A few locals checked us out

How flat is flat.

Day's end

Always magnificent sunsets

Too windy go fly a kite

Unique wood scupltures

We tried fossicking and found some crystals

It came to an end all too soon

Time to head for home

We’ve heard lots of stories about the abundance bird life, although we’ve also heard it depends on where your flight takes you. Has to be by air I  mean we all know that’s how the documentaries  capture such spectacular scenes.

Travelling with our two Loons(sit in kayaks) on the roof of Boof will be a new experience, we’re wondering how much it will affect our fuel consumption.  At the moment we’re getting them ready for the journey, some cockpit covers with a couple of modifications will keep them watertight and keep bugs out.

Tardis has had a few modifications. Ken pulled out the L shaped dinette which was not comfortable and the seats cushions were falling apart after our first big trip.  We now have  along table under the side window and two recliner chairs, which also swivel, new outlook and much much more comfortable.  Maybe I’ll post some pics before we go.

a big bank of wind turbines caught our eye ..

old trees… wildflowers and lovely old bridges..

Then it was time for lots of happy hellos with those we love…

check out this guy…Jed Ewin Darby..and brothers Blake and Zac

The we caught up with Aidan (check it out Kristy)…

and Kat…

We went to the circus with Leala Ava and Kira. Ava and Kira couldn’t resist trying out their juggling skills when we got home..

Leala had a science project to complete..so was kept busy..while the girls practised their tricks

We were able to witness the end of an era when Briana went to her year 12 formal….Briana is the last of the sibs children to finish her high school education…big night.

Yep she looked absolutely stunning and proud Mum and Dad were there too…

a very special night for everyone.

Just as we experience the highs of life …we are reminded that it is also  a fragile  beautiful gift and like our wonderful exciting journey around OZ it one day is over……..but it’s not the end …

As Ken hooked up Boof and the Tardis for the last time

we set out on the final leg of our journey along new finished sections of (still bumpy) highway

we decided this is not goodbye…just see you later.

I hope you’ve enjoyed travelling with us and sharing our adventures..it’s been a great way to keep in touch…special thanks to Pat for sharing your computer with Mum so she’s been able to follow us each day…6 months is a long time…thanks Mel for downloading the blog for Nan and Pop and to all our friends who have prayed for our safe journey..thankyou.  We’re home safe and will see you soon.

It was a lovely spot and a perfect evening just us the river the cockatoos and a magnificent starlit sky.

a good fire and good company couldn’t ask for more….

Our next stop was In Balranald….okay so we didn’t know much about the plac eeither but if you have the chance go…and talk to the locals especially Kathy at the info centre…a brilliant woman with a wonderful grasp of the importance of being innovative and keeping things natural.

Parted company with Rod and Shirl but have been able to catch up with Kylie and Mark in Wagga who have done a brilliant job of making ‘grinder feel at home…

and we got to meet a couple of new family members

as well as give Laraine one heck of a suprise.

Wagga is not at all like we imagined…not flat and boring at all

lovely tree lined streets…flowers…everywhere

and the best shopping we have encountered in all our travels.

Wide streets that have maintained their country feel a huge variety of both large and small shops…all quite different to the ones that we all see in the ‘traditional malls’…yes they have those too but nicely tucked away.

Still so much to see and discover in the area….camped on Mark and Kyl’s front lawn…darn no campfires for a few days…

Take care of each…..

It was another special day as we were allowed to steer the boat..never steered one of these boats before and it was an interesting experience. Huge wheel to hold on to

and quite a delay from when you begin to turn the wheel til the boat responds..then you tend to over correct…..but it was fun.

Quite an amazing system of Locks and weirs on the Murray which make it a unique waterway in the land of Oz.

Lots of boats moored all sorts of houseboats…a bt like caravans they come in all shapes and sizes…I suppose depends on the size of your wallet.

We saw pelicans and this family of black swans and there were the swallows which follow the boat everywhere because their nest is tucked away somewhere on board.

The Murray is a bit murky and it seems most of the people I spoke to where concerned about its well-being…the area is all orchards and vineyards all which rely on the river for water. Increasing knowledge about best practice has seen farmers learn how to cut their water consumption way down..but they still need it from the river….. so the river must stay healthy and flowing.

Did you know that in a very short while the Lachlan river will stop flowing. Ken heard a news announcement the other day…no more water will be released from Wyangala Dam…farmers downstream from Condobolin will be greatly affected.

The Lachlan feeds into the Murrumbidgee which flows into the Murray…see the problem. All the rain we got in Northern NSW and Queensland earlier this year did not reach the Darling or the Lachlan etc so there’s been no flow on….

Still we saw pictures of the 1956 flood which devastated the area…and…some say it’s almost time for another big one…..we hope so for everyones sake..

A bit of a winery tour tomorrow…maybe a trip out to Wellington to an orange orchard..still quite a lot to see and do in this region. Ivans brother..Lenard has caught up with us again…sometimes we seem to play leap frog with other travellers. It’s good to see familiar faces and share a laugh about how similar our travel experience are. Good and not so good.

Our journey with Rod and Shirl will soon come to an end as after we leave here they head back to Dubbo… then home to Urunga…. before going to Camp Quality at Tamworth for the annual camp.

It will be quite odd to travel on alone after all these months together sharing our journey around Oz….but good things are ahead for all of us and it won’t be long before we’ll all be back home and the endless job of editing film and swapping pics and retelling stories of our adventures will begin.

But don’t worry…. you’ve had the blog so Ken and I are not going to make you sit through endless slide shows…we feel you’ve been with us every step of the way.

Still a little way to go so take care of each other…love to you all.

So at the end of our Nullarbor experience we arrived late into  Ceduna….booked into a caravan park and went and had some dinner at a local hotel..the food was great and the ocean breeze quite cool.

Ceduna operates as a port and there were the usual port facilities to have a look at.

I spent some time with the director of the local Aboriginal art and culture centre as she shared a few places we should try and see on our way east.

One was Pildappa Rock ..we decided it should be called ‘the second wave’ as it was as spectacular as the first and we decided to spend the night there.

Lots of beautiful wildflowers on the road out to the rock

and even some tucked into crevases up on the top.

It was pretty cold but Ken made a pit fire and we rugged up so it was all good.

Next morning Ken walked up to the top of the rock to take some more pics.

Looking westward we could see the Gawler Ranges but we didn’t have time to go exploring.

Man still likes to create things to rival nature….

some are fun …like this big galah..

The scenery changed again as we drove up past Iron Knob towards Port Augusta…pretty barren and dry..

mining as we have seen is not kind to the environment..

this is where BHP kicked off many many years ago…

We hoped Port Augusta and the Flinders Ranges in the distance might mean and end to the flat gey countryside.

A little lunchstop  and we were off again still making our way east…over Horrock Pass and through magnificent green hills.

It was if we had moved into another country……

History surrounded as as evidenced by the manu old stone ruins we passed…

Acres and acres of fertile farming land….

and our campsite for the night was at the Goyder Line memorial (check the guy out…interesting story a good spot as Ken knew all about Mr Goyder.

and another beautiful spot to camp…sheep grazing alongside us and surrounded by flowers.

Morning and it was Fathers Day….we had thought we might have reached Mildura and been able to spend a day on a paddle steamer…but that will have to wait til tomorrow…

So we did the best we could..

forget the cholesterol today…fried eggs on toast, tomato sauce..yep all the dad favourites

lots of phone calls….

lovely drive through the beautiful Clare valley and lunch at the historic old Burra Hotel…rocky road sundae for dessert….sorry we never made it to the puzzle place….then back on the road

and we’re camped at Heron Bend on the banks of the Murray River just a little west of Renmark.

Maybe it’s been a slow leisurely day but the drive is lovely and this is a definite must come back and spend some time in region. Never got to try any wine….maybe next time.

Hope all the dads had a great day…love to you all.

Margaret will be leaving Sydney for home tomorrow….her journey finally comes to an end.

We stood on a specially  constructed viewing platform, we could see the waves crashing into the cliffs below us, this is where the southern right whales and sea lions come to breed.  The wind was quite cool but those on the many walkways and platforms didn’t really care…what they were witnessing was awesome.

just below us swam and played groups of whales…..usually a mother and calf…

they seemed as curious about us as we were about them and often one would just slowly pop its head out for a look…

there was lots of showing off with big tail flaps and fluke waves…

usually mum just kept the youngster close by…

This is where the Bunda cliffs end…from here there are beaches and huge sandhills…

still our pretty little purple flowers grow….and evidence of that earlier seabed is everywhere….

time to head back to the vehicles….40 whales a big thing to comprehend…so fascinating to watch

but we have to watch out for roos and wombats..(yep we saw a couple of wombats that didn’t make it…big ones)as we made our way towards Ceduna.

It’s evening now… we’ve had a good meal at the Ceduna Foreshores pub and the washing done and dried…we’ve passed through the quarantine checkpoint earlier this afternoon…no fresh foods allowed…so the pantry will get a quick top up before we leave tomorrow. Time for bed….