 |
| Bushfires out of control |
 |
| Says it all really |
Cooler weather didn't happen for a couple of days and was a contributor to numerous fires in SA. We were almost evacuated from the camp site in Laura when a big fire was headed our way. We were being showered with ash and we watched with growing concern as several fire trucks went by. Thankfully the wind changed and we were finally able to put the tent up. Next day we took the train & went into Adelaide. Compared to the emptiness of everywhere we've been over the last few weeks it felt really crowded!
 |
| Hahndorf - German Village in SA |
We had an enforced stop in Mt Barker due to car problems. We managed to get the truck booked into the Toyota garage and with help from Dean & Gavin of Cricks Motors on the Sunshine Coast it all got sorted; you guys rock! Whilst we were frustrated at loosing another 2 days we were able to hop on a bus and visit Hahndorf, a pretty little German Village. Having experienced temps of almost 48*C we bloody froze that night with 8*C
 |
| Rail & Road bridges over the Murray River - at Murray Bridge! |
 |
| Sue at Wentworth |
 |
| The 'coffee & cream' colours of the Darling & Murray Rivers joining |
Moving on, and I guess homeward bound now, we stopped by the Murray River in Berri. We thought at last we could just relax in peace and quiet, no people and no traffic, it should have been heaven. Unfortunately we have been plagued with flies and ants, both have tried to eat us alive! To cool down we got in the river but were then nibbled by fresh water prawns - getting their own back no doubt! The only respite has been my kayak!
 |
| Outback advertising! |
The drive from Wentworth to Pooncharie was lovely and we spent Australia Day in the nearby Mungo NP looking at the sand dunes, referred to as 'The China Wall'. Then back to Minindee where the water level had dropped by about 1 metre. I had read just a few days earlier about the concerns of water releasing from the lakes, and hard it was on the bird life, but to see it for ourselves!!! We went back to the same camp spot and didn't recognise it. The water had receded by about 30 metres.
We took the dirt road all the way from Wentworth to Bourke and saw just a handful cars over about 620 Km (approx. 390 miles).
Whilst having coffee in Bourke we met a man called Jack Bennett. Well, we did a really lovely walk in the Gundabooka NP up to Bennett's Gorge on Christmas Day, and it turns out he was the Jack Bennett it is named after. A lovely man with some amazing stories & yarns to tell!
 |
| Who're you looking at? |
One more night and one more canoe suddenly found us driving home. A very long 9 hours.
Where next I wonder ??
Welcome home yet again to some different weather and a little noise down the hill. Managed to find a good home for my donkey so the remaining female in my life has also left.
ReplyDelete