Off the dirt for a while

We left Menindee after a night camping in the Kinchega National Park and followed the worst dirt road we had yet encountered between Menindee  and Pooncharie .  We expected the van to be shaken to bits but were pleasantly surprised with nothing broken or on the floor!  Spent a couple of days in Wentworth where it rained for most of our stay.  Had a look at the old goal and went to where the Murray and Darling Rivers meet.  Also saw one of the weirs with the flooded Murray pouring over it, a great thing to see all this water which has finally reached the mouth of the river in South Australia.  Left Wentworth and travelled to Renmark and free camped on the bank of the Murray, still roaring past, where it rained most of the time again. This was when it snowed in Victoria and the wind was blizzard .  Saw the cliffs on the Murray and the rose garden with 40,000 bushes and 4000 varieties!  A couple of wet nights later we moved on, roughly following the Murray and seeing the cliffs along the banks, some of which were only metres from the road.  The problem is that they are crumbling and we suspect that they will have to re-align the road in many places soon!  Camped at Walker's Flat after crossing over on the ferry and then onto Adelaide where we are staying with a friend on Kath's. Going to Kangaroo Island on Friday and returning on Monday.  Will probably leave Adelaide on Thursday. Enjoy our photos as we enjoy bringing them to you!!!! 

Junction of Darling (left) & Murray (right) rivers at Wentworth

  

front gate at Wentworth goal



paddleboat coming up the Murray R cliffs at Renmark



cliffs along the Murray R. at Renmark




us coming off ferry crossing the Murray R. at Walkers Flat



sunset, showers & true stories

Our spot on the river bank was so relaxing that we stayed another six days.  More fishing, cooking in camp oven, happy hours and campfires.  We were joined by Doug and Caz (whom some of you will know) on Wednesday morning.  They just got set up before the showers came.  Just enough rain  for us to have to put out the awning for the first time here.  Rain stopped in time for us to enjoy a sit-around the campfire and catch-up with each other's travells.  Tall tales and true from the legendary past were spun before we retired for the evening.  The wind from hell arrived at 11.30pm gusting to 1000klm per hour and just about lifting the van off the ground using the awning as a sail.  A mad rush in the dark to put up the awning.  By morning the wind adated and the weather stayed fine but sometimes windy for the rest of our stay.  Thursday evening our hosts arrived at the camp with a bucket of 4  yellowbelly which we BBQ'd for dinner.  More yarns around the campfire.  We witnessed a fabulous sunset.  Pictures follow.  Sunday morning we all packed up, farewelled our host and set off for Menindee.  Fish count on departure, Kath7,  Des 10.  Stayed at Copi Hollow  part of the Menindee lake system that night, another fabulous sunset across the lake.  Today we travelled to Kinchega National Park which surrounds the Menindee Lakes system and borders on the Darling River.  We are camped on the river bank again, but very steep banks along this part of the river.  Staying tonight and moving on, possibly to Wentworth tomorrow.  The lakes system is 100 percent full and we think many trees will die as they are sitting in a lot of water.  It is incredible to see so much water this far inland.  Photos follow.




Sunset Darling River station campsite




sunset at Copi Hollow




Lake Menindee full

  

still poor but happy

Our fossicking at White Cliffs was absolutely fruitless but nevertheless we had a good time.  Saw an underground dwelling made from a working mine which has 6 bedrooms, some doubles, which is now a B&B and the owners are still mining further down the tunnel.  Had a good look around town, must have been a real goer in the early 1900's.  Not much activity now, still finding some opal.  Left White Cliffs in convoy with 4 other vanners and travelled to Wilcannia for fuel and supplies and headed for a fantastic property right on the Darling River.  We estimate the river is 60-80mtrs wide here.  The River Redgums are massive.  See the photo with Kathy standing in front of one and you get a true appreciation of the size of these majestic trees.  Hard to think how old they would be.  Photos follow.  This is what we expected to find all the way from Bourke.  We have been here since last Tuesday and will stay until at least Monday morning.  Have been fishing and the count is now - Kath 5,  Des 1.  Cooked a fabulous damper, super beef curry and stupendous golden syrup pudding in the camp oven, and that's just in the first couple of days.  Having a great time.  We have hot showers, toilets, gas bbq and the most fantastic stretch of river that we have seen so far.  So we won't be in a hurry to move on.  We even have communications here.  Last night we had a group campfire and one of our fellow travellers entertained us with some fabulous country music on his guitar around the campfire.  Our fellow travellers moved on this morning so we now have the whole place to ourselves for a couple of days.  The weather has been very cold, but fine.  Today is slightly warmer and is expected to stay fine.  It's a hard life.

bedroom in underground B&B at White Cliffs



old mullock heaps (with wildflowers) at opal fields White Cliffs



campsite with fellow travellers on Darling River 50kl from Menindee



view along riverbank



catch No. 5



giant River Redgum and dwarf (Kathy)



view across river from campsite