The Joy is in the Journey

This morning we got confirmation that Jenni and Glenn are on their way to meet us. We followed the Murray Valley Hwy through Kerang township and on through the Kerang Lakes District which comprises a series of 22 lakes and swamps including Lake Charm, Lake Boga and Kangaroo Lake. The wetlands support large numbers of birds and again is recognised as an important Ramsar convention site. Some facts you may not know.....Kangaroo Lake is the birthplace of John Gorton and Burke and Wills passed through the area, crossing the Murray at Swan Hill, on their ill-fated journey in 1860. We didn't stop as it was hot, windy and the glare of the sun off the water would make birding difficult.  Arriving in Swan Hill we crossed the Little Murray, also known as Marraboor River onto Pental Island. Some people take cruises to islands, we drive to them it seems. We knew of this Holiday Park as we stayed here with the Cobram Junior Soccer Club for the 1997 Vic Country Championships. The camp is ...

Driving towards Cohuna we stopped off at Gunbower to see the mural on the local hotel. Again this was completed by Jimmy Dvate, like the ones in Goorumbat and Rochester. It is a beautiful scene of waterbirds of the area.  Gunbower Island is the largest of Australia’s inland islands at over 45 kms long covering 26,400 ha. It sits beyond Gunbower Creek, which branches off here and then rejoins the Murray at Koondrook, hence forming the island. We are camped on the island in the shade of gum trees which line the edge of the practice fairway of Cohuna Golf Course, where Stuart Appleby first developed his swing. It is a lovely setting, we just walk across the first fairway which lies adjacent to the practice one, to the creek which is very pretty and this evening was alive with birds. Earlier in the day we called in at the local Sunday morning market to buy some fresh produce. It was held right in town beside the irrigation channel. On the other side of the channel wer...

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...