Tuesday, 22 May 2012

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

Friday, 20 April 2012

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 80th 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.