Rained all night in Adelaide and hail was predicted for this evening, so when the rain stopped around 10am and a wind sprang up, we got ready to pack up the trailer. By 11:30 the canvas was dry and we left Browhill Creek. Rather sad as it was a great place with creek, hills, a walking trail and good caravan park.
Everywhere south of Broken Hill in 3 states seemed to promise rain for the next 5 days. We decided to head towards the Murray River rather than south to Mt Gambier in hope of warmer weather and less rain. We also packed up with stay at a cabin in mind, putting clothes and food in the car and camping stuff in the trailer. Ended up at Lake Bonney, Barmera, in a nice caravan park and a tiny new cabin. Even watched TV news for the first time in 6 weeks but soon turned it off. No rain that night and missed being in our cosy somewhat roomy trailer!
Friday 4 August
A dry day so we filled up with the cheapest fuel for weeks @ 118.9 and headed east along the Sturt Highway. We kept dipping in and out of South Australia and Victoria when we explored a few byways, but ended up at Balranald. The caravan park here is beside the Murrumbidgee River. We stayed here some years ago and remembered the lovely river red gums. Hard to see birds at dusk but a pair of yellow rosellas, a very handsome sulphur-crested cockatoo and a snaky darter were easy to find.
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| Murrumbidgee River at Balranald |
Saturday 5 August
Rained quite heavily for half the night but dry in the morning. Drove to nearby Yanga National Park where we walked for an hour, seeing a western grey kangaroo, rabbit, eastern rosellas, pied butcherbird, crested pigeon, willie wagtail, little grebe, wood duck, pelicans, magpie-larks, whistling kite. Had an interesting conversation with the Ranger there. Visitors are invited online to:
Explore the wonderful Yanga Homestead and return to a time when Yanga was one of the Riverina’s most productive pastoral stations. Located in Yanga National Park, part of Murrumbidgee Valley National Park, the homestead was built around 1870, along with station outbuildings including stables, a gardener’s shed and station store. There are also rose gardens, restored and maintained by volunteers. We did this some years ago and it was worth visiting. The lake there stretches to the horizon but is only 2m deep, surrounded by river red gums. Drove on to Hay, noting the cotton-strewn roadsides. We stayed in Narranadera at Lake Talbot caravan park with views over the lake.
Sunday 6 August
Dry night. Booked for another day here and drove to Rocky Waterholes, crossed a bridge to a levee bank beside an irrigation channel leading up to Leeton and Griffith. Met a local there who showed us a koala and a dead microbat.
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| Rocky Waterholes |
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| Irrigation channel |
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| White-browed Treecreeper |
Wood Duck Treecreeper Magpie-lark
Black duck Superb Fairy-wren White-winged Chough
Australasian Grebe Magpie
Darter Willie Wagtail
Little Pied Cormorant Australian Raven
Monday 7 August
Weather threatening, cold. Booked an ensuite site at Cowra, not wanting a wet trip for a shower. Rained overnight. For want of any alternative,we went to the Information Centre and saw a video about the prisoner-of-war camp in the 1940s.
8-9 August
Rained overnight so we put a tarp over our bed as our canvas was damp. Long .drive to Penrith because of roadworks. Booked a cabin at Neapean Shores for 2 nights so we could visit my sister Barbara at Kingswood. She was cheerful but not well - heart problems and difficulty in walking.
10-12 August
Visited my nephew David and his lovely wife Michelle at Lake Haven. Michelle has had several intensive care episodes this year because of diabetic issues but she looked remarkably well. Their 8- year-old grandson Josh was there, not well enough for school. A delightful child.
Stayed the next 3 nights at Forster, trying to have a holiday with no weather problems.
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| Cabbage Palms Walk, Wallis Lake |
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| Wallis Lake from Green Point |
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| 7 Mile Beach where I SAW 2 whipbirds! |
13 August
Stopped at Sawtell overnight to visit my sister Pat. Her daughter Anne came over and we all had a very pleasant afternoon. Took Pat with us for dinner at the Ex-services Club in Coffs Harbour. Pat is a darling. She still drives herself locally but cannot bowl any more because of balance problems.
14 August
Back home in Brisbane to an immaculate house and improved garden, thanks to Barbara's daughter Debbie, who stayed here while we were away.
Moral of the story: Don't go south in winter!!
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