SATURDAY 28th APRIL

We left early and drove to Hawker filled up with fuel and water ready to go into Wilpena in the Flinders Ranges. We hadn't booked but hoped we were early enough it is nearly the end of school holidays. No Chris and Mary as they have two dogs with them and we are now in a National Park, will meet up later.
Got a site for us all only 5 vans now and went for a lovely drive through some gorges. The colours are amazing and the landscape varies all the time.

Lovely old church at Cradock

5 camps next to each other at Wilpena

Colours seem to vary all day beautiful!!!!

FRIDAY 27TH APRIL

We all wanted to look around Burra before we moved on. It had an historic part and a village that is still operating. There was a copper mine there in the 1840's and they have kept it as a walking museum site. Really well done. Lovely old buildings walked around for a couple of hours.

Drove to Peterborough which is a railway town and has all types of train monuments and museums.

Sitting in an old carriage with scenery on a screen moving along the trip well done

Nev the train driver!!!

Drove on to Orroroo and saw the big tree. Not as big as the birthing tree we saw at Maryborough

We stayed behind the pub at Cradock the only stipulation was you had to buy a drink at the pub. It is the only thing in Cradock population 5.The publicans and a chef and a waitress and a dog!!!
We had a drink and watched the beautiful sunset.

Drink at Cradock Pub!!

Maginificent sunset nearly at the Flinders.

THURSDAY 26TH APRIL

Today we have a long drive to Burra. Ian and us decided to drive a different way on dirt roads to maybe avoid border control as we had a full jar of lovely honey that Michelle had given us and we didn't want to lose it. Well it worked we didn't even know when we were over the border.
Met up with everyone at Renmark. A very pretty town on the Murray. Went to a brewery on the river and had a drink lovely spot. You can hire houseboats which look great.

The gang at the brewery!!

We stopped at a lookout and saw these amazing red cliffs we haven't seen this type of river bank along the Murray beforeTook a punt with Little Ian and Jill and the vans over a river on the way to Burra. Burra caravan park but it was full so we stayed at the showground and went to the pub for tea as it was a long drive today. Ineresting little pub Nev had  burger with a charcoal egg on it.!!!

Dinner at Burra Pub one to remember!!!!

Following little Ian off the punt.

WEDNESDAY 25TH APRIL ANZAC DAY

Nev and I wanted to go to Dawn Service and Ian and Rhonda and Jill decided to come with us. So up at 5am and walked to town to memorial in the main street.
A really nice service not long and easy to see not so crowded. Only a couple of old guys left for their march.

                                              ANZAC DAY Dawn Service at Swan Hill.

After brekky and shower headed off for Mildura and drove through the Mallee Scrub. Very dry everywhere, great weather for us but they really need rain.
We are meeting at "Bushman's Rest Caravan Park at Cullullaraine.
We drove into Toolebuc to have a look lovely towns along the Murray. Had morning tea at Robinvale and lunch at Mildura in a lovely riverside park with Chris and Mary.
We drove through grape vineyards,and almond and orange orchards then onto dry wheat fiels. Arrived about 3pm made some blueberry cup cakes to use up fruit as we are going into SA tomorrow and they have aborder control for fruit and vegies!!
Nice grassy campsite.

Old bridge over the Murray at Toolebuc

Nev and Pete discussing something!!!! Grassy campsites beside a lake.

TUESDAY 24th APRIL

Went for a walk and then went with Rhonda and Ian and Little Ian and Jill to Pioneer Village. WOW!WOW! They have so much original stuff! The town looks like straight from the 1880's and all the shops are really authentic and they have been transported from the local little villages around Victoria.We spent 5 hours looking and had lovely morning tea there and a ride 1945 ford car and a ride on a draught horse and cart.

Teacher Mr Jacobs taking the class!

They have their own post mark 

I got the front seat, Jill and Rhonda in the back

We all fitted in the carriage, Lovely horse!

At night we went to "The Heartbeat Of The Murray" laser and light show. Really good told the story of the Murray River from creation to paddle steamer days to present. They used water fountains and the river itself and the trees on the  banks we all sat in a grandstand overlooking the river.

These appeared in the water spray from jets

MONDAY 23rd APRIL

Left Swan Hill early as I need to go to the doctor as I have conjunctivitis. The lady at informationcentre got us an appointment for 9.40 and we were out of there at 9.50 with script for drops so will be on the mend soon. Very painful!!
Booked in to van park and Wendy and Mary were already there. Only three to come.
Set up had lunch and into town to info centre again this time for info and a bit of shopping.

                          This big cod is in the centre of town.
We had a quiet afternoon and put a pork roast in the webber for tea and cold meat for sandwiches. Early night eye drops are working.
There are 6 couples travelling now.

SUNDAY 22nd APRIL

Pretty cold last night but beautiful day today back in shorts.Here by ourselves, Nev cooked eggs and bacon and billy has been boiling on his new firepit all day!!!
He put generator on and we had lovely hot showers charged everything up. He has chopped up more wood to take with us. A few boats came for a while didn't catch anything. Nev tried his luck but no bites. I caught up with the blog takes a while sometimes.
So a pretty quiet day!

Boat ramp and view down the river with lovely river gums along the banks.

SATURDAY 21st APRIL

We are moving on today BUT we found we have to do a "quick" run to Ballarat again as we left part of the new firepit out of the bag at the nursery!!!So drove straight down picked up the grill and straight back to hitch up and move on something we could have done without as we are heading in the opposite direction.
Back at Debbie's hitched up and said goodbye to them. We had a fantastic week and really enjoyed their hospitality.

Jim and Deb and Nev (farmer mates!!!)

Ready to go Jim and Deb and Me.

Drove to Dunolly for lunch after our latestar this morning!!We knew where the good bakery was.
Then headed north back towards the Murray River. We drove past Pyramid Hill and Bald Rock through some very dry sheep properties and into the beginning of dairy country.Jim told us some good camping spots and after looking at a few found one near a boat ramp at Murrabit on the Murray.
Nice flat area amongst the River Gums will stay here two nights until we meet therest of the travelling group on Monday at Swan Hill.
Nev was at home using his chain saw and cutting wood and cooking on the fire.Very quiet but we did have a visitor last night.

Nev with thekettle on his firepit!!!

Our visitor.

FRIDAY 20th APRIL

Today we are driving to Ballarat for the day. Nev has seen a Fire Pit which he likes the look of so we will make a day of it and look around Ballarat while we are there.
We stopped at all the little old towns on the way. Some looked like movie sets they were just as original. Many are abandoned. We went through Clunes and Creswick where we had morning tea at the French Pastisserie (we got Deb her Croissant) .

Really old original shop fronts

YUM! YUM!

We went straight to the nursery and bought the firepit so now he can cook on his fire wherever we are. There are pretty strict fire regulations and most places you need a pit  so now we are right!!!
Ballarat has some lovely old buildings too. We went and got a map from info centre, in a magnificent building and then to the gardens for lunch and a walk around the lake.

Beautiful staircase inside Info Centre

Beautiful begonias

Huge Red Cedar Trees in the gardens

On the way back we stopped at the 700 year old gum tree used as a shelter and birthing tree for aboriginal womennear Talbot.

It was huge with plenty of room inside.

THURSDAY 19th APRIL

Jim had organised for us to meet him to watch one of his mates sheep being shorn. So we drove out Timor and followed him to the farm and into the shearing shed where it was all happening. We met Kane and Jason, the shearers and Rod the farmer. Wow talk about back breaking and hard work. They were both shearing and then Rod and another were sorting on the table. Amazing how they can throw the fleece and it just spreads out on the table. They were having a go at each other the whole time, all old mates. Gave Jim a serve asking if he was going into the tourist business for a bit extra cash!!
Jim use to shear so had a go for each of the shearers. It was great to see.

Jason shearing and Jim Sweeping

Rod and mate sorting the fleece

Jim showing us his shearing skills

We then drove out to Dunolly and saw the "Cork Tree" and had lunch at the bakery and back into town to look around.
Debbie met us after work and took us to see the Aboriginal Wells and up to the town lookout.

The Aborigines followed a sandstone ridge and hollowed out wells which would fill up water and stay full when everything else was dry, there are 4 sets each about a days walk apart. They were very clever.

WEDNESDAY 18th APRIL

Jim took nev to a farm sale at Wycheproof about 130kms away. It was an auction Jim bought some new races for the sheep and Nev nearly accidently bought a huge piece of farm machinery. He enjoyed the trip and the sausage sizzles. Debbie and went to town did some shopping and looking around. Took the house dog for a walk through the ironbark forests across the road from their house.

Maryborough has the most amazing train station it has the longest platform in Victoria and is pretty magnificent inside.

TUESDAY 17th APRIL

We arrived at Debbie's late yesterday afternoon, there is plenty of room to park the van. It is great to see them and catch up.

                                  Debbie's house is a little unusual from the front it  looks like a castle.

Nev went farming today with Jim, I am having a catch up day and Debbie went to school.
Nev helped!!Jim put some races up for the sheep and after lunch helped drench the mob of sheep. Bob Jim's work dog also helps. They drove around the different paddocks and checked on things.
I washed and cleaned the van and walked down to town to PO and looked around.

                                                             Maryborough Post Office

In the Information Centre they had a replica of the largest gold nugget ever found which wa saround here somewhere!!!
It weighed 69kg and is called"The Welcome Stranger"