9th May 2012 - Cobram (Dead Bend Beach) - Greens Lake (474)

Hit the road at 10.00am and stopped at Strathmerton for pies - cannot go past “Strathy” without getting pies from the Bakery.  Safely tucked away in the fridge for dinner, and will use the Camp Oven for the last time tonight to heat them.  Strathy now has a dump point and fresh water for the caravan, so worth remembering for future “trips”.  Going through Yalca Nth, Nathalia, McCoys Bridge, Wyuna & then down to Kyabram.  Nice quiet roads and really worthwhile staying off the main highways.  Weather is looking a little unsettled, it is really trying hard to rain although it’s not cold. The sky is very grey and we get a sprinkling of rain every now and then but nothing to worry about.  Camped at Greens Lake (474) which is not far from Elmore.  Will stay here tonight & tomorrow night before heading down to Sunbury and then onto Maree & Paul’s. Have enjoyed being on the road and traveling to The Fleurieu.  Have loved the “Free Camping” and we will definitely be doing more.  So much nicer, have had water views every camp, and not paid a cent, can’t get too much better than that……..!!
Sadly this holiday has come to an end, this is the last entry, I will start another “Blog” when we hit the road again.

7th & 8th May 2012 - Cobram (Dead Bend Beach)

Heading towards Cobram and taking the back roads once again.  Up to Tooleybuc then across to Kyalite crossing the Wakool River.  Then we will follow the Edward River across to Moolpa, Moulamein, Morgan and then through to Deniliquin.  So much water along the side of the road, dams as well as the rivers all looking very full and very healthy. Stopped at Moulamein for lunch and had a look at an old Court house.  Interesting town, it is the oldest Riverina Town established in 1851.  Not much there now though, looks like a lot of the shops have a “For Sale” sign on them and even the Pub was closed.  No counter lunch for us today…!!! Finally settled into a camp area on the Murray at “Dead Bend Beach” (305) just outside Cobram.  The river here, as well as The Edward River at Deniliquin, are very low in comparison to all the other rivers we have seen in the last few weeks.  Obviously The Murray is being held back at Yarrawonga, but I don’t know why The Edward is so low…..Lovely camping spot with a sand bank down to the river and only 2 other people camping here. Will stay a couple of nights and then go across to Greens Lake near Elmore for our last 2 nights before arriving at Maree & Paul’s on Friday.

6th May 2012 - Murray State Forest

Woke up to a glorious day, sunny and warm.  Barry is washing the caravan and I am cooking sausages on the BBQ for lunch.  Will probably leave tomorrow and head towards Cobram and prop there for a couple of nights.

4th & 5th May 2012 - Murray State Forest

We have decided to stay camped here beside the Murray for a few days as this camp is really picturesque and very quiet.  Will probably head towards Cobram on Monday and stay there until we go back to Melbourne on Friday (11th May).  Today we went into Swan Hill for a drive and Barry bought a bow saw, he is very happy......it doesn't take much to keep him happy!!!!!. He has managed to saw up quite a good supply of wood for our campfire.  The weather here is really pleasant, the days are not cold or windy but the nights are very chilly and need an extra blanket as well as the bed sox to keep warm.........Fantastic Full Moon tonight, unfortunately the photo does it no justice at all....

3rd May 2012 - Murray State Forest

Beautiful, beautiful day.  On the road at 9.00am and not a cloud in the sky.  Heading towards Nyah West on the Murray through Pinnaroo, Carina, and Murrayville before stopping for MT at Walpeup.  Nice memories of our last night at Walpeup when we went to WA with Mum & Dad as well as Maree & Paul in 2005.  Made camp beside the Murray behind the Harness Racing Club at Nyah West.  We are actually in the Murray State Forest and will probably stay here 3 nights if the weather is nice. Camp fire is going and a roast in the camp oven is on the menu..

2nd May 2012 – Victor Harbor – Lamaroo (121)

Left the caravan park and are heading towards Wellington to have a look at where the Murray flows into Lake Alexandrina.  Once again on the back roads through Currency Creek, Finniss & Milang.  1000’s and 1000’s of grape vines at Currency Creek and a gorgeous little “Cellar Door”.  Morning tea beside Lake Alexandrina at Milang where we bought a homemade pastie from the bakery that was built at the side of a house, very enterprising and a lovely pastie.  I am fascinated with the amount of “Poo” for sale signs there are.  So far I have seen Pidgeon Poo, Pony Poo, Horse Poo and today a sign for “Organic Cow Poo” it makes you wonder how much is sold!!!!! Can’t wait to see what the next sign is……No rain today, just a bit cloudy and quite windy.  We have decided to go to Pinnaroo and back towards the Murray.  Robe & Mt.Gambier seem just a little too cold at the moment according to the weather bureau.  Disappointment, we are not able to see where the Murray flows into Lake Alexandrina. Apparently it is on Private Property so no way to get to it. The Ferry across the Murray at Wellington (“Quail Ferry”) is the closest we can get.  That is approx. 300 metres away so pretty close.  We are traveling through Tailem Bend, Karoonda, Yurgo, and Maratha down to Lamaroo and then onto Pinnaroo.  It is lovely traveling on these back roads, very few cars, good roads and lots of wildlife.  We just stopped in the middle of the road to let a porcupine cross.  He then decided to turn around and go back, before turning around again and getting off the road……very confused.  The closer we get to the border the nicer the weather – sun is now shining.  Found a camp at the back of free camp 121 for the night.  Very secluded and nice and quiet.  Before deciding on that spot we went up a sandy track looking for a spot to camp and nearly got bogged.  Barry still says I worry too much – yeah right!!!!! 

1st May 2012 - Victor Harbor

Today we are going over to Cape Jervis and Rapid Bay to have a look.  The rain has started and today looks like being our worst day since leaving Paynesville. Our trek today takes us through William Creek, Parawa and Delamere before getting to Jervis Bay.  Then we will back track, back to Delamere on our way to have a look at Rapid Bay. Lots and lots of fog, very difficult for a little while before Parawa to see the road.  Out of it by the time we got to Delawere.  Rapid Bay looks to be a lovely spot to camp even on a rainy day.  Right on the beach and very quiet.  $5.00 pppn so very cheap.  There appears to have been a quarry here but now is closed and the water is the most gorgeous light blue.  Actually looks a little tropical!!!. Just spotted a fox in a paddock on the way out of Rapid Bay, sitting there watching us watching him!!!!!!funny.  Grabbed some lunch at Second Valley, sat in the car in the car park overlooking the ocean and what a stunning outlook. We are now driving up to Myponga Beach through Lady Bay, Normanville and Carrickalinga (I love these place names...)  Continued on a bit of a 4WD on our way out of Myponga Beach. Very steep, really picturesque, marked as "Dry Weather Road Only", and certainly off the beaten track.  Very exciting.....It looks like we have really made the best of a "crappy" day.  Stopped at Yankalilla at "The Pharmacy Op Shop" - couldn't resist, it looked so cute & even grabbed a "bargain".  Tonight it is off for a counter tea at the local pub and tomorrow we pack up and head back towards Murray Bridge.  Hope the weather improves a bit.

30th April 2012 - Victor Harbor

Went exploring......First stop was Victor Harbor Tourist Info.  Disappointing, the tram isn't running until mid June as the jetty is being repaired.  The Steam Train doesn't run again until Wednesday at 11.00am and the Ferry over to Kangaroo Island is still much too expensive, even without the caravan. So, it is off exploring on our own......First stop Port Elliott, beautiful old town.  Lunch at the Flying Fish Cafe right on Horseshoe Bay overlooking the water, then onto Goolwa where we checked out the Goolwa Barrage.  Very interesting and I have had my first glimpse at the Coorong National Park.  Going back into Goolwa and over the Bridge to Hindmarsh Island (secret women's business!!!!!) and 11kms to see the Murray Mouth.  Have now seen the Murray Mouth and am looking forward to getting to Wellington to see where the Murray flows into Lake Alexandrina.

29th April 2012 - Mannum - Victor Harbour

A drizzly day today but NOT cold.  Have decided to pack up and head towards a caravan park at Victor Harbor.  Mannum has been a really beautiful place to stop for a couple of days but it is now time to hit the road again.  We are going to travel through little towns called Pallamana & Monarto, off the main roads and then down through Strathalbyn to Victor Harbor.  At the moment Barry is over excited about having a race across the Murray with the other ferry.  Our ferry "Won"....small things amuse small  minds I guess. :)  Lunch at Strathalbyn which is a very quaint little town dating back to 1839.  Lovely little sandstone houses that look like old miners cottages but much, much nicer.  Drove through Currency Creek where there is a winery on our way to Victor Harbor.  A magnificent old house, definitely going back to have a look around and maybe even buy some wine ....Finished the day with a beautiful sunset camped right by the beach with fish & chips from the Victor Harbor runner up "award winning fishery".....too good.

28th April 2012 - Mannum (Bolto Reserve 227)

Woke up to a really foggy morning that eventually turned into a glorious day.  Sunny and about 25deg. Staying here today and tomorrow and then going down to Victoria Harbour to go into a Caravan Park. There aren't very many free camps down along the Fleurieu so we will put the van into a park and then go exploring in the car.  May even go over to Kangaroo Island.  Not affordable to take the caravan.  Looked on the net and the return fare would be $358.00....ridiculous. Laying in bed watching the river and there is so much "action"..... The river is very, very busy, there are houseboats, speed boats, jetski's, and even a long rowboat with 6 people rowing, I think they must be in training!!!!!! Also heaps of bird life and the kids in the camp next door have been catching shrimp in their nets. Not big enough to eat, but still very exciting for them.

27th April 2012 - Tenbury-Hunter Res - Bolto Res (227)

10.30am and we have hit the road towards camp 221 to have a look and if that isn't really nice we will continue onto camp 225 at Purnong.  Stopped at Swan Reach to take some photos of the most gorgeous little Op Shop I have ever seen, unfortunately nothing caught my eye!!!!! Following the Murray River through Nildottie, Walkers Flat, Purnong, Bow Hill and eventually Mannum and Murray Bridge.  Looking forward to seeing where the Murray flows into Lake Alexandrina at Wellington and then onto the Fleurieu to camp at Rapid Bay.  We appear to be doing a lot of ferry crossings and they all have names:
"Albatross Ferry" @ Swan Reach
"Stilt 11 Ferry" @ Walker Flat
"Kingfisher Ferry" @ Purnong
"Coot Ferry" @ Mannum

Tonight we are camping at Bolto Reserve at Mannum.  Again, lovely spot right beside the great Murray River.