Hay then back to the farm at Winch.

We enjoyed our time in Hay. There are nice walks along the river and the weather was good to us.

Mark and Beemer by the Murrumbidgee



The old river gums at Bushy Bend

Wild asparagus

We moved on to Tocumwal again for a couple of weeks and were able to meet up again with Bisho and Catherine. We had a lovely lunch at the old pub which was very relaxing. On to Shepparton then to get a bit of work done on the van. We stayed at Maldon on the way to Winchelsea. It is a beautiful mining town with the lovely old buildings untouched. we loved walking around the streets looking at the interesting buildings and mine remains.

Maldon School

The pathway to the main street from the old school

Arnold's Cottage

An old chimney from one of the many mines

Then back to the farm. We had a week with Noni and Fox before they left for their holiday in Europe.

Ducks on the dam

Mark's work vehicle

A very young calf

Cows and calves. 13 were born while we were here

Autumn leaves under the apple tree

The wood shed

Beemer chilling out in front of the fire

Gum flower

We have had a bit of fun with the cows calving, the bull arriving and the cooks and ducks.

Back to the Murray

After spending Christmas in Nowra with our family we left at the end of January and headed south towards the Murray River.  Our first stop was at Gundagai where we met up with Lauren, Todd and the kids.  

A Christmas Picnic with the kids and grandkids

A Christmas Picnic with the kids and grandkids

Pebbles making herself at home on Beemers bed

Beemer's new play mate, Pebbles

Then we spent three weeks at Tocumwal, where we met up with Bruce and Sue on their way home from Tassie and the big bike ride.  It was lovely to see them.  As the caravan park was booked out until after Easter, we then moved on to Deniliquin, where we found a great caravan park just on the edge of town with a pool and lots of kangaroos.  It has a huge shed with all sorts of old machinery and a blacksmiths forge among other bits and pieces.  We managed to find Dryshoes and Catherine eventually and had tea with them at a pub. 

Some of the old machinery at the Pioneer Caravan Park

Beemer enjoying a break at the swimming pool.

As it was school holidays in Victoria and Easter long weekend we then moved on to Hay, were we intend to stay until after Easter.  Hay is a nice old town with a museum and old goal to check out.  There is also "The Bishop's Lodge" which you can go through for a look.

Farewell Fowlers Bay

We have finally left Fowlers Bay! We have had a great time there fishing, working and meeting interesting people. Pat and Al called in for a couple of days a few weeks before we left. It was great to catch up. Al did a bit of fishing but unfortunately the tides weren’t right for him. We had a couple of dodge tides and the fish don’t bite. They had just graded the road so they had a good drive out although it was a bit windy. You seem to get a few great days then it gets windy for a day or so then it’s good days again. 

Rod building the new bird cage

Mark doing the finishing touches

Rod admiring his handy work

Finished at last. The birds will be happy

The birds are happy in their new home

Kids playing on the sand dunes

Fowlers Bay from "wow hill"

Goodbye Fowlers bay

Rod and Simone invited us to stay with them at Perlubie Hill, near Streaky Bay. We had an early Christmas with them and a few of their friends which was good as we were able to say goodbye to them before we left. Beemer and Jet got on famously. Beemer had trouble walking for a day or so. He had not had so much exercise for a while. We went razor fish collecting on the beach. 

Mya taking Rod for ride

The view from the house at Perlubie Hill

A beautifull sun set

Another sunset. Same place, different day

The house on Perlubie Hill from the beach

Perlubie Hill

Beemer, a happy dog

Jet, a mad, happy dog

Jack. A cat with attitude

Rod took us to Baird Bay to his Mum and Allan’s where they have a swim with the sea lions and dolphins business. We had a lovely day with them. I chose not to get wet (I thought it would be cold) but as it turned out the water was beautiful. Mark swam with about 5 sea lions and half a dozen dolphins. Rod and Mick, their deck hand, dove for abalone, which Allan cooked up for our tea. We also did a bit of fishing on the way home in the boat and had fresh fish for tea. We were sad to leave Rod and Simone and Mya, but we only said farewell, not goodbye as we know we will be seeing them again.

The boat at Baird Bay

Mark swimming with the sea lions

Sea lions resting after hteir swim with the humans

I'll just rest my head on this bum. He won't mind.

Swimming with the dolphins

Rod's Mum Trish with the dolphins

Trish just wouldn't get out of the water.

We travelled to Port Germein and stayed for a few days. We both needed a rest after trying to keep up with Rod. We had only intended to stay for two days, but the weather turned bad. It was great to hear the rain on the roof. There has been hardly any rain since July.

Sunset at Port Germein

Port Germein Police Station

Port Germein Police Station with Christmas light

We have moved on since to Berri. We stopped at Cadell to see Danny and Ali for a cuppa. Danny took us for a quick drive around to show us the sights. It was great to see them and plan our next trip to Fowlers Bay. It sounds like there might be a big reunion there next year.

Fowlers Bay

Still at Fowlers Bay! Mark has been busy with Rod and the whale watch boat. The whales will be here until the end of September and then they go south again. There have been at least 5 Southern Rights with calves and five or six juveniles in the bay. One went under the boat and its tail touched the other day. That is really up close and personal. The fishing has been good at Scott’s Beach and Danny, who has a boat, always comes back with a fish box full. He gives most of it away to the campers in the park unless it’s Friday, then it goes towards the cook up we have every Saturday night. We have been lucky lately with a couple of people coming through with guitars. We have a bit of a sing along around the fire at night. Fowlers Bay is ‘a bit like a box of chocolates’. You don’t know what’s going to happen next. I haven’t been out on the jetty for a while. I have been kept busy with a new herb garden and other little bits and pieces. Mark gets withdrawals if he hasn’t had the chainsaw in his hand nearly every day. The new generator is going well. No blackouts in the park for a while now. The weather has been great and the sunsets are spectacular. Our photos don’t do them justice.

Another sunset

The container for the new generator

The delivery of the new generator

Some of the many seals

Sleepy lizard

Pom's big squid and others (he caught about 10 that day)

A Southern Right Whale

My big flat head (about two and a half kilos)

Rod and Rhonda were here a couple of days ago. We took them to Mexican Hat in the work ute. Rod and Ted had to sit in the back bouncing around. One of the campers took the ‘boys’ fishing on Scott’s Beach but they didn’t catch anything. 

Rod and Rhonda with us at Mexican Hat