Sob sob

Rachel headed off to camp this morning - for the whole week! We're going to miss her greatly...

On the Murray at Mildura

The first week of our school holidays was spent as a family at Mildura, near where the two great rivers of Australia merge: the Murray and the Darling. We had a great time, exploring some interesting and unexpected terrain. The photos here are of Perry Sands, a pure sand desert a few kilometres from Wentworth.


Our marks in the sand were quickly removed by the wind. The fine line at the ridge of the dune quickly restored.



The weather was warm enough to tempt some of the cold-blooded creatures of the land out into the open.



It is at Wentworth where the Darling and Murray Rivers join, where the first overlanders drove cattle across these great inland waters. The river system is under severe stress at the moment, due to a decade of drought. In previous years the rivers have been known to run dry. A system of locks now ensures water at all times, although those relying on the rivers for irrigation are being severely cut back.




Mildura is about the furthest one can travel from Melbourne without leaving the state of Victoria. It has been decades since either Ev or I was in Mildura, a town immortalised in an old Skyhooks song "Love on the Radio". For afficionados, the address of the song (25 Langtree Ave) is non-existent, so any attempts to place orders from "Homecall Pharmacy" will return empty!

A trip on a paddle-steamer is a must in the region. Rachel and Sam took their turns to pilot one of these grand old ladies of the river.

No collisions at the hands of either!

Many of these majestic vessels have been restored...