OUR FIRST WEEK BACK ON THE ROAD

Tuesday2^nd April   - We were both excited and sad to be leaving our dear friends at Warnervale.  They have made us so welcome and opened their hearts and home to us once again.  We left their driveway at 9am intending to get to Gunning for an overnight  stop, approximately a 4 hour drive.  The drive on the freeway towards Sydney was fraught with the “wobbles” as the caravan was swaying in the wind too much.  Richard decided to keep to an 85-90 maximum speed.  He stopped a few times and made minor technical adjustments in the height of the tow bar to the A frame and decided “we’re overloaded” and it was all my fault with all the extras I’d loaded the van up with (hard not to take many things when you’re living full time in the van – I mean it’s not quite the same as going away for a few week’s holiday!!!).   Anyway, I decided silence was golden and got on with my crosswords until we’d passed Sydney and the traffic wasn’t as bad.  We stopped at a new large rest area just past Campbelltown for morning tea.  It was very busy and noisy there so we didn’t stay any longer than necessary.  Kate had loaded me up with some of her delicious sticky date cake to keep us nourished for morning tea.  We’d had it for dessert the previous night warm with caramel sauce, but it tasted just as delicious cold with a quick roadside brew.  Thank you yet again Kate.

We got to the little town of Gunning at 1 o’clock and pulled up beside the river.  It was a beautiful day and we got chatting to another couple having lunch at the same table as us.  The ducks were swimming and roaming about.  It was lovely and peaceful there.  There were lots of vacant spots but they started filling up quickly with the new tenants for that evening.  Much as we had wanted to stay there, we decided to keep going to Wagga to lessen the driving time for the following day.  We arrived at Wilks Park in Wagga at 4pm and found a suitable spot.  The area was crowded with vans from the Easter break still.  It was a very large area so there wasn’t a problem finding somewhere to park.  Since our last visit to the park, the Council have put in a new covered bbq area with lights to make your stay there easier.    Very considerate.

Wednesday 3^rd April  -  We left Wagga at 9am headed for Lake Benanee (1 ½ hours before Mildura) our intended stopover for the night.  Driving through the Hay Plains again was pretty boring as the landscape is so very flat, dry and practically treeless.  We did spot a few frolicking emus now and then and had to stop for a herd of cattle walking from one side of the road to the other with not a hurry in the world.  To be fair a sign did warn us of “5km cattle crossing”.  It did break the monotony somewhat. We passed by “Quilters Road” and “Poison Waterholes Creek” (well you’ve got to look for anything amusing you can find to alleviate the boredom).  Richard had treated us to a new IPod and had loaded it up with about 13,000 songs to keep us awake whilst driving.  It was my task to learn how to use it and be the resident DJ for the duration of the trip.  I’m not the most savvy person with technology and made Richard quite frustrated when I’d ask “another dumb question that he’d already told me a million times” – an interesting trip as you can imagine!!.  We arrived at Lake Benanee at 4pm.   There were already quite a few vans pulled in.  We were trying to get a waterside spot beside the river, but they weren’t flat enough to park on.  We soon found a suitable spot and took Sally onto the beach for a long awaited run around. Lake Benanee is a large irrigation lake and a popular free camping area. It’s set back from the main road with toilets.  We soon got chatting to a couple that had been on the road for 13 years with a home renovated bus.  We had happy hour with them and another couple that were beside them.  Sally loved the freedom of roaming around off the leash.   It was a beautiful stopover and very quiet at night.

Thursday 4^th April  -  We wanted to stay another night at Lake Benanee.  Unfortunately the generator had stopped working and we were forced to drive on to our next destination at Buronga   about 1 ½  hours drive from Lake Benanee.  We arrived at Buronga Riverside Caravan Park at midday and were given a site beside the swimming pool.  It was a huge caravan park and very well maintained and laid out.   Many of the trees and bushes had solar lights that looked really pretty at night time.  The pool had solar lights and looked lovely at night also.  We quickly got set up and had a wander around.  We walked to the river bank and watched the paddle steamers passing by.  The park was full of ducks so we had to keep Sally on her lead all the time which she wasn’t too happy about.  The grounds were extremely well maintained and the amenities blocks immaculate.  There were so many lovely touches around the place that you don’t find in other parks.  There was also a separate washing machine for pet blankets.  It’s the first time I’ve ever come across that. We walked down to the river edge with our wine and beer and sat for ages looking at the water and everyone else having happy hour by the waterside.  It was certainly very relaxing.

You’ll be relieved to know the generator was only a small problem – the micro switch????  Anyway, it’s up and running a dream now and ready for our next free camp spot.  We also found the fridge wasn’t working properly – wasn’t cooling down or else froze everything solid.  So many teething problems on the start of our trip.  The first 2 days we were constantly adjusting the setting on the fridge.  Thankfully it  settled down and the beer/wine/cheese and dips were  perfectly chilled for the next “happy hour”.

Monday 8^th April  -  We went on The Melbourne Paddle Steamer for a 2 hour leisurely trip up and down The Murray River.  It was $29 each with refreshments available at the kiosk. We sat on the upper deck to listen to Captain Lance’s commentary and learnt that The Melbourne was licensed to carry 300 passengers.  It is 98’ long and 21’ wide.  It has operated continuously in Mildura for the past 30 years , alongside The Rothsbury.

 On approaching The Lock, Captain Lance had to blast his hooter three long whistles to alert the Lock Master that we were approaching,  as  the  paddle steamers weren't visible from that side of The Weir.  Construction started on The Weir in August 1923 and took 4 years to complete.  The Weir chamber is made from concrete and is 61 metres long, 17 wide and 7.6 deep.  The first paddle steamer passed through The Lock on the 2nd of August 1927.  We went through Lock 11.  It took about 20 minutes for the lock gates to open and shut before we could continue our journey further down The Murray.  It was amazing to see how fast the water levels dropped.  It was like going down an elevator in slow motion – the sides of the walls got higher and higher.   We then went around the other side of The Weir to see the cascading waters.  There were quite a few other tourists aboard The Melbourne also.  The trips runs twice a day with a Thursday  evening dinner/music cruise.  We decided to have a champagne  with our lunch.  I was stunned when I asked for 2 glasses to be told there weren't any more champagnes left as all the piccolos that had been put in the fridge that morning were sold.  They obviously weren’t prepared for many customers in need of some bubbly with their lunch.  I reluctantly settled for 2 savs instead –not quite the same thing when you fancied a bubble or two!!! 

We continued our journey past  The Mildura Homestead – an historic village that’s free to visit, past posh houses and new ones under construction and on to Apex Beach which is beside the caravan park we stayed at a few weeks ago when we first collected the new van.  We turned around here and made our way back up to The Lock once more.  Anyone that wanted to steer The Melbourne was welcome to do so and received a “Skipper’s Certificate” for their efforts.

Paddle steamers have been operating on The Murray since 1853.  Australia has the biggest collection of working paddle steamers in the World.

All too soon we were back at Mildura Wharf and our trip back in time was completed.  It was certainly a worthwhile and enjoyable trip and one that we’d highly recommend.

The Melbourne Paddle Steamer

View from the banks of our caravan park 

me steering The Melbourne

Richard steering The Melbourne

enjoying a liquid lunch on The Melbourne

Tuesday 9^th April  -  We had an early start as the van was going back to Halls Jayco for a 1,000km service and we had to be there at 8.30.  This consisted of minor adjustments to the wheel nuts and fixing up any teething problems. It was basically to validate the 12 month warranty period and took 4 hours to complete.  We were left homeless in the boiling sun with Sally and had to find something to do whilst the service was being carried out.  We went back to Apex Beach and let Sally run riot along the beach. She had a ball chasing ducks into the water.  We had our morning cuppa relaxing by the river and went to visit The Mildura Homestead.  This is an accurate reconstruction of the first Mildura Station built by the Jamieson Brothers in 1847 and stands as one of Mildura’s biggest links to the past in the pastoral and irrigation industries.  It includes a homestead, outbuildings, woolshed and rose garden and can be hired for rustic weddings and functions. It was very interesting to walk around and inside all the old buildings.  We were impressed by the biggest fireplace we’d ever seen in one of the smallest rooms and could imagine it’s occupants scurrying about their business whilst  being roasted by the heat.  The rose garden was very well maintained with some beautifully strong smelling roses growing there.  There was lots of old machinery on display outside and Richard was fascinated by it.

Thursday 11^th April  -  Richard’s 59^th birthday.  We were going to leave Buronga today but decided to stay another day as it was Richard’s birthday so that we could go out for dinner that night. We picked the only thai restaurant in Mildura called the Thai Riffic.  It was licensed which we normally don’t go to.  It was located in the main strip of restaurants.  We were pleasantly surprised walking up to the restaurant by how pretty the street was with hanging vines and ivies over the covered walkway with fairy lights hanging down that went all the way up the road, called "Feast Street".  It looked so pretty and all the restaurants were buzzing with diners – it felt like a busy Saturday night at Parramatta. Luckily we’d booked our restaurant as it was full.  Richard wanted to sit outside on the Al Fresco table and I wanted to sit inside as it looked beautiful inside.  I won as all the outside tables were taken. We had a beautiful meal and finished off sharing deep fried banana with coconut ice cream (the only dessert on offer).  I was disappointed they didn’t have my favourite dessert deep fried ice cream. Nevertheless we were so full when we left and had really enjoyed the evening.  The waitresses were really friendly, helpful and efficient.

I forgot to mention in the last blog that we had to have the washing machine in the van replaced on the third day after picking it up brand new as it was leaking everywhere.  We thought it might have been a pinched pipe, but it turned out to be a major problem and involved taking the bench top off the vanity unity in the bathroom to access the machine (great design forethought with that one).  Jayco had to put in a new washing machine and took the whole day to do so.  Another day stranded in the hot sun!! 

Today we had to take the van into Jayco once more as we discovered the washing machine leaked during the two loads we did yesterday. We were none too pleased or impressed.  After 2 hours we got a phone call to inform us they couldn’t find any further leaks but had made a note of it on our warranty, making us very frustrated to say the least. 

We are now free to leave Buronga, although we have thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would rate the park 10/10.  We would certainly not hesitate to recommend this park to stay at.  I would say it’s the best place in Mildura to stay and it is also in the top 20 of tourist destinations in Australia.

That brings me to the end of this long blog (thank goodness I hear you all sigh and say).

Tomorrow we head off through Renmark, Wakerie and Cadell and make our way through to The Eyre Peninsula in  South Australia. I’ll tell you all about it in our next blog edition. Thanks for your company so far.  Tune in next week for the latest news .