Tomorrow is expected to reach 30 deg.  Over the next five days we saw plenty of birds here in the later afternoons and mornings. I'm going to list just the ones that we don't see in our Darwin environs. If you are not interested just skip to the next paragraph.  The list is comprised of: Aust. Magpie, Long-billed Corella, Little Corella, Superb Fairy-w...

20th Oct So the Crispies were on the road home this morning, it will take them 2 days to get back to South West Rocks. We have really enjoyed their company and look forward to joining them in Tassie for a walk next year.  We dropped our van at a park in Cobram and called in on Zol, another of Eric's past work colleagues and golfing buddies. Then instead of driving straight back to Yarrawonga where we were to meet up with my brother Col and Beth, we took a round trip along the North East Victoria Silo Art Trail and Benalla. First stop Tungamah. The artist who did this silo is one of my favourites Sobrane Simcock. I first saw her gallery in Broome earlier in the year and had to buy one of her pieces for Eric's birthday. He has a pair of dancing brolgas too. The local hotel had a small gallery of her work but this time I resisted more purchases.   Next was St James, where artist Tim Bowtell dedicated his mural to Sir George Coles, a St James local who founded C...

We are now going to be meeting up with my brother Col and Beth next weekend in Yarrawonga, so instead of driving the loop through Benalla to Cobram today as initially planned, we retraced our steps and that gave me the chance to photograph these iconic RMB (roadside mail boxes) that we flew past last time.   Well we have fallen on our feet here in Tocumwal. Jim and Joan booked an Airbnb with room for the 2 caravans as well. We all shared a relaxed afternoon and then terrific first night eating curry and sitting around the firepit as the moon rose through the sparse cloud cover. Nothing quite like a fire is there? Bit of competition between us as to who had the stoking rights though.  Unfortunately the Victorian contingent all left the next morning and apparently the interstate golf scores at this point in time sit at all square, despite (or perhaps as a result of) Jim's creative scoring methods. The NT team took on NSW this morning on the President's 18 and gues...

And why wouldn't you? Some more of our best friends were meeting us here. We were invited by Yve and John to pull the van into the front yard and the first thing you notice when you walk into the home are the colourful yarn throws and blankets Yve has been making for charity. She is always producing something to be shared. Such a generous person. Meanwhile John is now very involved with renewable energy and happy to be in a region that is actively embracing change for the better. The community are so lucky to have these two in their midst. Yve and John are just new settlers in town but Robyn, with Gracie and Rob, have been here a bit longer. Sue and Glenice travelled up from Melbourne and took the train home the next morning. A little later Trina drove down from Albury after work (too late to join us on the walk around town). We worked with all these people at School of the Air in Katherine between 2000 and 2004.  They were exceptional times, adventurous times for all o...

After settling in at our camp at Yarrawonga we met up with the Crisps and shared an Italian dinner at the Mulwala Ski Club.  The next day we played the Lakes Course of the Yarrawonga Golf Club. Someone let Jim do the scoring even though he is known to be inventive with the scoring system. Perhaps the handicapper needed to be aware that he hasn't played in the last 3 months and his partner was going to be wayward, to say the least. On the other hand Joan was off to a flying start and we didn't catch she and Eric all game. Not to worry, "Its just a game," they said. I didn't find the water, but if there was a bunker on the fairway, and there always was, I seemed to be in it. This is the first 18 holes I have played in at least 12 months, so I needed a rest by the time we'd finished.  So much digging in the sand!  Suffice to say Jim bought the first shout.   We bought supplies on the way home and then shared a tandoori chicken dinner in the camp kitche...

7/10/10 Today was a public holiday today for SA Labour Day, and the first day of Daylight Saving. We drove out of the fertile valley, through arid plains until finally we arrived in the Riverland Area of SA. Barmera is home to the Overland Corner Hotel, first established in 1859 and popular with sheep drovers moving stock from NSW into SA. Barmera lies north of that Goyder line I mentioned in an earlier post, but because irrigation has been available it is a highly productive agriculture and viticulture area. They are selling 4 butternut pumpkins for $6 on the side of the road but I just can’t think of a way 2 people can eat that many. We have a site right on the banks of Lake Bonney, a popular spot for water enthusiasts apparently.  There are plenty of other people here and all manner of watercraft. I had no idea there were that many things you could tow behind a boat! When we lived upstream from here in Cobram we were very happy with an opportunity to jump on a pair of s...