Entering South Australia

16/2

We went for a bike ride through the centre of Mildura to the Murray River before breakfast.  Unfortunately it was then we found out about the “four jacks”(after finding out why bikes were called pushbikes).  Both Mark & Donna had flat tyres.  They have large four cornered bindiis that go right through bike tyres and tubes.  The local bike shop said it puts most people off riding their bikes in Mildura itself.

On a brighter note we went for a short drive to Wentworth, which is the town in NSW at the junction of the Murray and the Darling.  With such an expanse of water going down both rivers we were unable to get to the viewing platform in fact even the controls for the weir were underwater.

John and Donna (the intrepid explorers of our group) went up the Perry Sandhills, but the heat even drove them off quickly.  Kathie and Mark were happy to watch from the shade.  Hard to imagine that this was ten minutes from the flooding of the Murray.

17/2

Today we left Mildura for a short trip however didn’t pull up for the night until 3:00p.m. An exciting day as we went from Victoria to South Australia.  Our first stop after the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone Checkpoint was Renmark.  This is a pretty town on the Murray, lots of expensive Houseboats.  It’s known for its rose festival.  Morgan was our next stop, however before we reached it we had to cross the Murray.  Our cars & caravans went on the ferry.  Morgan was a very pretty and historic town.  Wow!  Did the scenery change quickly.  We couldn’t find a place to pull over for lunch for ages.  When we did it was very hot.  I have attached a photo of the gorge that had been gauged out by water.  In the town of Eudunda, where we had hoped to stop they had experienced a downpour that eroded much of the town.  We were pleased to eventually stop at Saddleworth.  We are at the local show grounds.  Mark & John watched the local lads training while having a few beers, and all was good until Sachin Tendulkar stormed off the field!  I am writing this at 8:20 at night.  The sun has just gone down and we are in twilight.  Hope everyone is well!

 

 Crossing the Murray at Morgan

 30 Minutes away from Morgan, desolate countryside.  Our lunch stop was near this waterway.