Mildura to Broken Hill

We left the sun and water of Mildura at about 10.00am and headed north along the Silver City Highway for the NSW Outback town of Broken Hill. The first part of the journey the sides of the road was filled with orange trees and then thousands of grape vines. But it wasn't long before the outback converged on us and the view was pretty dry, flat and a bit boring. Although you had to stay focused as there were lots of sheep, goats and some emus crossing the highway. We even saw a huge wedge tail eagle feeding on some fresh road kill. Broken Hill is a mining city, with Broken Hill Ore Deposit being the world's richest lead-zinc ore body. By the time we arrived in Broken Hill and set up Myrtle we were both pretty tired. I think maybe we are going to have to drive around 200kms a day and stay a few days at each location. Shane's nephew Zak lives here so we are having at least five days in Broken Hill catching up with him and checking out the surrounding areas.

Mighty Rivers and more...

After a very lazy morning we decided to venture out and have a look around the area. One place I had read about was the small township of Wentworth with it's historic H.M Wentworth Goal and the Perry Sand Hills. It is also the area where two of Australia's mightiest rivers, the Murray being the longest and the Darling being the third longest rivers in Australia, meet and become one. So off we went, the gaol was very interesting. I cannot believe what some of the inmates had to endure and not all were criminals. Salvation Army members were also jailed because they didn't conform with the major religions. It was interesting at the junction where the rivers meet the water was two colours due to the heavy rains in Queensland making the Darling a lot more muddy looking. After a yummy hamburger for lunch it was a short drive to the Perry Sand Hills. They covered a much bigger area than I had imagined. Shane was not up for any climbing so off I went on my own for some fun. My question is where did all this sand come from?

The meeting of two mighty rivers.

HM Wentworth Goal

Perry Sand Hills

Now to climb to the top!!

This poor tree is being swallowed up by the sand, but surviving quite well.

Now to top my day off, Mildura have Guy Sebastian performing here tonight and it happens to be at the open air stadium over the river. So I am sitting here enjoying the concert for free.

Day 2 - Swan Hill to Buronga

After a very chilly night in Swan Hill it was on the road again for Buronga which us a small town of approx 1200 people on the New South Wales side of the Murray River. It's sister city on the Victoria side is much bigger, in fact it is a city with a population of about 60,000.
On the journey we stopped of at a couple of small towns to stretch our legs, eat and have a look. The first stop was in a tiny little village of Nyah West with a population of around 600, although it actually looks like there would a lot less people living there. One talented artists work caught my eye with some very interesting art pieces out of wire.  

Nyah West

Australia's Coat of Arms in Wire

Race Horse, Man and Dog in Wire

Our next stop was in the township of Robinvale. I had read that this town was very multicultural and sitting down having lunch (and a very nice lunch I must say) I had to agree. As well as Australians there were a lot of Pacific Islanders and Asians - I think from Vietnam. At first I was a bit bewildered why so many different nationalities would head to Robinvale. But my assumption was that a lot would be there for the fruit picking. I know a little about fruit picking as my son Shane did it for quite a few summers. It was hard work but he earned a lot of $$$'s. I read some interesting stats on the fruit etc. grown in his area.

This region grows the following percentages of Australia's fresh produce:

• Almost 100% of Australia's dried vine fruit eg. sultanas, currants etc.
• 69% of Table grapes
• 65% of almonds
• 41% of Pistachios

On the foreshore in Robinvale there are the last two of the bollards that have been made in appreciation of numerous river people of the past. They are located in various places between Swan Hill and Robinvale.

Woodcutter - in the paddle streamer heyday, over 200 boats travelled on the Murray.
Each burnt more than half a ton of dry redgum per hour. Woodcutters lived beside the river, carting their own woodpiles with horse and wagon. Boat Captains left a note saying how much wood they had taken, paid later.

Captain John Egge: Came originally from China and started working on riverboats in 1854, a year after the first boats travelled on the Murray. 12 years later he had his own boat, and by 1870 was one of the biggest boat owners on the Murray-Darling. He owned several boats and barges, and many businesses on shore.
Born 1830 (Shanghai) - Died 1901

Our Adventure Begins

Thursday began quite early with the last of the packing up of Myrtle and the car. I can't believe we are actually doing it - "running away from home for 12 months". We fully intended to leave around 9.30ish but as usual with the best laid plans - we ended up leaving just before 11am. Once we were packed it was time for our final goodbyes and cuddles. Then it was time to drive off on our adventure. Even though the weather was fairly chilly today nature gave us the bluest skies possible. We arrived at our first destination, Swan Hill around 4.30. Swan Hill is situated on the beautiful Murray River (border of Victoria and New South Wales) and as you can see by my photo it is right at our doorstep. As with the majority of towns on the Murray River they were originally populated by Europeans due to the river being the main transport of goods in the old days. But according to Wikipedia, based on evidence from Coobool Creek and Kow Swamp, it appears that Aboriginal people have lived in the area for the last 13,000 - 9,000 years. The area is inhabited by the Wemba-Wemba and Wati-Wati people. Swan Hill was called "Matakupaat" or "place of the Platypus" by the Wemba Wemba people. We then did a little bit of exploring but Shane is not 100% as yet so it was back to our little home and an early night for Shane while I played on my iPad. Tomorrow we travel further along the Murray to Mildura for a couple of nights. I think it may take me a while to get used to this lifestyle of not really have to do anything or be anywhere!!!

Busy

Today my word for the day is BUSY and yes I have been busy with lots of preparations for our Aussie Adventure. One of my jobs today was to sort through the pantry to work out which foods are to come along, which foods are to be left for Rachel and which ones are out of date and need to be tossed. It made me feel good to find I only had a couple that had to be thrown out. I would really love to hear what's kept you busy today.

Catch Up Time

I have been a bit slack with my Photo a Day challenge, so here are my catch up photos in a collage.

Day 7 - Dreamy - This tree in the fog looked as if in a dream.

Day 8 - On Your Plate

Day 9 - Tiny - These two trout were destined for my plate.

Day - 10 - A Place - Melbourne Central

Day 11 - Detail - I loved the detail in this pillar.

Day 12 - In the middle - Clare was in the middle.

Day 13 - View from my bed - Was ever changing on Rachel and my

               motorhome trip around Victoria Island in Canada.

Day 14 - Water - Is very relaxing to sit by.

Day 15 - Alone - My little man O'Shea not really alone on the beach.

Day 16 - My favorite Colour - Is actually purple, but nothing much else

               comes close to the colour of the sunrise.