Keith and beyond

Keith was our next Port of Call. It is a small town on the way north towards the Murray River. We met up with Pat and Alan. Enjoyed their company very much. It was great to catch up after such a long time. We spent the evening with them playing cards and laughing. They moved on to Adelaide, on their way north to The Alice and we moved on to Berri, on the Murray.

Mark, Jane, Pat and Alan. Beemer in the front.

Jeep on a stick.

Berri is a nice place on the banks of the Murray River. There are lots of market gardens with almonds, orange groves and paddocks full of butternut pumpkins. We thought they were rocks to start with. Mark bought some off the side of the road. The farmers market was on in Barmera, so we went for a sticky. It was a good day out.

An old waterpump.

House boats on the Murray at Berri

The Murray River

Berri War Memorial

Mark's pumpkins for $5

The view of Berri from the look out

 

The view of Berri from the look out

Berri water tower look out

We didn't know it was dress up. Beemer felt naked

An unusual was memorial

The road was closed for the market in the main street

An old building

Morgan was our next stop, also on the Murray. There were lots of houseboats moored in a marina and a ferry which ran 24 hours a day. The caravan park was right on the river beside the ferry. A very nice spot to stay for a while. There was an aviary with unusual parrots in it. The old railway station and wharf are very interesting.

One of the many houseboats on the Murray at Morgan

Part of the old railway station

A paddle steamer they are re-building at the old wharf

Mark and beemer on the old wharf

The Morgan ferry at night

The pretty parrots

We travelled on to Burra Creek Gorge for a free camp for a couple of days. We were able to have a fire but it was very cold without the heater (no electricity) it is a very pretty place and the view from our front door was lovely. It was great to sit by the fire and watch the wallabies come down from the hills at sun set. There was a water hole and we were told there is always water there.

The view from our front door

Red River gums

Sunset from our front door

Red river gums

Jane and the red river gums

our camp fire

The water hole

Beemer and Mark at the water hole

Burra has been our favourite spot to visit, so we are back there to see the old stone buildings and check out Thorogoods Cider Winery. There is a really nice feel to Burra. The trees are starting to change colour with the weather starting to get cold at night.

Sunset at the caravan park in Burra. It's full!

Morning at the caravan park. It's empty!

Autumn trees in Burra

Mum's 80th then back to the farm

Noni and Fox needed us to look after the farm while they went to the Philippines for a wedding so we headed back to Winchelsea for a month. Noni and I flew back to Nowra for a couple of days for Mum’s 80^th birthday. The kids all got together for the weekend and we had fun entertaining Mum at her place at Shoalhaven Heads. Kerry made a lovely cake and we had a “sausage sizzle” at the BBQ area. The little kids and some big kids had great fun in the pool. We all had a couple of great days together. Noni and I flew back to Winch’ the Fox and Noni flew out to their wedding. The cows were calving again so it was good to get up in the morning and go out to count the calves to see if there were any new ones born overnight. Mark did get to see one born this time. They are lovely when you see them try to get up and stand on their own four legs after such a short time from being born.

Ethan batting for his team

Mum and the great grand kids on her birthday

Getting ready to blow out the candles

Happy 80th Mum

Ethan in his safety gear

Beemer at home at Noni and Fox's farm

After spending a couple of days with Noni and Fox when they came home Mark and I drove to Killarney and stayed there for a couple of weeks. It was good to get back to the salt water. We were able to get in a swim and Beemer had some great walks up the beach. It was a bit busy as it was the beginning of the school holidays in Victoria. We decided it would be quieter at Mt Gambia, so we booked in for three weeks to wait out the school holidays. Unfortunately when we got there is was Easter and they have a dog show on and because we stay at a dog friendly caravan park, every man and his dog was there too. So much for it being quiet. The weekend after the dog show they have BMX trials, so now there is every man and his kids with bikes and dogs everywhere. At least they go off for the day to do their thing on the bikes so the days are quiet until they get back, then they take over the place again.

Back on the road again

Rod and Rhonda's motor home with Tim's hidden behind it

Sue and Bruce's van with Blowering Dam behind

Blowering Dam

We lingered at Laurel Hill for a while to get the car serviced and a draw system put in the back, then down to Blowering Dam for a get together for Owen’s 60^th birthday. We had great weather at the dam and were able to swim every day.  The day after we left it poured rain. We said goodbye to Bruce and Sue, Owen and Cath and headed for Shepparton again. We found lots of cows hanging around the parks.

Some of the cows in the parks around Shepparton

We moved on to Tocumwal, a long 90klm drive to the Murray River. The caravan park is great and the town very friendly. We have a pool near our van and the river is a good 500 meters stroll with a path along the levy bank under the big gum trees along the river bank. 

The Murray River

Sunset on the Murray

Another sunset on the Murray

Mark and Beemer with a big Murray Cod

Jane and Beemer with a big Murray Cod

The 50^th Multi Class Gliding Championships were on and at one time we counted over 20 gliders in one thermal circling over the town. Mark was so impressed he went up in a glider. There is a lot of history around Tocumwal regarding the airfield during the 2^nd World War. It is a nice little town. 

Mark in the glider ready for take off

Aerial view of the airport

Mark's view from the cockpit of the glider

Kodiac in an old wooden hanger

A little bit of history

Some of the gliders over the town

Christmas

We went to Nowra last November for about three weeks.  It was great to catch up with the kids and grandkids and our friends. The lunch we had at The Bridge Tavern for our early family Christmas was terrific and noisy with all the kids running around and talking. Mark and I had a very nice lunch with Mum and Ruth at the Red Raven. We got back to Laurel Hill a couple of days before Cath and Owen left for Hong Kong and China.

Since we have been back we have had Christmas Day with Lauren and Todd. Attila and Marg visited with their dog Lennon, Glenn and Judy came up in their new Pajero and Trackmaster van. They are a neat full on four wheel drive van. PA and Robyn also came down for a couple of days. Kerry and Mark, Ethan and Zarli visited but not for nearly long enough. We had a nice lunch with Lauren and the kids while Kerry was here. It’s nice to spend time with all the kids and their kids.

Glen and Judy's new van

Sunset from the front of the 'Headache House'

Looking up in the sugar pine walk

 

Chelsea, Riley and Zac

Mark and Jane with the Grandkids

Penny and Beemer chilling out

PA and Robyn

Zarli playing with Dad

'The Kids' hanging around

Ethan and Dad with JD trying to keep up

The boys had fun in the mud