THE MIGHTY MURRAY RIVER - SOUTH AUSTRALIA

After a stop at the Visitors Information Centre at Murray Bridge to get information and maps etc. we did a quick shop before crossing the Murray River for the first time to stop out of town at the Thiele Reserve (beside the river) to pack away the groceries and have a bite to eat for lunch.

Our first view/crossing of the Murray River at Murray Bridge

Thiele Reserve for lunch.

We had been to Goolwa, where the Murray River enteres the Southern Ocean years ago so decided to start our river journey from Murray Bridge.  We had also been to Mannum so bypassed this township and travelled up to Bowhill, Scrubby Flat and stopped for the night at Kroehns Lookout.  High on the cliff top and what a great view.  Over our journey along the Murray River, I will take photos from our lounge window looking to the river.

What a great way to finish the day - looking out onto the river flowing by.

Friday 10th March, we continue north and stop at Big River Bend to soak in another cliff top view.

As we travelled towards Blanchetown, we marvelled at the pelicans in flight along the river.  It was the only way one could realise that the river was over there.!!??

The land looks so flat but below the cliffs - the river flows bye silently.

Crossed the bridge into Blanchetown to empty the black-water tank from the Sturt Highway the headed up to Morgan where I thought I had chosen a great free camp.  

Lock 1 at Blanchetown

 Oh No.  Not to be as it is 4WD only down on that bend so continued onto Cadell where we found a great camp area beside the river for only $10 per night per vehicle.  Only one other caravan there when we pulled in but as the day finished, it was filling up because a long weekend over here in South Australia.  Adelaide Cup Race Weekend.

The first night we had this mad woman banging on our door at 9pm.  We had our genset running and she demanded that it be turned off as it was keeping her awake!!!!!!  Funny as, our neighbours camping beside us heard us and Joe came straight over and mimicked her.   Well that was it, she would have heard what the two guys said about her and so she did not talk to us after that.  Joe, Janet, their two daughters and partners and friend Di were so much fun to share the weekend with.  Took us up the river to the Caudo Winery for a pizza lunch on Sunday.  While travelling up the river Chris and Dean wake boarded.

Beautiful setting at Caudo Winery.  Wedding here closed it on Saturday with houseboats for guests across on the sandbar.

Sorry Dean, I did not realise I cut you out. Yarna, Di, Wayne, Joe, Chris, Bianca and Janet under the boat canopy's.

Mid morning on Saturday hoards of cars, boat trailers and people converged on this reserve.  Next minute, the ski boats arrived.  Ski for Life.  This group of folk were on a charity run from Murray Bridge to Renmark.(I think it was there).   450 kilometres and on the way they stopped here for morning tea and held a memorial letting balloons go as one of their group took his life.  Hence - mental health charity.

Darn shame, our grumpy lady was not around to see any of this happening.  (That is their caravan in the background)

Another group of young folk came to camp for the weekend from Port Pirie and what a bunch of lovely guys and girls.  Very courteous and friendly.  They got the wrath of grumpy lady on Sunday night as they partied on later.  Ha ha.  Wayne had a beer pong race with the young Chris, Bianca and Yarna on Saturday night with tawny port.   Oh dear.  Not too well on Sunday.  Lol.

The Port Pirie girls in their floaty while the boys used their ski boat.

How is this.  Flood lights lighting up the cliffs opposite at night.

Tuesday 14th March we travelled on the southern side to Waikerie and crossed over on the ferry which is free to all to Overland Corner Hotel where Di told us to have lunch.  Great setting.

Is that big enough for us. Sure was even a big double behind us as well as cars.

Great setting and the house is so full of history in the dining room and internal courtyard.  Just lovely.
Overland Corner Hotel.

Imagine sitting out here listening to a band playing.

 Meandering on down the road past Lake Bonney then Cobdogla turning towards Loxton where we pulled up beside the Murray for the night at Milich's Landing.  What a peaceful place.

Lake Bonney

Window No 3 at Milich's Landing

 1st one afternoon setting.
2nd is the new moon coming up
3rd at dawn the next morning.
My favourite is the last one.

How does this view look in three different times of the day/night.   Just Spectular.

The Riverland Region is so busy with vines, citrus trees, olives, stone fruit trees and almonds.  All abound around here.
We booked into Paringa Caravan Park after passing/stopping/lunching through Loxton, Berri, Renmark before crossing the river several times to park and relax at Paringa.

At Paringa.  Lock and weir 5.  Great park area here to picnic and stroll to take in the ambience along the riverside.

Well we leave South Australia today and so our journey along the Murray River is now shared with Victoria and New South Wales.

Farewell South Australia!

ADELAIDE

Monday 27th February.  Well we have had a little trouble with the landing legs (Wayne thinks it is all the weight in the front bedroom wardrobe)!  So on our way into the city we stopped into an Agentcamper RV place to see if they could fix it.  Yes, but will have to order a part to come over from Melbourne, so paid for it and told it will be next Thursday week before we can fit you in.  That is 9th March!!  O.K.  If that is what has to be.  Booked in for the extra days at Windsor Gardens Caravan Park where the O-Bahn transport was just a 10 minute walk from the park.  Well the 10 minute walk turned out to be 25 for us oldies and not that good in 33 plus degrees heat.  Only way to find out where and when to get into the CBD before Matt and Karen arrive on Wednesday.

As we have been here before a couple of times - Golden Oldies 1999 and PIM Chapter some years later.  So we took a drive in the truck around to familiarise ourselves.  Oops,  we thought we would park in a car park but could not fit!!!!  Adelaide has so much happening on in the city at the moment.  Not only the Super cars, Adelaide Fringe for 2 weeks or more plus heaps of food festivals down by the river gardens.  People and workers everywhere so we flagged looking around the city and drove out to Glenelg for lunch and reminisce the good times with the golden oldie friends.

Victoria Square in King William Street

Adelaide Oval

So hot the people were sheltering under the jetty.

Wednesday night Matt and Karen flew in and we were waiting for them at their at their hotel.  The Ambassador Hotel (Faulty Towers says Karen).  Drinks in the main bar before we explored the city for dinner.

Four days at the Clipsal 500 races was great to spend time with Matt and Karen.  It has been years since we were at Willowbank together.  Matt and Karen found a Coopers Bar - upstairs with a view over the track perched on bar stools for two days.  Saturday and Sunday we chose a sheltered grassy spot along the back straight opposite a big screen which kept us up to date on what happening all around the track.  Very hot days so glad to be under the shade of large trees.  Strolled around these quaint vintage cars and caravans while Wayne and Matt took a stroll through the "Master's Pitt".

We actually saw a small caravan similar to this up at Lake Argyle with a couple of 80 year old's in it.  It was towed by a delivery/panel van where one person slept in and the other slept in the caravan.

Personally, I think four days is too long but I guess it depends on the venue.  Adelaide also has the "Adelaide Fringe Festival" on.  Heaps of different shows all around separate venues in the city.  Also arts and literature happenings throughout the day and nights.  Saturday night after the races we refreshed ourselves and had dinner a couple of doors up from the kids hotel, at Jack Ruby's, then strolled through the city to North Tce. where heaps of different events were happening and where we caught the bus back along the O'Bahn bus way which only takes us seven minutes.  Free while we were going to the car races.  Great service Adelaide.

Tuesday we farewelled Matt and Karen with a barbecue at home at the Windsor Gardens Caravan Park before they left for their trip along the Great Ocean Road to Melbourne.

We decided to take a run to find the best route back to the northern suburb to get the rig fixed on Wednesday, only to find that the company had not ordered the part!!!!  Had time to drive up the hills to Hahndorf for lunch at Otto's - The Best Bakery In The Hills.  Yes, the pie's and vanilla custard and nut slice hit the mark.  Had to stroll up and down the street to walk off the excess kilo's!!!!

Stopped into Mt Lofty Lookout to view the greater Adelaid surrounds and remembered "The Ash Wednesday" fires at the memorial plaque up there.

Too smokey for a clear view today.

Because of the incompetence of Agentcamper RV's we saved ourselves time on Thursday then to travel out of Adelaide through the Adelaide Hills and out to Murray Bridge where we began our journey following the Mighty Murray River.